started.

"What's that?" he cried.

"La, Custer, how you startle a body! It's the town bell. I should think
you'd know; you've heard it often enough." As she spoke she glanced at
the clock on the shelf in the corner of the room. "I guess that clock's
stopped again," she added, but in the silence that followed her words
they both heard it tick.

The bell rang on.

"It ain't half past seven yet. Maybe it's a fire!" said Custer. He
quitted his chair and moved to the window. "I wish they'd give the ward.
They'd ought to. How's a body to know--"

"Set down, Custer!" commanded his mother sharply. "You ain't going out!
You know your pa don't allow you to go to no fires after night."

"You don't call this night!" He was edging toward the door.

"Yes, I do!"

"A quarter after seven ain't night!" he expostulated.

"No arguments, Custer! You sit down! I won't have you trapesing about
the streets."

Custer turned back from the door and resumed his seat.