TOPHER RECOGNIZES AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE 112

X AN AMAZING ADVENTURE 125

XI THE SEQUEL TO THE LETTER 137

XII CLOCK GIANTS 147

XIII CLOCKS ON LAND AND CLOCKS AT SEA 162

XIV HOW RUBIES, SAPPHIRES, AND GARNETS HELPED
TO TELL TIME 176

XV CLOCKS IN AMERICA 187

XVI WHAT MASSACHUSETTS CONTRIBUTED 202

XVII THE ROMANCE OF THE WATCH 217

XVIII CHRISTOPHER HAS A BIRTHDAY 236

ILLUSTRATIONS

"THOSE MEN--ONE OF THEM TOOK A RING--I SAW HIM" _Frontispiece_

"SO YOU NEVER SAW AN OLD FELLOW LIKE THIS, EH?" _Page_ 24

WHAT WAS IT THAT RENDERED THE FIGURE SO FAMILIAR? " 103

AH, WHAT AN EVENING THE TWO CRONIES HAD TOGETHER
THAT NIGHT " 164

CHRISTOPHER AND THE CLOCKMAKERS

CHAPTER I

A CLOUD WITH A SILVER LINING

Christopher Mark Antony Burton was a tremendously imposing name to give
a baby. When he lay in his crib, wee and helpless, he looked as if he
might never survive the weight of it. Even later, when he began to
toddle about on his small, unsteady feet, the sonorous pseudonym trailed
in his wake, threatening to drag him down to an early grave.

Nevertheless his father protested against the burden being lightened one
iota. Christopher Mark Antony Burton he had been christened and
Christopher Mark Antony Burton he must remain. Had it not been his
father's, his grandfather's, and his great-grandfather's name before
him; and all his life had not Mr. Burton longed for some one to whom to
pass on the treasure of which he was so proud? And then on a happy day a
son came upon the scene and _presto_, before the boy was an hour old,
the ponderous appellation was clapped on his unlucky head.

Mr. Burton, however, did not consider the child unlucky--not he! To
bestow this signal honor afforded him infinite satisfaction. No gift he
could have granted his heir could, in his opinion, equal--much less
surpass--this one.

He had, to be sure, on the day of the baby's birth, deposited in the
savings bank five hundred dollars to its credit; but what was money when
weighed again