apologetically. ``You see, I--I worked very hard to
fix it so it would strike that way.''

``_Aunt Hannah!_''

``Well, I did,'' retorted the lady, with
unexpected spirit. ``I wanted to know what time it
was in the night--I'm awake such a lot.''

``But I don't see.'' Billy's eyes were perplexed.
``Why must you make it tell fibs in order to--to
find out the truth?'' she laughed.

Aunt Hannah elevated her chin a little.

``Because that clock was always striking one.''

``One!''

``Yes--half-past, you know; and I never
knew which half-past it was.''

``But it must strike half-past now, just the
same!''

``It does.'' There was the triumphant ring of
the conqueror in Aunt Hannah's voice. ``But
now it strikes half-past _on the hour_, and the clock
in the hall tells me _then_ what time it is, so I don't
care.''