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UotneU An Independent Journal, Devoted to Home Interests. Established in 1878. V - - - - ------------------------------ VOLUME 23 IIALLOWELL, ME., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1900. NUMBER 30 WHY DID THE CLOCK STOP? death-warrant,” replied Benham. “ But At this point, who should appear had told him. And yet, to his certain man—poor Benham—and what fol- we’ll give her a new lease of life. coming up the path but Dawes himself! knowledge, no human hand had touched lowed. It Is Robert Odiorne was busy writing at W e’ve found the motive and the oppor­ He had returned from town thus early it since the maid finished her------ “ I was determined to find out the his desk, when a quick knock sounded tunity, and now we’ ll find the man. in the day. This was precisely what His face changed suddenly, and the mystery after what Amy wrote,” she Reported on the office-door. He raised his head Anyway,” he added with a re-assuring Benham had expected, and lie watched tense muscles relaxed in a broad grin. declared, “ and I came down here early That Oom rani has at last yielded to with a start, showing a pale, haggard smile, “ I engage not to make matters his unconscious quarry with lynx-eyes. With the whoop of an Indian brave he this morning, all wrapped up in a big the demands of an enlightened cieiliza- face, and sat listening nervously. worse than they are now .” Dawes seemed to him even more unpre­ dropped out of the sycamore, and ran cloak and veil, so no one knew me. tion and has parted with his hirsute Through the opening door a cheery Early next morning a shabby figure possessing than in the morning. His hat up the steps of the white house door. Why, even Amy screamed when I whiskers. voice entered in advance. “ Well, old went slouching from the Laureldale was crushed lower over his forehead, “ See here, Odiorne,” snarled Dawes, walked into the room ! W ell I met this man! How—Why, good gracious, station along the pretty, suburban road his expression had grown positively sitting up in the hammock and rubbing man at the gate when I first came up, Bob!’’ as the newcomer turned the cor­ OUR BIG where the Odiornes lived. No one ruffianly, and he walked with a reck­ his forehead, “ if yoif don’t stop that and he acted so strangely that I felt ner that shut off his view, “ What’s the would ever have suspected the spick- less, piratical gait. Wild-W est racket I ’ll complain to the sure he had something to do with it. matter? Been sick? You don’t look in aud-span Benham in this rough looking Crossing the piazza, he laid his hand landlord! Think it's tip top for a splitt­ So I pretended to go away, and then— Reduction Sale very good shape, eh?” wayfarer. on the low railing which divided the ing headache, don’t you?” with angry then he went up the steps and into the Odiorne held out his hand with a In spite of the almost midsummer double house. But just as Benham sarcasm. house! Bold, wasn’t it? And Rob, he Has fulfilled all demands that could rightly be forced smile. But he did not meet his heat, it was still May, and the cottages looked to see him vault over, he sud­ “ Sorry!” Benham turned a radiant didn’t come out again!” made, but there are still a few odds and ends that visitor’s eyes, and his voice had an irri­ were bright with spring flowers. This denly swung himself into a hammock face upon his victim. “ I don’t happen She paused and looked at Odiorne, were left over from this sale, and these will be sold table tone. “ There’s nothing the mat­ added to their general similarity, which before his own dwelling, stretched him­ to be Mr.Odiorne, but I’ll tell him what but as he simply stared at her in silence at a greatly reduced price. Ladies who are looking ter,” he answered. “ Nothing but the became fairly bewildering in the double self at full length, pulled his hat over you say.” she continued: “ Of course I didn’t dare . for bargains in heat and extra office-work. This is house, with its two smooth lawns and his eyes, and apparently went to sleep. At this point the maid opened the to follow him in, but I stayed about beastly weather, Ben ham, for so early blossoming shrubberies. Indeed, the But this pretense did not deceive Ben­ door, and Benham went in. On the and watched the door, so I’m quite posi­ Boys’ Misses’ & Children’s School Shoes in the