The Osceola times., 1881-08-27

0
The watch you can let me know
II thanked him for his confidence in
| me and we stepped back and had the
address changed. Afterward we went
| down the street together and soon sepa.
rated. The next day and next showed
thom over the city, and finally left them.
WIN some regret, at the depot from
which they were TO leave.
81 had noticed the watch and chain
carefully and could identity either; and
the lady had described to me the appear.
ance OF the robber so frequently. that |
felt not only able to identity him if I
met him, but indeed he seemed 70 me,
from his vividDess in my Imagination,
almost like an acquaintance.
Weeks and months passed away. /
was busy most Of the time, and in my
walks through the narrow streets, or on
the crowded bouleyards, kept my eyes
open for the red hair. deep-blue eyes
and hai>lip' which had been impressed
on my mind, and which, with my own
knowledge Of his height and form, made
up my description of the thief.
But my vigilance was in vain. saw
no one who answered to the description
and ] gradually came TO give up what
faint hope l might have entertained.
But one dav, pearlv a year afterward.
| stumbled on clew which, although IL
lid not directly aId me TO secure the
,hief himself, still led TO the recovery Of
the watch, and awakened my interest
and watchfulness.
1T happened in this ways One of my
acquaintances made an appointment
with me. by which was to meet him
In, 1
arrived at the rendezvous first. and while
looking into jewelry store ! noticed
watch that drew my attention because of
its resemblance to the one that had been
stolen, as nearly as | could recall it from
my former patrons description.
The more looked at the watch the
better satisfied became that il was the
stolen one. But where was the chain?
| did not know; but lis absence could be
accoun't d for in various ways. Finally
| entered the store and asked the pro
pIieior If he could tell me anything re-
gardne the matter.
''Ile was talkative old fellow, ana
pushed back his glasses and told me all
that he knew and much more that he
surnised Out Of his rambling talk, |
extracted the sole fact of interest; name.
ly, that he had bought the watch at q
public sale of the Mont de Pieie or gov
ernment pawn shop, for in Paris this
business is in the hands of the govern
ment.
II took down in writing minute d,s-
criptiUn of the watch, and the next day
| made inquiries at the head bureau Of
the Mont de Piete; but with little success.
Tn watch had been sold, not pawned
!.
nothing whatever beyond this could !
find out.
"SJ ended that thread of inquiry
had found the watch, without doubt, and
wrote TO the gentleman ahont IT, hut
felt so strong an emily TO the fellow
himself that | would have put myself to
considerable trouble il could have cot
track of him. redoubed my vigilance
But not once did catch sight of that
figure which now | even see in my
dreams.
"Sev eral days after this an answer
came to my letter IN which my friend
said t5at the watch was doubtless his, if
my description was correct; lie desired
me to negotiate for its recovery, and
would send money TO my address when
wrote for 1t, More than this, he reit-
Grated my indignant feelings, which
believe ] bad spoken OF in my letter,
and even offered 10 come to Paris to
second my efforts il succeeded in find
ing the rascal.
II went to the store and obtained o
refusal of the watch at price that
knew was below its real value, and, to
cut this part of my story short, for we
are getting nearly up TO the Are, in two
weeks the letter came from the gentle
man saying that the Va 'ch WAS safe in
his possession,
"But the chain was stil missing, and
the thief himself. knew | never should
be satisfied until saw that fellow in the
hands Of the pr,fect.
"Well fortune favored me in the
affair, and | succeeded IN capturing him;
but it was IN a curious way. ] was walk
ing along the Rue Rvoli one day, about
six months later, having in charge some
Americans. = had just come through
the large archway which leads out oithe
Place du Carrousel-thc one, you recol-
lect, which We passed through as we
came up here, when | saw, not ten steps
ahead of me in the crowd which always
throngs that street, a form that gave me
a start of surprise.
at resembled very much The fellow
had been looking for al those weeks.
He had better clothes than when saw
him d sappearing around the corner Of
the Thea.er Francais, but / could trust
my memory, it was the same person.
Instantly my attention was taken from
my company, and | thought only Of
catching a nearer view of this person in
front.
80, excusiug myself for a moment to
one OF the ladies, slipped through The
crowd and Just as came up with him
he stopped TO look in a window, and my
eager gaz caught a view Of that hare
lip. Il was slrely the man | was after.
lie c)rresponded exactly with my des-
crip'iCn of him.
"But ! noticed for the first time that
he had a party of ladies and gentlemen
with him. and was evidently acting as
guide. walked rapidly past him, took
up position in convenient doorway,
and when he came up | concealed NV
face by using my handkerchief. What
was my still greater surprise, as heslow-
ly passed me- to see the identical chain
that | oought hanging about his neck,
and evidently attached to a watch in his
pocket.
"That was proof enough Tor me, and
desired no stronger proof. But just how
TO secure him | returned to my party
and revolyed the matter in NV mind as
we sauntered easily along. Suddenly
plan struck me.
"lf he was guiding that party about
the city, the next point of interest that
lay in the path they were Ia king was the