The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1892-07-29
TRACING A WATCH.
Now DIR. Broomberry Unwittingly made n
Discovery.
Qpie Read, in Banner of Gold.l

intending to get off at the Van Buren,
street station. Just before reaching that
point an acquaintance sat down beside
him and began to talk about murder
that had been committed just year be-
fore on the north side. Being a city hall
man, Broomberry's acquaintance knew
great deal about the murder; he knew
old Kloptock, the victim, and in an ex-
oeedingly discreet and sunken-voice
manner he intimated to Broomberry
that he had pretty shrewd idea as to
who committed 6he deed. BY this time
the train had passed the Van Buren,
street station-was just pulling out, in
fact, and Broombery, determined not
to miss an appointment, jumped off the
train He looked at his watch minute
later and found that in jumping off he
had broken the crystal. He kept his
appointment, and then stepped into a
jewellers to get new crystal,
FWhere did you get 2" the jeweler
asked when, after completing his work,
be handed the watch to Broomberry.
81 got it from friend of mine. Why"
Nothing, only you've got arare watch,
aot in value, but as to number. About
thirty years ago a company of men built
afactory at little town called Romney,
in Massachusetts,, and began to manu-
faobure watches, but as some sort of dis
aster befell the concern only three
watches were ever completed, and this
is one of them"
"You don't say so, ;" exclaimed Brocm-
berry. well, well; and | shouldn't
have known the rarity of my property
if [ hadn't broken the crystal in jump
ing off q train this morning, Do you
know what I'm going to do? I'm going
to trace this watch back to the factory,
if 1 can; and I'm going to write de-
scription of the hands through which it
has passed and make a book of it.
Won't that be an odd little volume
The History Of a Watch?' l am much
obliged to you, sir. You've given me an
idea,, and to man who is so unfortu-
nate as to be compelled to make his liv-
ing by thinking, an idea is almost a ne,
Gessity. All, but pardon me for not an
swering your question. IgOt the watch
from Henry Lucas, gave him $45 for ii
about two months ago. If the history
should be interesting enough to print,
I'll give you. a copy of it. Good day
BroombeTy called on Henry Lucas
He found his friend absorbed in the work
of running up" figures in an immense
book.
"Ah,. Broomberryt 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 afellow named MaE,
tin Kelly"
where doyou s'poSe can find him p
"He works in the post. office"
Broomberry went to the post-office
BE distruck a new line of work ant
was delighted. Mr.. Kelly was easily
found.
81 got it from Mark HammOnds, sale
BE,
"The duee you did!" Broomberry ex
claimed. "Why, he was the cause of m.
breaking the crystal this morning.
was talking to him and passed my sta
don, and then had to Jump off. III g,
right down to the city hall and see him.
where did get it, - Hammonds re
piled, in careless sort Of way. well
ebsme see. L got it from J. H. McPeal
a big furniture dealer on the west side.
"All right, I'll go over there and. Sc
him"
The greaS furniture dealer, smooth
well-fed, bald-headed man, was busy i
his office when Broomberry entered,
well, sir; what can I do for you !?
Il came to ask you about this" sal
Broomberry, taking out his watch,
"Don't know anything about it, sil
Good day
Excuse me-" said Broomberry, "bu
my friend Mark Hammonds, of the cit
Hall, told me Chat he got it from you
"Ah,. let me see it. Yes, that's 80" h
added, when BroOmberry had handle
him the watch; and then with an air {
business, as though he had been rattle
I. IL II,soc of 4ro1o op1 MN,