The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-08-28
The Face In The Watch.
by NANCY VINCENT MOO

| bh NaNNl NIN(ENI ID.
Judge Ilollistcr looked up with frow
of annoyance when his study door opene
unccremoniously and some papers on hi
desk blew ont of place, but his face IT
taxed a little when ne saw that it wa
only Lalitc.
Father" she exclaimed in an anxiou
voice, what do you think has happened
| have lost my watch"
"Ah." said the Judge quietly. "Hav
you my dear: What sort of watch wa
it,"
why, father" she said, "vou ought t.
know. You gave it to me yourself 70
my birthday
ITO be surc, to be sure; so l did,
answered the judge, smiling. Il hadfor
gotten about that. You see. you tool
nix somewhat by surprise"
% did rush in rather like a whirlwinr
i'll petticoats, didn't T." confessed Lalit,
penitcntly. please forgive me, but wa.
so worried that couldn't think of any
thing else but getting here What shall
do about it,"
"!Iow did it happen" asked the
judge.
Lalite sat down on the arm of tn,
leather chair and rested her elbows or
his desk.
II was out walking" she said, with
Howard Washhurn, and when we left
the house wore my watch on this chain
over my jacket. 1t was tucked i'll here
We went into Il florists to get some
vio!etS. and when we came out | thought
we'd better be turning toward home and
started to see what time it was. But
the watch was gone and the chain
was broken like this. Howard went
back into the shop and asked the man
who waited on US whether it had dropped
il there, but he said they hadn't seen it.
| was awfully fond Of that little watch,
father" the girl finished.
Lets see" said the judge. drawing a
sheet of paper toward him. at was a
small, plain gold one, wasn't it, Lalitc?''
with my monogram on it,
with your monogram on it. And l
think have the number of it in my old
diary"
The methodical man hunted out his
book of the previous year. He never for
got the date of his daughters birthday.
1t was a day of double memories to him.
1t had given him Lalite and taken away
her mother.
Here it is" he read in a murmur.
'Feb2, gave Latte her watch. Jan.
30, %, 81, &c How thoughtless of me,
Lalitc. didn't keep the number after
ali. Never mind. The monogram ought
to be sufficient to trace it. Now Lalitc,
in case it's been lost we'll advertise it, and
in case it's been stolen we llquictly notify
the police bureau to send word to all the
pawn shops and the big jewellers"
lie wrote few lines quickly, inter
rupting himself to ask, mo other marks;
of identification about it anywhere, were
there daughter" The girl flushed deeply
and went around his chair
There were the monogram and the
make and the plain gold case" she re-
p"atcd, with some embarrassment.
"ics, yes, I've put them down al
ready" he said, 4 little testify,
"What else could there he, father"
asked Latte.
"Oh, dents or scratches or othcr marks"
lie answered carelcssly.
Latte laughed aloud, almost with re-
lief, it seemed.
Daddy, dear" she said, al haven't
bitten or scratched or bumped my things
since l WIS a baby. No; the little watch
has no scars on it. At least" she added
wistfully, at didn't have any when had
it last"
There, there" said the judge, patting
her face gently. lhopc you'llgetit back
again ali safe and sound. I'll send these
messages off right away, and then
81 forgot" said Latte rs he reached
for the bell. Howard is waiting down.
stairs to see whether there is anything he
can do about it. He'll send these for me-
DO let him. for he feels almost as sorry as
| do, father
For three days aftcrward Lalitc was
on tiptoe with nervous expectancy. She
v;bratcd between the windows and the
stairs. She watched the street intently
and jumped at each ring of the door bell
She refused to leave the house for any
length of time.
"lf some one brings back my watch"
she said, al want to see him myself"
"Daughter," demonstrated the judge
one morning as she he helped him into
his fur lined coat, cit isn't worth while
to lose your color and your watch too,
III get you another timcpiecc if this one
doesn't turn up. Don't worry So"
but, father" said Lalitc hesitatingly,
you don't know She changed her
mind. 81 wonder whether Howard
really sent those messages" she said.
"I'll stop in his Office on the way down
ask him." replied the Judge cheerily. We
might have him up to dinner tonight, eh,
Lalitc? Think he'd like to come"
"Maybe," said Latte, indifferently.
"Blcss her sweet heart" said the Judge
to himself as he went down the steps.
Shes like her mother in the way she
grows attached to her little personal
possessions.
OF course the various messages had been
sent. As if there was ever request of
Lalitc's which Howard Wahburn had not
promptly honorcd at sight More than
that, he had tried in dozen other ways
to trace Lalite's lost property. He gave
them 4 full account of his efforts as they