THE MISSING CLOCK 155 



on to say, ' Send the boots here with the steps that I 

 may take it down, and I will try once more to put it 

 right.' 



Not suspecting anything wrong, the waiter told the 

 boots, and the steps were brought and placed in position. 

 Before mounting them the man said : 



' Now mind you hold them steady, as I don't want to 

 get a fall over a thing like that,' alluding to the clock. 

 He was not long in removing the objectionable timepiece, 

 and reaching the safety of the floor, when, before depart- 

 ing, he again addressed the waiter. 



' Waiter,' he said, 'tell Mr. Wagstaff I am busy, and 

 that he must not expect it back very soon.' 



This message the waiter faithfully delivered to his 

 master on his return aud was told he was an idiot to 

 have let the clock go, as he would never see it again, 

 which was true enough. 



To understand the next story properly, it should be 

 explained that Mr. Wagstaff had his own private house 

 as well as the hotel. One day shortly after the loss of 

 the clock, a respectable-looking man rang at the front- 

 door, and loudly rapped the knocker, quickly bringing up 

 the servant. 



' Oh !' said the caller, ' Mr. Wagstaff has fallen off one 

 of the barges into the river at the wharf, and wants a 

 change of things ; but,' he added, ' don't tell Mrs. Wag- 

 staff, or it may frighten her.' 



But Mrs. Wagstaff, catching part of what was said, 

 came quickly forward, and asked the man if he was 

 quite sure her husband was not hurt. 



' Not a bit, ma'am,' was the reply. 



So she went hastily up tairs, and brought the things 

 down, and gave them to him ; when, looking her straight 

 in the face, he coolly said 



