News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-02-14
THE HISTORY OF THE WATCH.
By 0PIE READ.
Copyright, 1899, by opie Read

h0Wn neSlQe MIN ana began TO GalK
about murder that had been commit
ted just a year before on the North
Side, Chicago Being a city hall man,
Broomberry's acquaintance knew a
great deal about the murder. He knew
old Kloptock. the victim, and in an ex-
ceedingly discreet and sunken voiced
manner he intimated to Broomberry
that he had a pretty shrewd idea as to
who committed the deed.
By this time the train had passed the
Van Buren, street etatiou-was just
pulling out in fact-and Broomberry,
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 jewelers. to get new
crystal
"Where did you get it?'' the jeweler
asked when, after completing his work,
he handed the watch to Broomberry.
81 got it from a friend of mine
Why?"
Nothing Only you've got a rare
watch, not in value, but as to number.
Abont 80 years ago company of men
built a factory at a little town called
Romney, in Massachusetts,, and began
to manufacture watches; but, as some
sort of disaster befell the concern, only
three watches were ever completed, and
this is one of them. .
"You don't say sol" exclaimed
Broomberry. "Well, well. and should
not have known of the rarity of my
property if hadn't broken the crystal
in jumping eff train this morning |
Do you know what I'm going to do2
I'm going TO trace this watch back to
the factory if | can, and I'm going to
write description of the hands through
which it has passed and make book of
it. Won't that be an odd little volume,
THE History of the Watch2' | am
much obliged to you, sir. You We given
me an idea, and, to a man who is so
unfortunate as to be compelled TO make
his living by thinking, an idea is al
most a necessity. All, but pardon me
for not answering your question: got
the watch from Henry Lucas; gave
him $40 for it about two months ago
If the history should be interesting
enough to print, I'll give you copy of
it. Good dayI"
Broomberry called on Henry Lucas.
He found his friend absorbed in the
work of running up" figures in an
immense 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"
~ bought it from a fellow named
Martin Kelly"
"Where do you suppose I can find
fim 2
| "He works in the postofiCe.
Broomberry went to the postofice,
He had struck new line Of work and
was delighted. Mr. Kelly was easily
found.
| 81 got it from Mark Hammonds, -
said he
"The deuce you didp Broomberry
exclaimed "Why, he was the cause OF
my breaking the crystal this morning.
l was talking to him and paased my
station and then had to jump off III
go right down to the city hall and see
him. -
"Where did I get ?" Hammonds re-
| rIfaI II, ,oraIocC cnrf nf n xyo tENnn
let me see. l got it from J. H. McPeal
big furniture dealer on the West
Side. "
"All right. I'll go over there and see
him
The great furniture dealer-a smooth
we'll fed, baldheaded man-was busy il
his Office when Broomberry entered.
"Well, sir, what can l do for you ?"
81 came to ask you about this, - sale
Broomberry, taking out the watch.
Don't know anything about it, sir
Good dayr
Excuse me, said Broomberry, "bu
my friend, Mark Hammonds of thu
city hall, told me that he got it from
you.
"Ahl Let me see it. Yes, that's so,
he added, when Broomberry had handed
him the watch, and then, with an al
of business, as though he had beef
rather lax with the ethics of trade ant
must now, as a recovery of principle
make a show of briskness, he asked
But what about it, sir-what abou
itT
Nothing. Only should like t.
know where you got it, "
Eyes, but am very busy today-ex
ceedinsly busy, sir. Can't you call som
other timer"
"Oh, of Counsel But it won't take
minute to tell me where you got it i
you know"
eyes, yes, that's so. But I'm ex
tremely busy. Let me see. We took
in part payment on lot of furnitur
from, let me-Stevens, he called.
A man entered and said, Eyes. sir
What's the name of that boardin
house woman that couldn't, or rathe
wouldn't, pay for her furniture i
money, and we had to take a watch
What is her name2 Quick; I'm busy.
Mrs Caddo. sir; TAG Limbi
street. 4"