Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-02-20
The Tick Of a Watch
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When the engagement between Ju-
liam Reid and Corinne Phelps was bro
ken, 1t was given out, as usual In such
cases, that it was by mutual consent
But appearances led their friends tn
believe that Reid had been dismissed
by the lady. He was rary much cast
down, while she did not appear to be
a whit troubled However, 1t was not
sig months after bis supposed dismiss
al that Reid became engaged to Su
zanne Terry.
The trio were all in the same set and
soon after Reds engagement with
Miss Terry met at house party as
sembled in midwinter at the country
place of Mr. Ludlow Taylor. Reid
was devoted to his fiancee, while Miss
Phelps was receiving marked attention
from young man named Adams.
There was universal remark on the
fact that Mr.. Reid and Miss Phelps,
having been apparently bound up in
each other. could now each be inter.
ested in another person.
The house party was composed of q
dozen guests. One evening when they
had been frollcking together In the
same room a Miss Twltchell suddenly
remarked that she must have dropped
her watch Search was made, but the
watch was not found. 1t was pro-
posed to search elsewhere, but Miss
Twitchell declared that she had looked
at her watch on coming into the room
and noted that the hands stood at
twenty minutes after 10. 1t was now
twelve minutes later, and during the
interval she had not left the room.
Again the apartment was searched,
but with no better result. Then Mr..
Taylor, looking very grave, said:
"This Is the most unpleasant episode
that has ever occurred to me. Miss
Twitchell's watch has been stolen. To
think that one of my guests should be
q thief! cannot but assume that the
theft must have been committed under
a kleptomaniac impulse. shall there
fore give the thief a chance to return
the watch without being known. l
shall turn out the lights for five min
utes, during which interval he or she
may lay the watch in any place where
1t will be noticed.
He stepped to the electric switch and
turned off every light at once, the room
remaining darkened for five minutes,
when the lights were turned on again.
Every one looked about for the watch,
but ii was not visible. But one Of the
men called the attention of the host to
q bullying pocket In the coat Of Reid.
Taylor approached him and took from
the pocket a solid silver inkstand that
he 4 stood on an antique desk.
Reid turned pale Every eye was
upon him, and every one expected that
If he were searched the missing watch
would be found Reid demanded to be
searched, but Taylor would not con-
sent, saying that no such indignity
should be offered to q guest In his
house. He himself would indemnify
Miss Twitchell for the loss Of her
watch. Besides, Julian" he said, "if
you were guilty you might have
got rid Of the watch. No. there is
some mystery in this matter. I be-
lieve every guest to be innocent. /
am good for the loss Let the matter
be dropped"
This was easier said than done.
There were various opinions as to
Reds guilt or innocence, but Of course
he was suspected man despite the
fact that Taylor averred that the at
fair was an attempt to throw suspicion
OH him and was very clumsy. Suzanne
Terry drew away from her fiance cold
ly, while Corinne Phelps was outspo-
ken In his defense. Irene Taylor, a
sister of the host. from the moment Of
Reid's trouble devoted herself to him.
The morning after the loss Of the
watch q maid went to Miss Taylor and
said she had heard singular ticking
In the room of one of the guests which
she could not place. Miss Taylor went
to the room and listened. She heard
the ticking. but could not tell where 1t
was. 1t was loudest near a mantel
over a fireplace, but there was neither
clock nor watch on the mantel.
Listening attentlvely. Miss Taylor
located the ticking In the fireplace,
then in the chimney. In the fue was
a sheet iron plate with trapdoor In
it to prevent q draft through the Chin
ney when there was no fire on the
hearth Miss Taylor put her hand
through the trapdoor, felt about on the
plate and withdrew her hand, grasping
watch. 1t was the watch Miss
Twitchell had lost.
Corinne Phelps was the occupant Of
the room.
Miss Taylor took the watch to Reid
and told him where she had found 1t.
Reid was not so surprised as she sup