The Colorado statesman., 1912-08-17
The Silver Watch
By THOMAS COBB

WIG ana daughters WHICH luuuCeu MI.
Markwick to take four seats in White
hall for the coronation, and fortunate
ly he was also persuaded to substitute
for his gold English lever compar-
atively valueless silver watch which
had lain in one of his drawers for sew
eral years.
Mr.. Andrew Markwlck-forty-fi five,
looking very well fed. self-satisfied,
and aggressively prosperous-found
himself wedged in the crowd whilst
deft hands passed stealthily over his
white waistcoat. Still, as Mrs. Mark
wick subsequently remarked. how for
tunate 1t was that he had left his gold
watch at home.
This occurred on the Thursday, and
the following morning he did not go
10 the city as usual. Late in the aft
ernoon he set out for a stroll through
some of the more deserted streets, and
on reapproaching his house shortly
after six o'clock saw a man of about
bis own age standing on his doorstep
"a tall, slenderly built man wearing
blue serge suit a little the worse for
wear and a soft felt hat He had a
somewhat pale face, moustache, and
a short pointed beard.
For you, sir" said the butler, hand
ing Mr.. Markwick a small cardboard
box.
Good gracious!" was the answer as
he removed the unsecured lid, its my
silver watch"
That 1t should have been stolen In
the crowd was not very astonishing,
but why in the world should the thief
take the trouble to return 1t? How
did he know the address. If he was
stricken by remorse why had he not
brought back the fountain pen, the
few odd shillings, and the pocket knife
as we'll? AS he stood looking from
the watch to the restorer, who certain
iy had rot the appearance of a thief,
Mr.. Markwick's thoughts momentarily
flew back nearly a quarter of CEN
tury.
He was back at Chesterborough-a
boy again. In his case the child had
not been father to the man. What
young fool he was in those days. He
would have given the world for Muriel
Castelet, at whose death the capacity
for those more romantic sensations
had passed away Although he had
married a few years later and lived
as contentedly with his wifi as man
may in an imperfect world he had
never felt towards her as he once had
felt towards Muriel..
They used to read poetry together
in those days. Good heavens! Mr..
Markwick could have smiled at the
60 ha fnlt
prised by the restoration of his watch
Kindly walk this way" he said.
turning towards his smoking room at
the end of the hall, and after mo-
ments hesitation the visitor followed
him. 81 feel curious" Mr.. Markwick
added. "to hear what is your object in
bringing back my watch. / presume
you are aware it was stolen from my
pocket yesterday morning"
so you don't recognize me-" was
the answer.
Certainly not" said Andrew Mark
wick
Look again." replied the visitor,
and raising a hand he held it in front
of his pointed beard. "Dimsdale," he
added.
Good heavens! You can't be Jack
Dimsdale." he added.
Nobody else, assure you" return
ed Jack "a beard makes a world OF
difference Now you haven't altered
much-stouter of course, and all that,
but then the change has been gradual
and I've known you about town by
sight long while"
why didn't you speak?" demanded
Mr. Markwick.
"Oh, well. you see you've got along
In the world. 1 haven't"
YES" said Mr.. Markwick compla-
Gently, I've not done SO badly. But
then | have worked hard How the
sight of you takes ones memory back.
Not that l should have known you
from Adam. You haven't" Mr. Mark
wick added told me how my watch
came into your possession. You can
scarcely have been the man who pick
ed my pocket"
Scarcely" replied Jack
at must be-good gracious!-it
must be pretty well twenty-three years
since we met. Dimsdale." ~
ITO think" muttered Jack. that
Muriel can have been dead SO long.
Markwick," he continued, do you
recollect how you and / used to dodge
one another-the tricks we used to
play to cut each other out? There
was never another woman in the
world"
His jacket was unbuttoned. and Mr.
Markwick recognized the thin gold
chain which hung from his waistcoat
AS a matter of fact it was attached to
a cheap gun-metal watch
do you remember that morning a
week after her funeral?" said Jack.
"Yes, yes. as If it were yesterday
was the answer.
when old Castelet asked us to &C