ristopher, who was none too proud of the part he had played, was
a good deal abashed; nevertheless he tried to accept the banter
cheerfully, perceiving that it was kindly intentioned. But the glory of
it paled at last, and, weary of such jests, he fled to seek out
McPhearson, who, he felt sure, would offer him no flattery.

The Scotchman was so busy toiling over the bracket clock with the chimes
that he did no more than glance up when the boy dropped down on the
stool opposite.

"I hear you did a pretty bit of work yesterday," he at last remarked.

"No, I didn't. On the contrary I was darn stupid. I had the chance to be
a hero, but I muffed it."

"They didn't seem to think so downstairs," was the clockmaker's laconic
retort.

"Oh, I didn't do much of anything, honest I didn't, Mr. McPhearson. I
just happened along at the right time--or, perhaps--at the wrong,"
explained the boy with an embarrassed laugh.

"Apparently it was decidedly at the wrong," observed the old man,
continuing to file with extreme care a bit of brass he held between his
fingers.

Christopher watched, admiring the speed and skill of his gnarled
fingers.

"How's she getting along?" ventured he after a long silence.

"She's about O. K. now. Running fine--I'm just tinkering the catch on
the door, for even Richard Parsons cannot coax things into wearing
forever. She'll go home to-day."

There was a sigh from the Scotchman.

"I do believe you're sorry to be done with her," asserted the boy
mischievously. A second later, however, he regretted his impulsive jest,
for his companion answered gravely:

"I am. I've enjoyed working on her. I'd be far sorrier, though, did I
not know she is going where she will be appreciated. The woman that owns
her watches over her as if she were a live creature--and indeed she
is--almost."

"It's nice to feel she isn't being wasted on some dumbbell, isn't it?"
declared Christopher, catching the old man's enthusiasm.

"She's not being wasted. I can answer for that. I know the house where
she lives well, for I've been there times without number to regulate
clocks. There are some beauties and they have the history of every one
of them--the name of the maker, the date when they were made, the place,
and all. I like to handle clocks for people like that. It shows they are
intelligent and care. Some folks do not know one thing about their
clocks. They won't even take the trouble to wind them regularly.
Nevertheless