Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-01-28
The Tick Of q Watch

When the engagement between Ju-
Ian Reid and Corlnne Phelps was bro
Ken, 1t was given out, as usual in such
cases, that it was by mutual consent,
But appearances led their friends TO
believe that Reid had been dismissed
by the lady. He was very much cast
down, while she did not appear to he
2 whit troubled. However. it was not
six months after his supposed dismiss
al that Reid became engaged to Sill
zanne Terry.
The trio We're all in the same set and
soon after Reds engagement With
Miss Terry met at a 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 q 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 a
dozen guests. One evening when they
had been frolicking together in the
same room a Miss Twitchell 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
TwitchelI 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 NJ 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 IN of my guests should be
a thief! l cannot but assume that the
theft must have been committed under
a kleptomaniac impulse. l shall there
fore give the thief a chance to return
the watch without being known. |
shall turn out the lights for Eve min
utes. during which interval lie or She
may lay the watch in any place where
it will be noticed.
He stepped to the electric switch and
turned off every light at once, the room
darkencd for five minutes.
when the lights were turned on again.
one looked about for the watch,
but it was not visible. But one of the
men called the attention of the host to
q bulging pocket In the coat of Reid.
approached him and took from
the pocket a solid silver inkstand that
had 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 u 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
mystery in this matter. | be-
every guest to be innocent. i
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 q suspected man despite the
that Taylor averred that the nf-
fair was an attempt to throw suspicion
OIL him and was very clumsy. Suzanne
Perry drew away from her fiance cold
is, while Cofinne Phelps was outspo-
ken In his defense. Irene Taylor. n
OF the host. from the moment of
Reds trouble devoted herself to him.
The morning after the loss of the
watch a maid went to Miss Taylor and
said she had heard a singular ticking
the room Of one Of the guests which
she could not place. Miss Taylor went
o the room and listened. She heard
lie ticking, but could not tell where, if
was. 1t was loudest near a mantel
,yer a fireplace. but there was neither
,lock nor watchton the mantel.
Listening attentively, Miss Taylor
coated the ticking in the fireplace,
hen in the chimney. In the fiue was
| sheet iron plate with a trapdoor III
t to prevent n draft through the chiih-
ley when there was no fire on the
hearth. Miss Taylor put her hand
through the trapdoor. felt about on the
)late and withdrew her hand, grasping
l watch. It was the watch Miss
rwitchell had lost.
Corinne Phelps was the occupant OF
he room.
Miss Taylor took the watch to Reid
md told him where she had found it.
Reid was not SO surprised as she sup
posed he would be. Miss Taylor then
sent for her brother. and Reid was
isked to give a reason for Miss Phelps
lesiring to injure him. He declined to
10 SO, and Taylor told him that it must
DC assumed that he had placed the
watch in her room for the purpose Of
njuring her. Reid neither denied nor
lssented to the allegation. The party
,roke up, one half believing that Reid
vas the thief, the otheC half in Miss
guilt.
Miss Taylor was Ii who believed
n.NI;oskoIr- - Dnf1,n sr.@nn.oo c.d At.