The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-21

would prove to be. He was a genial
looking old fellow and he led me away
with him into his study.
well, my lad said he. what is it?'
1--WE come about that watch of
yours said l, I think [ can Law my
hands on it
oh, it was you that took it, said he.
mo, l answered; I know nothing
whatever about how you lost it. l have
been sent by another party to see you
about 1t. Even if you have me arrest
ed, you will not find out anything
"'Well,' he said 4 don't want to be
hard on you. Hand it over, and here is
my cheque for the amount
Cheques won't do said l; 4 must
have it in gold.'
1T would take am hour or so to col
lect in gold said he.
That will just suit I answered
''for have not got the watch with me.
I'll go back and fetch it, while you raise
the money.
II started off, and got the watch
where I had left it. When I came back
the old gentleman was sitting behind
his study table, with the little heap of
gold in front of him.
Here is your. money he said. and
pushed 1t over.
Here is your watch said I.
"Ee was evidently delighted to get it
back; and after examining it carefully,
and assuring himself that II was none
the worse, he put it into the watch
pocket of his coat with a grunt of sa It's
faction.
NOW, my lad he said, 4 know it
was you that took the watch Tell me
how you did it, and don't mind giving
you an extra five-pound note
II wouldn't tell you in any case
said |: but especially I wouldn't tell
you when you have a witness hid behind
that curtain You see, | had all my wits
about me, and 1t didn't escape me that
the curtain was drawn tighter than 1t
had been before.
You are too sharp for u.s. said he,
good humoredly. Well you have got
your money. and that's an end of 1t.
I'll take precious good care you don't
get hold of my watch again in a hurry
good night-no: not that door he
added as L marched toward Il cup
board. This Is the door and he
HNb'u hl' anu tptltt II. 1 DtuSnGu
past him, opened the hall door, and
was round the corner of the square in
no time. | don't know how long the old
gentleman took to find it out, but in
passing him at the door, | managed to
pick his pocket for the second time, and
next morning the family heirloom was
in the melting pot after all. That wasn't
bad, was it.? "
The old war-horse had evidently for
gotten all about his conversion now.
There was a tone of triumph in the con-
clusion of his anecdote which showed
that his pride in his smartness far sur
passed his repentance of his mlsdeed
He lemed pleased at the astonlsh hment
and amusement l expressed at his
adroitness.
Yes" he continued with a laugh, at
was "a capital joke. But sometimes the
fun lies all the other way. Even the
sharpest of us come to grief at times
There was one rather curious incident
which occurred in my career. You may
possibly have seen the anecdote, for II
got into print at the time"
"Pray le me hear it," sad J.
"Well, 1t is hard lines telling stories
dEulIlSt blt stii, bul lulN was HOW ~
happened: | had made a rather goot
haul, and invested some of the swag IL
buying a very fine diamond ring.
thought 1t would be something to fal
back upon when all the ready cash wa:
gone and times We're hard. ! had jus
purchased 1t, and was going back to my
lodgings in the omnibus, when, as lucl
would have 1t, a very stylishly-dresset
young lady came in and took her sea
beside me. / didn't pay much attention
10 her at first; but after a time some
thing hard in her dress knocked VI
against my hand which my expert
snced touch soon made out to be purse
1t struck me that l could not pass tn,
time more profitably or agreeably than
by making this purse. my own. hat
to do 1t very carefully; but managed
at last ITO wriggle my hand into he
rather light pocket, and thought IT,.