Page 19 (1/2)
A far small and mellow from
far away, and at the lonesoh The next instant he broke into laughter, for another bell rang over
the fields, the court-house bell in the Square The first four strokes
were given with ularity, the pride of the custodian who
operated the bell being to produce the effect of a clock-work bell such as
he had once heard in the court-house at Rouen; but the fifth and sixth
strokes were halting achievements, as, after four o'clock, he often lost
count on the strain of the effort for precise imitation There was a pause
after the sixth, then a dubious and reluctant stroke--seven--a longer
pause, followed by a final ring with desperate decision--eight! Harkless
looked at his watch; it enty minutes of six
As he crossed the court-house yard to the Palace Hotel, he stopped to
exchange a ith the bell-ringer, who, seated on the steps, was
his broith an air of hard-earned satisfaction
"Good-evening, Schofields'," he said "You caht"
"What we need here," responded the bell-ringer, "is more public-spirited
men I ain't kickin' on you, Mr Harkless, no sir; but ant it Main Street paved with
block or asphalt; men that'll put in factories, men that'll act and not
set round like that ole fool Martin and laugh and polly-woggle and make