New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-09
DOC JED TINKER To
BAN BOB'S BANSHEE
FIushing's HoroIogist to Per.
form Major Operation on An
Cient Brennan TimepleCe.
MUST REMOVE ITS ALARM
Truthful Aleck, the Barkeep,
Frightened Out of His Senses
When Venerable Clock
Goes on Strike.

All Flushing is talking to-day about the
operation performed yesterday on bob
Brennan's clock. The clock was suddenly
stricken Tuesday night with violent at
tack OF asthma. and after Or. jed
Tinker, the town clockmaker. had tapped
and sounded and taken the pulse Of the
aoed timepiece he made known his de-
clsion. bob" Brennans family clock
must be operated upon Immediately.
"What'n you have TO do 20 Uncut on
one OF his hands, asked Bob" tears Of
sympathy bubbling from his eyes as he
thought OF his lifelong friendship with
the timekeeper OF the house OF Brennan
IT'S worse'n that" said Jed. I'll
have 10 remove his alarm. P'raps he will
recover. an then again. p'raps he won't
But It's got TO lie done"
But p'r'aps we are going too fast. as tho
hoi carrier said when no fell from the
top OF a fifty story building
Brennan used TO be an animal trainer
I'm the days when lions were real lions
and would bite off mans arm instead
of shaking his hand. as they do In these
effete days. Twenty-s!x years ago bob
quit the show business and emigrated 10
what was then the wilds OF Long Island.
NOW digniNed as Central avenue and
broadway, Flushing.
"Bob's" grandfather's clock and the
family banshee were the principal assets
OF Brennan at that time. but somehow ne
started a small hotel and prospered. In
the massage Of years Bob acquired
honnv wife end several little Brennans.
and he was happy. Nor did he ever for
GO, 70 wind his grandfather's clock once
every week
The steady customers at "Bob's" hotel
car,e ~ live by that clock 1t licked
away the minutes and the hours the days
ord tho wears with faithful regularity,
telling Hi" and Isl and Josh ana
"Rube" when TO go home and when 10
mt the cows to bed. But 1t never raised
IFS voice above a gentle tick.
n, Tuesday night Bob went to the
village. leaving his bartender and Mrs
Fireman and the little Brennans IN
cba,oe II was n dark and stormy night
,,.,,o much lightning and moaning OF wind.
II WAS getting late. most IL O'CLOCK
ord all Flushing lay hushed In sleep.
when suddenly. from a corner of the de-
serted barroonn. came a wheezng-a very
rusty wheezing--followed by sign
"Aleck." the "barkeep," pricked UP his
ears: then his hair rose on mis- mead
What was that he heard from the hollow
chested old clock?
Dong, dong. dong :"
Twas the first time In twenty-six
wears the old clock had ever raised Its
voice above a whisper. Alexis knee
homes cracked together like castanets.
Mrs Brennan came down the stairs three
at time.
whats that. Aleck?" she cried. poking
her head into the room.
"'Tis the old clock striking. sures my
names Alexander McGillicuddy Aloysius
O'Hare." said Aleck. who Is truthful
man.
"Aleck. you've been tapping that ten
year-old keg OF fathers. shame on YOU!
said Mrs. Brennan, while Alexis teeth
started a symphony in f minor. TO the
accomnaniment OF the knee movement
crescendo.
But Just then the old clock gave vent
TO another spell OF wheeling, followed by
more "dongs."
IT'S the banshee. so II Isl cried Mrs
Brennan and Aleck and all the little
Rrennans. Then somebody advised that
Bob" be sent for post haste, and that
was done.
bob" laughed manfully at their fears
until he entered the barroom and was
greeted by the voice OF the clock. Then
he. too. knelt in terror before the ban
shee.
There was no more sleep that night.
but early yesterday morning Bob called
in DOC" Tinker. While the family stood
about the room Doc gave his diagnosis
.The spring on the striking weleht Is