The Intermittent Alarm Clock

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A boy, blessed with a goodly share of mischief, winds up an alarm clock and laughs with glee as it goes off. Entering the sitting-room, he sets the clock, places it in center table drawer and sits down, studiously perusing a book. The father enters; the alarm rings the parent starts, as does Bridget in the kitchen. She hastily dries her hands and runs to the front door, looks out, but finds nobody there. Reports to the master, to the extreme delight of the mischief maker. Again the alarm rings and Bridget is dispatched to the front door. She returns and reports nobody there. The ringing is heard once more (with each alarm we get a close view of the clock). The parent jumps up, goes to the telephone and listens; central replies that nobody called for his number. Meantime the boy is convulsed with laughter at the success of his joke. Once more the bell rings, Bridget and the man jump for the front door, then toward the 'phone, stop bewildered and angry, look suspiciously at the boy, who innocently shakes his head. Father prepares to go away, and while donning his overcoat, the boy places the clock in his father's pocket. Crossing the street, the bell rings, and the nervous man makes a wild jump to escape a bicycle or trolley, as he supposes. His destination, the church, is finally reached; the minister is preaching; a sanctimonious deacon ushers the persecuted man to a seat. His coat is out on the back of the seat, he settles back, the alarm goes off, the congregation look toward him, the minister glares. The alarm stops, the sermon proceeds and is almost immediately interrupted by the ringing. Great excitement prevails, search is made for the cause of the disturbance, and father, much embarrassed, leaves. In the vestibule the deacon starts an argument, during which the alarm sounds again, the coat drops to the floor, making a noise which reveals the clock. The poor man, vowing vengeance, starts on a run, the deacon closely following. Down the street like mad they rush, meeting and overcoming different obstacles, until by the time home is reached a howling mob is behind. At home the boy is telling one of his chums about the joke on "Pop." The door bursts open, the "old gent" rushes in and grabs the boy. The door opens again and the pursuers file in and watch "Pop" take his revenge.