The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-05
TRACING A WATCH.
How Mr.. Broomberry Unwittingly
Made a Discovery.

b1tttA9 u OtSC0NCTYs
Broomberry was on his way down
town, intending to get OF at tho Van
/ Buren street station just before reach
! ing that point an acquaintance sat
down beside him and began 10 talk
4 about murder that had been commit
1 ted just a year before on the north
side Being city hall man, Broom-
berry's acquaintance knew great denl
about the murder; he knew old
/ kleptocl, the victim, and in an ex-
| ccedlnglg discreet and suniSen.Foice
manner he intimated to Broomberry
that he had a pretty shrcwd idea rs e.
who committed the deed by this time
the train had passed tho Wan Buren,
street station was just pulling out, IN
fact, and Broomberry. determined not
to miss an appointment, jumped on the
train. lie looked at his watch min
ute later and found that In jumping
off he had broken the crystal lie kept
his appointment, and then stepped into
a jewelers. to get d new crystal
where did yen get it2s the jcweler
asked when, inter completing his work,
he handed the watch to Broambcrry.
II got Il from . friend 81 mine.
why2a
Nothing, only you've got rare
watch, not In value but as to number.
About thirty years ago d company of
men built a factory Mt . little town
called Romney, In massachusetts, and
began to manufacture watches, bnt as
some sort Of disaster bafell 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; md ! shouldn't
have known Of the rarity Of my proper
ty II / hadn't broken the crystal in
jumping off train this morning. DO
yon know what I'm going to do? I'm
going 10 trace this watch back to the
factory, If can; and I'm going to write
description OF the hands through
whichit has passed and make book Of
1t. Won't that be an odd little volume:
vrhe History OF the Watch?' ! am much
Obliged TO You, sir You've given me
an idea, and 70 man who Is SO unfor-
tunatc 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 tho
watch from Henry Lucas, gave him
forty-fiye dollars for IL about two
months ago. II the history should be
interesting enough to print I'll give
you d copy of IL. Good day. =
Eroomhcrry called On Henry Lucas.
lie found lis friend absorbed In the
work Of running mp figures in an Inn
mense book
"Ah. Isroomberry. Sit down"
"No, haycn't time. Say, where did
you get this watcli9 Only three Of them
made aud all that sort Of thing. just
want togct fae history Of L, You know"
II Loaglt it from d fellow named
Martin Kelly.
"Wherc d. yoii s'pose can find him2N
''IIe works In the post ellie.
Broorabcrry went % tie post Office.
He had struck q new line Of work and
was delighted. Mr. Kelly was easily
found
.Is got ii from Mark Hammonds, !"
said lie.
.t'Thc deuccsyou didf Broomberry ex-
claimed why. ile was tile cause Of
my breaking the crystal this morning.
WAS talking 10 him and passed my
station, ond then had to jump of. I'll
60 right down to they city hall and see
him.
"Where did get it2" Hammond re-
piled, ia careless sort of way well,
let me see. got It from }. H. McPeal,
q big furniture dealer on the West
side"
IAN right; III go oven there and see
him.
The great furniture dealer, smooth,
welI-fed, bald headed man, was busy in
his Office when Broomberry entered
Wen, sir. what can | do for you?"
II came to ask you about this" said
Broomberry, taking out his watch,
Don't know anything about it, sir
Good day
Excuse me, said BroomberryA nbut
my friend Mark Hammonds, Of the city
hall, told me that he got II from you
'.Ah, let me see it. Yes, that's ao,'
he added, when Broom berry 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, as recovery q principle,
make show 81 brislkness. he asked:
.sBut what about II, sir what about
it?''
Nothing. only should like to know
where you got it?''
Eyes. but am very husY to-day ex-
ccedingly busy, sir. Can't you call
some other time?r
.'Oh. Of course, but It won't talxeS q
minute otell me where VOW got tiff
you know.
eyes. yes. that's so; but I'm extreme
" busy. Let me see. We took It in
part payment Of lot Of furniture
from, let me- Stevens, . he called.
a man entered and said: Eyes. SIR
'What's the name d that boarding