Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-07
FIXING HIS WATCH.
A BOSTON REPORTERS EXPERIENCE
WITH A TrMEkEEPER.

Prices CHARGED for Correcting Trivial De-
r.nsemenfs-Petty swindling-Men Who
Are Honest
The man I called upon was a slim, bfus
eyed chap, who sold daily papers, candy,
cigars, stationery, toys and all sorts Of knick-
knacks and run watch and clock doctoring
counter besides. We fell to talking about
the tricks Of the trade; how charges were
made for trivial arrangements, and how
prices w>re charged, not in proportion to the
work performed, but according to how much
the matchmaker thought he could collect.
To make long story short, that slim, blue
eyed watch tinker and entered into com
pact to test the honesty OF the wa:chsuiths
Of Boston, and l was 70 take my watch
around town and see what ailed it Ipaid
him 81 for cleaning the interior OF the watch
and then started out
My first venture was II little store on
Washington street. A broad shouldered
youth, with dark face and big nose, took
OF the ulster Of my pet, lifted up its shirt
and looked in. The scrutiny was long and
thorough
''Your watch is very dirty said he. 81
nus. clean it before can repair it." This
reason that had just paid my money for the
cleaning. Still, consented, and departed
with a check in my hand.
In three days called again. It was done.
The roller pin was broken 1t was necessary
to put in new one. That was Sl-5o. The
cleaning was 81, making the total 81 so
paid the bill and went back TO my blue eyed
down easter. He looked at the watch
s.U -lo% for inf Ia ,-eaI
1.-TWO fifty"
How, What forF'
1T was dirty; that cost 81 The roller pin
was gone. A new one cost S1.50 more"
The man was mad. If told you just what
be said, there would be joy in sheol over the
fact that soul was lost. Re took out the
roller pin and showed it to me. It was an
ordinary brass pin such as you can buy for
five cents q paper in any store of Boston.
The head had been fled of. Also the point.
But the pin was there and it had cost me 81. 50.
thought it was a pretty good profit on tie
investment.
"Can you afford to try them againa7 asked
my jeweler.
YES; go ahead
He lifted up the handspring, hitched it over
the movement and told NE to go. went.
street.
''What ais itF' asked l.
The old man at the desk put on his eyeglass,
took out pair OF tweezers, and in g second
the watch was going.
Nothing" said lie.
whats the bilr'
''Not q cent
please put the spring back where it was
H. 7 i
back to my old friend, who hitched up the
hair spring. Then l went to store near
Park square and passed out the watch again
He laughed at it
"You have got a bad roller pin," said he.
II know it, but brass pin is good enough
for me. l think my hair spring Is broken
He peeped again
SIT is. You must leave the watch with me
until Saturday, when / viii have a new one"
What wiIl,the bill bea"
about $3.50"
"All right" got around the corner, saw
him take his tweezers and lift up the spring,
saw him grin e. so smile, and then 1 went
away. When l came Saturday he was ready
for me. After had paid the bill he said:
Your watch was very dirty. l have
cleaned 1t up for you, but will not charge
seen him lift up the spring and put the watch
on the rack he got mad and said was poll
tician and called me other names which did
not like. l asked him to come out and fight
He would not accept. As he had the money,
l could see nothing for ne to do but submit
submitted of course
When | talked it over with my friend be
said he would try new dodge and see how
~ n ftar ~
cause Of science was at stake and the sacrifice
was worthy of the object. He took out the
whole internal arrangements, SO could see
the backbone and kidneys Of my watch. This
done, he carefully removed one Of the jewels
from the under side Of the movement and
put the works back again Ny watch was
dead l went to a smith on harrison avenue
He told me just what allied my watch and
said it would cost g for cure. All right. Ho
could 60 ahead. When / took my watch
back to my partner in the secret was il
formed that the man had put in nice jewel,
as good as the old one, and that l had paid
fair price for the job.
was not satisfied. Again he removed the
jewel, and again l went out, this time to
another man on Washington street Here
l learned that jewel WIS gone, and that it
hungry. and SO he got the job Two days
later l returned to my friend with the watch
He dissected the job. The place lately occu.
pied by jewel was filed by a bit Of tin with
q hole in it The watch was going, but in g
few weeks it would stop, and I should have
TO contract another bill / took the watch
back to the man who had made the tin Jewell
and said:
II forgot to mention It, but think my
watch Is dirty. Viii you clean itF'
Yes, it is dirty said he, with q happy
look IN his face, but did not feal like doing
a job which / was not asked TO perform" /
told him to 60 on and show it up. He opened
tbs case, took out the movement, and looked
in When he saw tibet my friend had re-
placed the jewel, be looked blank
What do you think q lit asked
Think Why, think 1t is dirty"
But how about that jewel you put fnr'
Here it is said be, pointing to the jewel
my friend had placed there instead OF the
tin, "aod it Is a fne one, too" | let out at
him II ne had been possessed of any spark
OK courage he would have coUe out and
whipped me then and there But he was o
coward, and would not fight What was
still wore be would Tot give up the money.
Ny friend broke the main spring this tina
It was not much Of JOB, and be did nct take
OF over an inch, which stopped the watch,
and that was enough An old fellow q. the
" sss End was my next victim he knew
what allied the watch st o glance. The main
sprtug was broken 4 new oce would cost
him fifty cents 1t was worth City cents TO
put it il, OF 81 in all
20. K said L
Two days after thiA my friend and were
looking over my watch From two or three
peculiar dIenarks On Jie spring We knew a.
once that ell be had done was to shorten up
the old spring and make i. serve fer new
one, which was the work of not over .