When the situation was unfolded to him, his first action was to jam the butt of his gun through the clock, whereupon it immediately struck two hundred and forty-three, and then Potts pitched it over the fence.

He has a new clock now, and things are working better.
* * * * * The Pottses celebrated their "iron wedding" one day last winter, and they invited about one hundred and twenty guests to the wedding.

Of course each person felt compelled to bring a present of some kind; and each one did.

When Mr.and Mrs.Smith came, they handed Potts a pair of flatirons.

When Mr.and Mrs.Jones arrived, they also had a pair of flatirons.