The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-10-05


''It is just 2.2l, at your service.
"Thank you kindly, sirr' 1 said, as l
again politely touched my hat and passed
on.
1t was my lost watchl
As soon as clear of him, so intense were
my emotions that trembled in every limb
and could scarcely keep upon my feet.
When the detective joined me, which
he did by roundabout course, without
being seen by the thief, gasped out:
"Seize that man, Mr.. Gonzal!-he has
my lost watch.
"You are sure, Mr.. Bedford p
81 will swear to it.
"All right, then
He turned back, and [ kept him COM
pany, and we soon overlook the man.
Gonzal placed one hand on his shoulder,
and said, in quiet, firm tone:
Herman Langdon, | arrest you in the
Queens namer'
The prisoner started, and wheeled
fercely upon the detective, at the same
time glancing sharply at me.
AT once he recognized the officer, then
said, half playfully:
"Ha! Mr.. Gonzal, is it you? What
is the joke"
''Better ask what is the bail p
''But you are not in earnest p
"Never more so
"But | don understand it.
''Come to the magistrate office and
have it explained. -
"Will you not tell me with what crime
l am charged? p
''For having in your possession another
mans property, whether stolen or other
wise 5"
I-Herman Langdon-accused of a
crime like this! Why, Mr.. Gonzal, what
can have led you into such mistake p
eff it be mistake, Mr.. Langdon, why
all the better for you, y returned the detec
tive. Meantime, I must do my duty,
and l hope you will SO far aid me as to
give me no unnecessary trouble? p
"Oh, certainly, sir, certainly; but am
all amazement.'
Gonzal blew a whistle, the carriage
came up, and we were soon at magis-
trate's court.
at once made the charge that | had
been robbed of very valuable heirloom
watch, which I had seen in the prisoner S
possession.
Langdon laughed derisively.
"Well," he said, ''if that is the charge
on which | have been arrested all l need
to say is that l have only one watch, a
present from my father, which 1 have car
ried for twenty years.
Here he drew my watch from his pocket
and handed it to the judge.
''Is this the watch you claim as yours,
Mr.. Bedford? p queried the latter.
cit is, please, your Honor. =
"Can you prove it is your property and
not Mr.. Langdon's?'
This question gave me a start akin to
shock, which almost unnerved me. How
was | to prove it, indeed? could swear to it; f;
but then my oath would be no better than
Langdon's, who could: by perjury, swear
directly the other way. l saw CLEAN of
triumph in the william eye, and it nettled,
confused and embarrassed me. There was
no one who knew me as the owner OF the
watch, and unfortunately, my name was
not engraved on the case, and it would be
folly to think of bringing in such testimony
as Zanwi's.
For few moments-most painful mo-
ments-I felt as if all was lost; and then
a sudden idea came to my relief.
"Please, your Honor said, Gas we
both claim to be owners of this watch, is
it not reasonable to suppose that both
should be familiar with what is plainly en-
graved on the inner case, especially as |
declare the prize to be an heirloom in my
family, and Mr.. Langdon that it was a
present from his father 20 years ago p
''That appears to be reasonable sup
position p replied the court.
"Then please, your Honor, | propose
that each of us write down the inner in
scription, and hand the same to your
Honor, for decision as to whether Mr..
Langdon or myself is most familiar with
one article both claim to own, and this will
enable you Honor to correctly judge who
is the real owner of the watch p
"Well, I will not agree to any such
propositionr' snapped out Langdon, with
a redder face.
Here the detective whispered in his ear.
'Better give up this watch before l am
compelled TO arrest your female accomplice,
who stole it. y
This appeared to astonish and startle
the william, who had the good sense to act
upon the threat in the best way to get
himself clear of his present trouble.
/ "May it please your Honor he said,
turning at once to the magistrate, 81 now
propose to state the real facts of his case.
1 found the watch in question only short
time since, lying on the pavement; and
seeing its great value, I was on my way tc
advertise it, when this man-Mr. Bed
ford, as hear him called-had me ar
rested and brought before you. Thinking
he might have seen me find the watch
and that this arrest might be ruse to ge
possession OF IL, TeS0lVeu 10 IAN uln D.
claiming to be the owner. Now, if he il
really the owner, shall only be too happ
to restore his property. All | ask is tina
he prove himself to be what he claims; an
if he will say what is engraved on the inne
case Of the watch, and your Honor find
as he states, I will consider that sufficien
proof of ownership, and relinquish all righ
to it at once. y
"Then, please, your Honor, here is m
proof" gladly responded, as l wrote tn
line:
"H. R. FL. to L. B., 1896. Fl
loyal valor y
Correct, Mr.. Bedford, said the judge
1 as he examined the interior case with