The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1912-11-14
The History of a
Unique Clock
Weekly Short Story.

| 1t was past midnight when Guzziol
worked their natural Italian field quit,
long enough, had come to America fol
new one, pried up window sash or
the ground floor of handsome stone
front residence with a jimmy and en-
tered the drawing room. There was
nothing In this apartment that they
could conveniently carry away except
small clock that stood on the mantel
But 1t was a gem. Indeed, 1t was sci
with a number of gems 1t would
make any fancier of beautiful things ir
love with 1t at once.
Il want that" said Guzzioli, who hat
some Of the taste for attractive work
manship of his race.
LET it alone" interposed Tarantola
you can never turn it into money
with safety It's just the thing tc
identify any one who takes It, Let's
go in and see If we can nd any silver
that can be melted down. or If we dare
go upstairs we may nd jewels"
IF l can't do any better" replied
the other, 81 can get the jewels out OF
this one Pm going to take It,"
well. wait till we've been through
the house. 1t may strike the hour
while you're near some Of the family
and awaken them"
|. So the men went into the dining
room where they found that all the
silver belonging to the family In use
had been left in the sideboard. Guzzi-
oil held open the mouth of bag while
'Tarantola stuffed the articles in; then
leaving the plumber on the dining room
table, they took off their shoes and
went upstairs, separating on the land
ing to explore the different rooms.
Both men were successful Taran-
tola entered a bedroom where a young
girl was sleeping soundly and succeed
ed in gathering a number of rings
bracelets and brooches from a dresser
without awakening her He was so
encouraged by his haul that he con-
cluded to go farther.
Guzzioli found some valuable brio
a-brac for which he had a fancy, and.
being satised to let well enough alone,
he slipped downstairs and made for
the drawing room to secure the clock
he coveted Taking 1t from the man.
tel, he stuffed it in the side pocket Of
his coat and went into the dining room
where the silver had been left. He
was looking about to see If some arti-
cles had not been overlooked and had
just picked up a butter dish when he
heard a voice, which seemed to be
right under his elbow:
Drop that"
The plate ratified on the floor. and
Guzziolfs heart was beating like n
trip-hammer. Tarantola upstairs
heard the sound of the falling metal
and beat a hasty retreat. Entering
the dining room he accosted his pal
in hoarse whisper:
What do you mean by your care
lessness
There's someone here" gasped
Guzzioli, clutching at his pals hand in
terror.
you're scared out Of your wits"
said the other. "Come; we've finished
the lob. Let's get out"
Tarantola, leaving Guzzioli went to
the table and took up the bag Of silver
and threw 1t over his shoulder. He
was starting to pass through the
drawing room when again came the
voice:
Drop that"
He managed to retain sufficient con-
troll of himself not to let the heavy
weight down on the floor with a
thump, but he lowered It at once and
grasping revolver, stood ready for
defense Since the men had worked
only by hand electric flash lamp the
room was dark except for what light
windows from the street.
Both men remained perfectly atill
for moment, expecting to be shot
down by some one under cover Of the
darkness. Having remained so for
some time, since nothing happened,
Tarantola, though he knew he had not
been mistaken in hearing the words,
was about to take up the sack when
he heard voice sayp: Have you got
everything?"
Meanwhile, the head Of the house
had been awakened by the fall Of the
silver plate and, getting out Of bed,
had gone to the banister and stood
listening. He heard persons whisper
ing and moving below and, darting to
the telephone booth, carefully shut the
door and called the police. Then he
went back to continue his listening,
9, rrtx,;ru a. hic most in, m odiatp1v after