The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1912-10-03
The Silver Watch
By THOMAS COBB

hall for the coronation, and fortunate
for his gold English lever a compar-
atively valueless silver watch which
had lain In one of his drawers for sew
eral years.
Mr.. Andrew Markwick-forty-f
looking very well fed, self-satisfied.
and aggressively prOsperous-found
himself wedged in the crowd whilst
def 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
to the city as usual. Late in the ait
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 man of about
bis own age standing on his doorstep
"a tall slenderly built man wearing a
blue serge suit little the worse for
wear and 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. II 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
ly had rot the appearance of a THIEF
Mr.. Markwick's thoughts momentarily
flew back nearly a quarter OF a cen
fury.
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 Murie'
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
recollection II he had felt less sur
prised by the restoration Of his watch
Kindly walk this way" he said
turning towards his smoking room al
the end of the hall, and after a mo
ment's hesitation the visitor followed
him. 81 feel curious" Mr.. Markwicl
added. ito hear what is your object II
bringing back my watch. ! presume
you are aware 1t was stolen from m!
pocket yesterday morning"
80 you don't recognize me-" wal
the answer
Certainly not" said Andrew Mark
wick.
Look again." replied the visitor
and raising a hand he held 1t In from
Of his pointed beard. "Dimsdale." n
added
Good heavens! You can't be Jacl
Dimsdale," he added.
Nobody else. l assure you, return
ed Jack. "a beard makes a world o
difference. Now you haven't alteret
much-stouter, of course, and all that
but then the change has been gradua
and I've known you about town b!
sight a long while"
why didn't you speak!" demanded
Mr.. Markwick.
J ooh, we'll, you see you've got alonl
IN the world. haven't"
Yes" said Mr.. Markwick compla
Gently, I've not done so badly. Blu
then I have worked hard. How tn
sight of you takes ones memory back
Not that I should have known yo'
from Adam. You haven't" Mr.. Mark
wick added. told me how my watcl
came into your possession. You cal
scarcely have been the man who pick
ed my pocket"
Scarcely" replied Jack.
cit must be-good gracious!-i
must be pretty we'll twenty-three year
since we met. Dimsdale."
ITO think" muttered Jack, tina
Muriel can have been dead so Ions
Markwick," he continued, do 20
recollect how you and used to dodg
one another-the tricks we used I
play to cut each other out? Their
was never another woman In tn
world"
His Jacket was unbuttoned. and MI
Markwick recognized the thin gol
chain which hung from his waistcoa
As a matter Of fact 1t was attached t
a cheap gun-metal watch.
do you remember that morning
week after her funeral?" said Jack.
Eyes. yes. as II 1t were yesterday.
was the answer.
when old Castelet asked US to
to the house and suggested that W
might care to have something she ha
worn? He gave you the first choic
and you took her silver watch"
what | can't make out" urged Nj
Markwick, 'fs your having possessio
a. 7 can't understand thar for n