The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-07-08
TRACING A WATCH.
How Mr.. Broomberry Unwittingly
Made a Discovery.

Broomberry was on his way down
town, intending to get off at The Van
Buren, street station. just before each
ing that point an acquaintance sat
down beside him and began to talk
about a murder that had been commit
ted just year before on the north
side. Being city hall man, Broom
bcrry's acquaintance knew great deal
about the murder; he knew old
Kloptock, the victim, and in an ex-
ceedingly discreet and sunken-voice
manner he intimated to Broomberry
that he had a pretty shrewd idea as to
who committed the deed. BY this time
the train had passed the Van Buren,
street station-was just pulling out in
fact, and Broomberry, determined not
to miss an appointment, jumped off the
train. He looked at his watch a min
ute later and found that in jumping
off he had broken the crystal. He kept
his appointment, and then stepped into
a jewelers. to get new crystal
"Where did you get it?' the jeweler
asked when, after completing his work,
he handed the watch to Broomberry.
81 got it from friend of mine.
Why?'
Nothing, only you've got a rare
watch, not in value but as to number.
About thirty years ago Il company of
men built a factory at a little town
called Romney, in Massachusetts, and
began to manufacture watches, but as
some sort OF disaster befell the concern,
only three watches were ever COM
pleted, and this is one of them"
You don't say so, exclaimed Broom
berry. well, WE'LL and shouldn't
have known of the rarity of my proper
ty if / hadn't broken the crystal in
jumping off train this morning. Do
you know what I'm going to do? I'm
going to trace this watch back to the
factory, if can and I'm going to write
a description of the hands through
which it has passed and make book of
it. Won't that be an odd little volame:
The History of the Watch?' am much
obliged to you, sir. You've given me
an idea, and to a man who is so unfor-
tunate as to be compelled to make his
living by thinking, an idea is almost a
necessity. All, but pardon me for not
answering your question. | got the
watch from Henry Lucas, gave him
forty-five dollars for it about two
months ago. If the history should be
interesting enough to print, I'll give
you a copy of it. Good day"
Broom berry called on I!enry Lucas.
He found his friend absorbed in the
work of running up figures in an i'm
meDse book.
AN, Broomberry. Sit down"
mo, | haven't time. Say, where did
you get this watch? Only three of them
made and all that sort of thing. just
want to get the history of it, you know"
II bought it from fellow named
Martin Kelly"
Where do you s'pose can find him?'
''Ee works in the post office"
Broomberry went to the post Office.
He had struck new line of work and
was delighted. Mr.. Kelly was easily
found.
Il got it from Mark Hammonds,"
said he.
''Thc deuce you didr' Broomberry ex-
claimed. "Why, he was the cause of
my breaking the crystal this morning.
i was talking to him and passed my
station, and then had to jump off. III
go right down to the city hall and see
him."
Where did get it?" Hammond re-
piled, in Il careless sort of way. well,
let me see. l got it from j. ii. McPeal,
big furniture dealer on the West
side"
''All right; I'll go over there and see
him"
The great furniture dealer, u smooth,
weli-fed, bald-headed man, was busy in
his Office when Broomberry entered.
well, sir, what can l do for you?"
Il came to ask you about this" said
Broomberry, taking out his watch.
Don't know anything about it, sir
Good day"
Excuse me-" said Broomberry, but
my friend Mark Hammonds Of the city
hall, told me that he got it from you"
"Ah. let me see 1T. Yes that's So
he added. when Broombcrry had handed
him the watch; and then, with an air
Of business, as though he had been
rather lax with the ethics of trade and
must now, rs recovery of principle,
make a show of brisliness, he asked:
But what about it, sir-what about
it?'
Nothing, only should like to know
where you got it?''
Yes, but am very busy to-day-ex-
ceedingiy busy, sir. Can't you call
some other timo?"
"Oh, of course, but it won't take
minute to tell me where you got it if
you know"
"Yes. yes. that's SO; but I'm extreme
ly ousy. Let me see. We took it in
part payment of lot of furniture
from, let me-Stevens," he called.
man entered and said: Yes, sir"
whats the name of that boarding