The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-30
Eoening Story
The Cuckoo Clock.
BY KATE EDMONDS.

Young Mr.. Pepper stood in his own
dining room, hands in pockets, pipe
between his teeth, surveying the whole
with an air of perfect contentment.
He was married at last to Mabel
this was the first day in their own
home and they had been arranging
their wedding gifts, with delightful
interruptions to explain how wonder
! full that they two had met and loved
and everything.
There is only one fly in the oint-
ment." remarked Harry Pepper. And
Pretty Mabel hung on his words ex-
pectantly. What is it, dearest?" she
| asked.
''The-the cuckoo clock, honey"
The c-u-c-u-k-o-o cl-o-ck-k," she
stammered, why, mother gave me
that asked her to- howe it,
Harry!" Tears brimmed her lovely
eyes Harry kissed her and assured
her that he, too. had admired those
impertinent reminders of the flight OF
! time, but always at distance. II
never expected to have one in my
| own home,' he ended.
But you knew-you knew. Harry,
that adore them-they are cunning
II knew it." he admitted, but
| thought after you married me you
would not care for such an absurdity.
You see, darling, I'm tired at night
4
office, and then to have silly little
bird pop out of ambush and remind
me it's time to go to bed-but never
mind, I'll get used to it after a while"
You're an old dear" cried Mabel.
but while Harry Pepper smiled pa
tiently his was no martyr spirit
Came one morning when the neigh
| borhood was rife with tales of burg
laries and the Smiths home had es-
| capped ransacking. Came another
l IL la, l. G-s--
ened maid rushed upstairs and an
nounced that the silver spoons had
| disappeared from the sideboard and
| that the cuckoo clock was missing
from its accustomed place.
Il cannot feel sorry, darling" said
innocent Mr.. Pepper to his distracted
wife; but I will call up the police
station right away" and he did He
went to the city that morning with a
curious feeling of satisfaction. Some
discriminating burglar" he muttered.
I'D like to give him a tip about the
blue glass vases that Aunt Lucretia
donated-well. perhaps Norah will
| break them some day. when she's
busting! love my home-but some
of the wedding presents"
In the meantime Mabel Pepper had
called up her sympathetic mother and
\ related the story of the burglary. 81
really miss his cheerful little CALL" she
added.
Never mind. dear" comforted her
there are just as good fish
in the sea as ever were caught, and
there are just as charming brides as
ever sang in q cuckoo clocki'
So her mother told Mabel's sad ex-
lperience to Great-Aunt Lucretia and tc
Harry's Uncle Benjamin, who called
on her that day. In the meantimo tbs
police searched diligently for the mid.
night marauder.
Mr.. Harry Pepper lost dis cAassS
bearing. A troubled look Dame into
! his eyes, and he made several grfev-
Gus mistakes in his work. Hang the
cuckoo clock!" he muttered saVagely,
one night, after Mabel had confided to
him that it was wretchedly lonesome
all day there without him-and that
the empty house seemed more cheer
full when she could hear the cunning
little chirp of the clock.
Hang the cuckoo clock!" he cried.
Il never heard such q fuss made over
anything in my life."
OF course, Mabel was a Sensible
young woman. and thought of many
other things, and had plenty of amuse-
ment to distract her mind, but for the
| moment her new home was paramount
in her thoughts
One Sunday morning, a couple of
weeks after the burglary. Mabel came
down to breakfast and found the table
gay with roses. while her chair was
heaped with packages.
Happy birthday. darling" said her
husband, as he slipped a pearl ring on
her finger. II must kiss YOU how
many times-sixteen?" 49,
Mabel told him and then began to
open her packages. Such large ones.
dear, she exclaimed. you must help
me-"
"A cuckoo clock-from mother. Just
like the other one. Isn't it, dear. Do
hang it in the old place. Harry
| there"
She squealed again when she found
that Aunt Lucretia had remembered
her birthday with-a cuckoo clock.
And once more when Harry's Uncle
Ben5amin's gift was unwrapped and
disclosed another cuckoo clock
"Three!" laughed Mabel hysterical-
ly. Harry, what shall we do with
| them?"
THE more the merrier,'' said Harry
|