The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-08-26
TRACING A WATCH.
How Mr. Broomberry Unwittingly
Made a Discovery.

town, intending TO get off at the Van
Buren street station. just before reach
ing that point an acquaintance sat
down beside him and began To talk
about "A murder that had been commit
ted Just a year before on the north
side. BEING d city hail man, Broom
berry's acquaintance knew d great deal
about the murder; ne knew old
KloptOck, the victim, and m an ex-
ceedingly discreet and sunken-voice
manner he intlmated to Broomberry
that Ee had a pretty shrewd idea a. 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
a. miss AN appointment, jumped OF the
train. He looked al his watch q 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 a new crystal.
Where did YOU get it?~ the jeweler
asked when, after completing his work.
he handed the watch To Broomberry.
Il got il from ID friend OF mine.
Why?"
Nothing, only you've got a rare
watch, not in value but as TO number.
About thirty years ago a company of
men built a factory at little town
called Romney, in Massachusetts, and
began to manufacture watches, but as
some sort ot 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, well; and ! shouldn't
have known Of the rarity of my proper
" If / hadn't broken the crystal in
jumping off train this morning. Do
you know what I'm going 10 do? I'm
going to trace this watch back To the
factory, if / can; and I'm going 10 write
a description of the hands through
which il has passed and make book of
il. Won't that be an odd little volume:
The History of the Watch?' i am much
Obliged to you, sir. You've given me
an idea, and to q 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. l got the
watch from Henry Lucas, gave him
forty-five dollars for il about two
months ago. If the history should be
interesting enough to print, III give
you copy of it Good day"
Broomberry called on Henry Lucas.
He found his friend absorbed in the
work of framing up" figures in an inn
mense book.
''Ah, Broomberry. Sit down"
No, 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?"
He works in the post office"
BroomDerry 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.
The deuce you did" Broomberry ex-
claimed. Why, he was the cause of
my breaking the crystal this morning.
was talking In him and passed my
station, and then had To jump of. III
so right down 10 the city hall and see
him.
Where did get it2" Hammond re-
piled, IN Z careless sort Of way. Well.
let me see. got it from j. II. McPeal.
big furniture dealer on the West
SIDE"
IAN right; III go over there and see
him"
The great furniture dealer, a smooth.
well-fed, bald-headed man. was busy IN
his office when BroomeerrY entered.
"Well, sir, what can do for you?"
II came to ask YOU about this" said
Broomherry, 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 nae see IL Yes that's So.
he added, when Broomberry had handed
him the watch; and then, with an air
of business, as though hc had been
rather lax with the ethics OF trade and
must now, as a recovery of principle,
make show Of briskness, he asked:
''lipt 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 timeP"
''Oh. of course. but il won't take q
minute TO tell me where you got it if
You know"
Yes, yes. that's so; but I'm extreme
" busy. Let me see. We took IL in
part payment of a lot OF furniture
from, let me-Stevens,' he called.
y man entered and said: Yes, sir"
whats the name of that boarding
house woman that couldnt. or rathe
wouldn't, pay for her furniture il
money and we had To take watch
What u her name? Quick. I'm busy.
Mrs. Caddo, sir; 742 Limbiu street.
Yes, that's correct. Gopd-day. sir.
Broomberry FASTENED TO the board
ing house of Mrs. Caddo. She yyoul,
have talked an hour about the watch
or by it, either. She would have toll,