The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-09-07
INDIVIDUAL TIME.
A Little Sketch That Illustrates How
Vehemently Man viii Swear by
His Watch.

Little Sketch That illustrates How
| Vehemently Man Will Swear b.
His Watch.
A fat man with q. bald head and
little man with a hooked nose sa: mex
to one another in one of the smokers
seats in an open horse car which wal
Jogging down Boston street. Though
evidently strangers, they were convers
ing pleasantly. As the car neared the
head of Milk street, the bald-headed
man CHANGED to look upward toward the
historic church.tower which loomed in
front. With an exclamation of surprise
ne turned away from its contemplation
haslly pulled out handsome-lookine
gold watch from his fob, regarded it q
moment, and settling back in his seat
with an air Of mingled relief and salts
iaction, remarked to his companion,
Thoughtit couldn't be quite so bad.n
"Of? Off" cried the man with the
hooked nose, with an argumentative air,
like one who has been challenged and
was bound to stand on the defensive,
on say it's of, do you? Well, maybe,
Sir. maybe. Let us see."
The watch which he drew out of some
recess OF his waistcoat was not dignified
with chain, had broken second-h hand
dlscolored dial, tarnished case and a
general air Of shabiness. But the little
man bent over ID with an air of respect
full confidence. Carefully scanning the
face of the church clock, and looking
narrowly at the dial in his hand, and
repeating this dual inspection for q
second time, as if to make perfectly sure
THAI he read them both right, he replied
to the fat mans questioning gaze, in
which there was the barest suspicion of
contempt:
Clocks all right, sir; quite right, sir;
III short. exactly right, sir. My watch
here verifes it,
oa,Oh,your watch agrees with it, sir, does
ltI, replied the bald-headed man, with
a bit OF flush rising into each Of his fat
cheeks. Well, now, it is little sin
ular, but my watch, sir, makes the clock
The bald-headed man had pro-
nounced the words "my watch yery
loud indeed. But the little man was ,,n.
ruttied. Tapping that portion of his
clothing in which it was presumable that
his timepiece lay hidden, he rejoined
with perfect coolness:
Then your watch is wrong, that's all.
Mine agrees with the clock and, as we
are two against one, fancy that YOU
will not care to contend"
Contend, sir? Contend? I'd have you
know that I'd stand by my watch if the
odds were 100 to one, sir; yes, sir, 100 to
one. Why, sir, l paid $l50 Tor that
watch within year. and it hasn't need
ed setting since I first began to carry il.
III bet $500 that it isn't fifteen seconds
out OF the way. My watch wrong? Pre-
posterous" And the fat man mopped
his bald head vigorously, the while be
locked askance at his quandom compan-
ion as if the latter began to show signs
OF being suspicious character.
don't care if you paid $3.50, 900 for
your watch, sir. Yours is handsomer
than mine, I'l1 admit, and cost more
money; but when it comes to running!-
why, I'd bet my head on it. This watch
s an heirloom, sir. My old father csr.
ried it for twenty-five years, and then
left 1t to me when ne died, fifteen years
lgo. Run? You never saw such watch
% run! 1t hasn't varied half minute q
,ear since I've had it, and it's only been
cleaned once. RUM tell you,sir, that
his watch"
Unfortunately the reporter was OBLIGED
o leave the car at this point, and there
ore it is impossible to state whether the
ald-headed gentleman was duly con.
'inced of the superiority of the hook.
losed mans timepiece to his own or not.
Herald.