The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-12-25


ticulates frightfuliy with his walking
stick" replied Elsie Il should be
afraid to get near enough to caress
him, and, besides, think he proposed
TO me during a hrilinstorm. and it
would be taking an unfair advantage
to accept. Don't think him wee
bit daffy?" she asked me.
Hes so nutty, Aunt Elise" | sol
EMMY asseverated. that when he
strolls about in his ancestral groves
the squirrels pursue him"
Dear me. How extraordinary ex-
claimed literal Aunt Elise
so, you see" observed Elise. after
all, had better marry Gilbert"
Il think SO, too" l agreed You
see, Aunt Elise, thanks to Uncle Am
brose, | can earn a iieing for my
Here I broke off abruhtly and stared.
astounded, at that extraordinary clock
Elsie, with her dear little jaw sagging
in sheer amazement. was staring too.
What are you two gaping at?' de
manded Aunt Elise in alarm Now,
why do you stare like stuck pigs?" she
queried a moment later for Elsie and
| sat as if spellbound listening.
We found ourselves listening to the
now familiar staccatO-tapping of a
telegraph instrument Clear and sharp
through the invisible sounder came
message tapped by an unseen key, and
mechanically - no. automatically-ou
dazed minds caught the message.
Elsie and Gilbert, my idle girl and
boy" ran the message, Patterson
has the money for you Ask him for
it tonight. 1t is my Christmas gift to
you. Merry Christmas! God bless you
both! Goodby"
The clock"' | gurgled Its in the
clock! LISTEN" For after an interval
of hoarse. clucklike ticks the message
was repeated
Now, why are you making such a
fuss about that clock?" demanded
Aunt Elise. That clock never has
had sane. natural tick. 1t has al
ways made a noise just like that"
And this was true Twice before we
had held our vigil in the workroom I'm.
needing, while the faithful clock had
patiently delivered the message which
we failed to comprehend
There cannot possibly be a tele
graph instrument in that clock" de
clared Elsie, but there are little auto
matte transmitters with Morse alpha
bet records for students. you know"
Elsie" | said after | had carefully
examined the vitals of that blessed
clock, you certainly are the original
Miss Nancy Know 1t All. There is an
automatic telegraph transmitter in
that clock. Here's the taper'
Elsie eyed the coied strip of paper
tape with its perforations correspond.
ing to the dots and dashes of the Morse
alphabet with much interest.
Now for Patterson" | interrupted
III wager that he has been chuckling
in his sleeve these past three years
I'm going to call him up this instant.
hope that I'll get to rouse him from
his beauty sleep" continued mali.
ciOusly.
But in this | was disappointed, for
he answered the phone promptly.
This is Gilbert Ashcraft speaking"
! began with much dignity Miss Elsie
Martin and would like definite infor-
nation concerning the money be-
queathed US by Ambrose Breen. which
be left in your care"
There was moments silence; then
fhuckle trilled melodiously over the
telephone Say, young man." said
Lawyer Patterson. you're all right,
and Miss Elsie too Great scheme of
Breen's, wasn't it? You'll find your
bank books. deposit slips and other pa
pers in the package that left with
your Aunt Elise Yesterday Merry
Christmas! Good night. SON."
And that's all. | believe. except that
Elsie and are married. and it is our
present intention to live happy ever
afterward" We hold dear. wise old
Uncle Ambrose in grateful memory.
and we do not permit even that fat,
spoiled rascal. Ambrose Breen Ash.
craft, to tamper with that clock