Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-02-13

"You must be back BY four o'clock, "
said Lanette.
but how am to knowa have no
watch"
.sCOuldn't you take the clock under
your armgn
s.Hardly.r
.Wait. Bob has watch up stairs.
He never wears it, but l don't suppose
he would care if you were TO take 1t.
Just wait minute, and I'll wind 1t up
and set it"
A few moments later she returned with
the watch. / could scarcely repress an
exclamation; ~. L. II" engraved on
the case. l said nothing. but after leav-
ing the house examined the watch. 1t
was mine. Enthusiastically. Could 1t be
possible that Bob was one of the train
robbers9 was so disturbed that. taking
no interest in fishing. | soon returned to
the house. As neared the gate saw
that Bob had returned. Seeing me, he
came forward ard said.
sLanette tells me that she let you take
my watch"
..Yes, here it is"
s'Of course it is safe in your hands,
but"
'.But what?'' / asked.
''Oh. nothing"
s,Seems to be an excellent time keeper,
Bob. Where did you get itg"
"Oh, by the way of chance he
replied. but | could see that he was
confused. sAh," thought /, that night
as / lay in bed, "ihat is doubtless one
reason why you deserve the name of
Wild Bob. Marry the sister of an out
law2 / shuddered. Yes / would marry
her, even though she were an outlaw
herself. It was my duty though to
have Bob arrested What a thought
1t would almost kill his parents. q
will wait until after we are married." /
unused, "but must discharge my duty"
The very next morning, upon taking
up newspaper, / saw that one of the
Missouri train robbers had been cap
tured. HE had in his possession,
valuable watches. When asked why he
had not disposed of them, ne replied
he was afraid that such a step might
lead to his detection, and that IL had
been his intention to leave the country
and sell them The chief of police. of
st. Louis, requests that those who lost
watches during the late train robbery in
this State, will please furnish him with
description of property"
Although / was satisfied that Bob had
INV watch, yet / wrote to the st. Louis
chief of police, and to my infinite sur
prise received few days later my watch.
Now / could see a difference, though
very slight. between my watch and
Bob's, but / could not account for the
same initials. This thought puzzled me
Why should he have shown such embar-
rassment when / asked him where he got
the watchg / was determined to find
out, so, accompanying Bob to his room,
related the circumstances of the train
robbery and then showed him my
watch.
"Why, it is just like mine'' he ex-
claimed. Same initials too. Well, it
is strange. surely"
$50 strange, Bob, that don't under
stand it. Tell me where you got your
watch. OF course it is no business of
mine, but would like to know"
81 got it from q friend"
Eyes. Bob, but why were you embar-
rasscd when asked you concerning it7'
For few moments he remained silent.
A cloud crossed his face. Passing his
hand over the face, as though he would
rub the cloud away, he said:
Zone of the best friends ever had
was James L. Harmon. This watch once
belonged to him. One night he took it
off and gave it TO me in payment of a
gambling debt. / took it, jokingly, in
tending to return it, but the first thing /
saw upon taking up the morning paper,
next day, was that James had been killed
while in a saloon. The horrible affair
occurred short time after he left me-"
bob you will never know what relief
you give me-"
"How so?'
/ related my suspicious. Helaughed
in genuine appreciation and said: you
don't know me, John. / haven't the
courage to rob beehive, much less
railway train, but really / am glad that
you no longer regard me a robber and
that you do not necessarily believe your
property to be in danger Of stealthy re-
moval when am around"
Il know one thing, Bob"
whats that?"
''YOu are the best fellow ever met"
Lanette and / were married by good
old parsou who talked through his nose.
Everybody seemed to be happy, although
the old gentleman walked with his hands
behind him. The old lady wept smoothly
and without flaw, but still looked like
8 piece of china - 4rk0ne0ao TlrnreIer