season!” Then he sat down again ole perceptible difference was in the ham. Of course, Dawes could not go plea of examining the parlor chimney, tive. Well, when it was near noon I will find a number of bargains in this kind of shoes. talking on in a random way, and rest­ doors, one of which was painted, white into the Odiornes’ parlor and stop their he soon proved his theory correct. The came back cautiously, intending to slip It will pay you to come and look at these bargains lessly shuffling the papers on his desk. while the other boasted a Pompeian time-piece before the maid’s eyes. lie mystery was a mystery no longer. The into the parlor, but I saw Mr. Dawes before purchasing elsewhere. Benham watched him, perplexed and ed. was waiting for her to leave the room, clock was reduced from a herald of Fate in a hammock, and was afraid he would disturbed by the change in his whole Looking about for .a place where he when he could slip in and out again in to the ordinary time-piece, liable to be see me. So I ran around to the back, iiTT-B SHOE STORE. appearance. They were old friends, could see without being seen, Benham a jiffy. stopped whenever it was taken up to and into the parlor. And what do you though they had not met for a twelve fixed upon a little vine covered arbor. Benham’s hopes revived. If it was a 125 WATER ST., augl GARDINER. ME. (lust after the regular Friday sweeping. think? The clock had stopped just be­ month. Here he concealed himself and waited. waiting race he might catch his mouse, Benham’s next move was to the sub­ fore twelve! Don’t you see, it must “ Seems good to see you again, Fred,” Presently the white Boor opened, and yet. Crouched like a cat behind his urban druggist’s, where he sent the fol­ K. L. STAPLES. MELVII.I.K SMITH. AV. E. MOODY have been this man?” aid Odiorne, presently, with a stifled a man came out. It was Robert Odi- leafy screen, lie alternately watched the lowing message over the telephone: “ Looks like it certainly,” assented Staples, Smith & Moody, sigh. “ I wish I could ask you to come orne. In the clear morning light he hammock and the parlor widow. It “ Satisfactory explanation. Come at Odiorne, to whom the situation had out and stay with us, but w e’ re upside looked even worse tiffin on the previous was now 11.35 by the clock. once. Will find me in the vacant lot.” suggested a horribly ungrateful joke on down just now, and— Oh, hang this day. His features were drawn and his Ten minutes passed. The maid fin­ He would not enter into any details, his fastidious bachelor friend. “ And A flatter of Pride hamming!” suddenly catching his eves heavy, and lie walked with a lag- ished her sweeping, and hung out some because he did not want to break the would you know the man again, Lou?” friend’s eye. “ I might as well own up ing step. Benham ,-uook his head as rugs on the window-sill. Then she point of the story. So he went back “ Indeed I should!” declared the —to you—that there is something—bad indeed, is owning- one of our peerless pianos, he watched him. moved the furniture into place, took off and waited in the shadow of the big young woman with emphasis. “ Y"ou enough, too!” moodily. which are admitted to be perfect in every par­ Five minutes later the red door the coverings, and left the room. rock. don’t often see that sort of person here­ “ Not too bad to tell me?” suggested ticular. All our instruments are as good as opened, and a man came out. This of At the slam of the door Dawes started. Odiorne soon arrived, all curiosity abouts.” Bonham, cheerily. “ Go ahead and the best. Every note in the scale, from lowest course, was Dawes. He wore his hat He turned over, raised his head, pushed about Benham’s discovery. He became “ Then come and see if you can iden­ make a clean breast of it. Y ou ’ll feel to highest, is clear, distinct, end musical, jammed down over his forehead, and back his hat, and yawned. But here a quite hilarious in his relief, and the tify him,” said Odiorne. “ There’s a fifty times better.” coupled with a singing quality which is the his face had a savage expression as he strange occurrence distracted Benham’s two returned to the double house in de­ man down stairs who lias been telling “ You’d only laugh at me, I expect.” highest charm o f instrumental compositions. strode down the path.

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