The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-08-23

AS a matter Of fact it was attached to
cheap gun.metal watch.
do you remember that morning a
week after her funeral?' said Jack.
Yes, yes, as II 1t we're yesterday"
was the answer.
when old Castelet asked US to 60
to the house and suggested that we
might care to have something she had
worm He gave you the FIRST choice
and you took her silver watch"
What | can't make out" urged Mr..
Markwick, rs your having possession
of it. can't understand that for an
instant"
"Old Castelet," Jack continued.
gave me her chain" He took It be-
tween his fingers. "It has been round
my neck every day since. When
Muriel died all my hopes seemed to
die, too"
After ALL" said Mr.. Markwick, "a
man has to live his life. 1t Is Of no
use to cry over split milk. The world
is still going round. You ought to
have pulled yourself together-you
ought to have married"
"Oh, of. couse you're quite right"
Jack admitted. "You behaved very
sensibly."
"Ah. WE'LL" said Mr.. Markwick con-
tentedly, you were always a bit Of q
fool It's no use. Dimsdale; II you
don't set on the top the chances are
you'll stay at the bottom"
Anyhow" exclaimed Jack, Il was
soreiy tempted t. stick to that watch"
Il wish to goodness you would tell
me how you got hold of It," said An
drew Markwick. Il never knew any
thing more bewildering. hadn't look
ed at the thing until yesterday for
nineteen or twenty years"
mot looked at i'll" cried Jack.
L shouldn't have seen 1t then II
my wife hadn't insisted l should run
risk Of having my pocket picked.
Surely enough my wife was right.
did get my pocket picked. and now
you whom l haven't seen all these
years coolly brink II back to me. That
beats everything"
"The fact is," said Jack, I've been
good many things in my time. I've
spent four or FIVE years on a cattle
ranch in Texas, I've hawked vege-
tables in the streets OF Sydney, I've
tried t. sell illustrated Bibles on COM
mission all over England, and now"
Good graciousl you've not fallen
so low"
"As to pinch your watch. Not
quite. At present" said Jack. 81 hap
pen to be a journalist Of sorts. You
remember the Trensham robbery last
Year,"
"Trensham is a friend of NINE" an
swered Mr.. Markwick with an air OF
pride.
WELL" Jack explained, II was doing
odd Jobs for the Daily Magniher, and
L tried to play the amateur detective
| knew l should score II l got TO the
bottom of the Trensham affair. but OF
course there was no such luck. How
ever" added Jack, ''in the course OF
my Investigations l made one or two
rather interesting acQuaintances-Jem
Davidson amongst the rest"
Who Is Jem Davidson2" asked Mr..
Markwick.
"The man who went through your
pockets"
How did you find that out?" de-
manded Mr.. Markwick.
Il saw him in the act" said Jack.
"Jem is a member OF a pretty low
down gang of thieves. had at one
time and another stood him a good
many drinks, We grew quite chummy
have told you have known you by
sight about town for a good many
years. Sometimes / felt l would give
anything for good Jaw over old times.
but Well. you see, Markwick, I
didn't feel certain should meet with
any reciprocity"
mo one can say ever turned my
back on a friend" was the answer.
Anyhow" Jack continued with a
smile. Il happened to be on the look
out for copy in the crowd on Thurs
day morning when I spotted you just
II front OF Jem Davidson. | saw some
of his pals wedge you in while he went
through your pockets. Jem is sup
posed to be a skilful craftsman. l
knew he would pick you clean. He
wasn't likely to leave your watch be-
| In ah