Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-12-24
RECOGNIZED A PATCH
BY JACOB LoWEN5URe.

|
Joy reading about?" The reporter
turned to Mr.. Johnson, the friend OF
the great singer. whose concert they
had just come from.
"Why, yes" Mr.. Johnson smiled at
tine memory ut happened about seven
years ago. and was the beginning OF
Alfred Hendricks career"
"May have it?" The reporter took
out his pad and pencil ready to take
his notes.
at was late afternoon. and I was
coming from the ferryboat with Mrs.
Johnson, then my fance; as we
stepped into the street she dropped
her umbrella. I stopped to pick 1t
up. and small box. containing the en-
gagerent ring 1 had just purchased
for her. dropped out. There were
lot Of newsboys gathered about. One
grabbed the box before could get 1t
and disappeared into the crowd. l In
stant!y darted after him, and Mrs
Johnson after me.
1--WE ran through Twenty-third
street to the elevated station; he ran
up one side and down the other, con-
tinuing after him. He was better
runner than I, so in a short time ne
managed to lose me. Mrs. Johnson
had grown tired and taken the car to
my mothers, so I at once telephored
to the police. then went home"
Gee! What luck to lose such
ring" The reporter spoke sympa.
thetically.
eve put several detectives on the
case, but there was little they could
do, outside of watching the various
newsboys at the ferry.
"That evening my mother was not
we'll, so my fiance sat with her, and
father and I went to the theater. 1t
vas amateur night; they had the usual
bill, followed by the amateurs. Most OF
them were impossible.
"A5out the tenth on the bill was
little fellow vino looked about ten
years old. He was a nervous chap and
very shabby. He worried through the
first verse of a popular song. Some
thing in the song--or perhaps it was
the bcy-plcased the bowling mob, for
the; actually let him sing the chorus.
r,oc cree. Ert fully a dozen times.
",gi. rc;2e VS. beautiful, tie most
.:;,r>.t. symp2thetic boys voice have
Ter heard
"fGel!. is wonderful now" the re-
porter smiled knowingly.
"As re left the stage" Mr.. Johnson
resumed something familiar caught
my eye--a patch on the seat of his
trousers. naG chased that same patch
from the ferry to Ninth avenue that
afternoon. The patch was black-and'
white check. and the trousers gray.
81 whispered word to my father,
and together we jeff the theater. Faith
er hurried to the police station, and |
went to the stage door, found the man-
ager and told him the story
"The boy, was waiting with the
crowd for his prize. He received it;
then MIR. Emery, the manager, brought
him to me.
"'Johnny,' he said. did you ever
see this gentleman before?'
"tNo, sir the boy replied promptly.
"Rut I was sure about the patch. so
simply accused him at once. For
minute he seemed terribly frightened.
then he looked me in the eye and
said:
az didn't take your ring, SIR And
his lip trembled slightly.
"'Rut. my boy ] think I said 1t
kindly. I recognize the patch on your
trousers
ooh. sir he smiled. these amt
my narts; didn't have any SO good
SO he lent them to me, the boy next
door did. Hes sick tonight
81 laughed at the boy. but the clue
was toe good to lose go I offered him
4 large reward if he would take me to
els friend.
"'Will you put him in jaii?' he ask
I'd. And It was not until I had given
him my word not to punish his friend.
ir ire ring vas returned, that ne con-
sentcd to lake me to his house. He
had worn the pants, and he could not
be unfaithful to the one who had been
kind TO him."
did you recover the ring. and what
Became of the thief?" The reporter
lad been busily writing.
1--WE sent the guilty enc to farm.
where he IVES cared for and Mrs.
Johnson received the ring in due
time"
"And little HeEdricks?"
Eve looked up his family records.
ard finding he was quite alone. We
adoDted MIN. And not once in the
seven years have we regretted it,
THAT was lucky patch for him"
As the reporter spoke Hendricks join
ed them.
"You are correct" he said to the re-
porter. That was patch worth hav-
irs. and it is now almost my most
valued possession "Outside of MY
tears came into his eyes-"foster faith
er and mother