The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-28

sbout its massiveness and beauty elected
the statement that the watch was an un-
usually valuable one. and that they had
advanced al0 upon IL. took the watch In
my hand. turned IL over, and then caught
sight al an anchor engraved I'm the centre
Of the engine-turning. with the initials
y. b." planted on either side OF the em-
blem hope
Dear me, I've surely seen this watch
before?" i said. for the moment puzzled;
and then l remembered the sailor and
recognized the watch perfectly as his.
The pawnbroker fearing loss, began
TO look concerned indeed while l opened
the case and examined Il closely; yet IL
was not any curiosity 20 see the inside OF
either case or watch. or the number of
the watch, that prompted the action
while ! mad been examining the back ~
the case. something lee a crimson line
running Ior fully an eighth o. an inch
along the edge caught my eye, and on
pressing the spring 1 found what looked
very like a dried trlckle OF blood running
a short distance in from the edge. as IL
blood had been there, aud in spite OF the
close fitting joint OF the case had iorcoia-
ted IN little before being wiped away
outside Stili, 4 cannot Say that even then
/ felt much concern or alarm. The sailor
might have cut his finger, and in touch
ing the watch stained its case slightly.
The thing which did concern me. how
ever, was 10 find the watch In pawn
shop the valued instrument which he
had toi- me was anchored 10 him.
never 10 be parted with or sold. ] knew
that IL had not gone there through any
want OF money ON his part for he had
nothing TO do undcr such circumstances
but come up 20 the office and claim that
which he ndd lot there; aud folt certain
e. al a man Of his tender nature and feel
ing heart would part with such a gift
under only the greatest pressure. My in
ference, then, was, that Brennan had
been robbed. and that bv some very un-
usual freak Of chance the stolen watch
had found its way 10 the pawnbrokcrs
instead Of the fences L therefore inquir-
ed Very promptly for the name and ad-
dress OF the person who had pawned the
chronometer. These were at once given.
but they proved fictitious. The man who
had pawned the watch had presented GER
tain pecuiarities of manner and dress.
however, which both tie pawnbroker
and his assistant We're able 10 describe
ny these 4 imagined / recognized a kind
or nondescrfpt--neither thief nor an
honest man--known as Griddcr Bob; n
man who chanted dismal songs on the
street on wet or driZzling days. who
begged and lied and lodged his way
through life, with just enough cunning to
keep well out OF my way. | thought |
proper TO take the chrOnorueter TO the |
office with me. pending Inquiries; and /
then / found Griddler Bob, and took him |
up TO the pawnbrokers for Identification, |
with Indifferent success The people there |
both thought he was the man who had |
pawned the watch but would not swear !
TO him; and Bob himself, when / ap- |
pealed TO him for information. swore
most energctcally that he knew nothing !
of the watch, or its owner, or its his |
tory, He had never had such a valuable |
i'm his possession as long as he had lived. |
IL had struck that Griddler had looked |
too much scared on being taken 10 tho |
pawnshop, and that he was altogether |
too voluble i'm his defence for me to-
credit his innocence; but there was real
ly no charge lodged against him or any |
one, and OF course we had 10 let him go. |
The little trickle OF blood. which /
pointed out 10 Bob for explanation, and
which appeared 10 disconcert him more
than any OF my other questions. pointed
10 no fresh clue. It's history remained
untold. and ] had patiently 10 wait for
fresh clues. hoping thus TO get the So
luton OF the mystery.
A month or two later, was going
down Leith street when 7 saw a bury-
looking seaman-whom / imagined ! rec
ognized at a glance as Jim Brennan
crossing the street towards me. / paused
to allow, him To approach and recognize
me- and in moment our eyes met
] expected his broad, kind face to cx-
pand instantly with delight and pleasure:
bat what was my surprise 10 see his
full-colored face instantly become blank
with dismay, and then livid with terror,
and the moment after TO see him turn
and dash down the street with the speed
Of a man running for life / followed him
swiftly, though not at a desperate pace,
as | was really curious 20 learn what
had induced him TO leave the money so
long unclaimed. as well as u get from
him some account OF how he had been
forced TO part with his much-przed chro-
nometer: but for once / was outdis-
tanced with ease.
Brennan. or at least the man I had
startled, vanished down the Low Calton
more. More puzzled than ever: but sure
l had not made a mistake, and anxious
TO get at him, while ne was home
from sea, l inserted an advertisement
IN two daily papers the effect that
James Brennan, seaman was requested
TO call on Detective MGovan, at his
earliest convenience. on a matter OF i'm
portance;" but the money appeared
10 be thrown away, for no Jim Brennan
appeared
All this time I had little doubt that
the Grddler had pawned the watch; but
the very fact that he had done sO-prOb-
ably intending To- sell the ticket also
for a good sum-impiied a confidence
against results that annoyed me consid-
erably II the chronoHeter had been