The Colorado statesman., 1912-08-17


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
fool. It's no use. Dimsdale; IL you
don't get on the top the chances are
you'll stay at the bottom"
Anyhow" exclaimed Jack, 81 was
sorely tempted to stick to that watch"
81 wish to goodness you would tell
me how you got hold of it," said An
thing more bewildering. / hadn't look
ed at the thing until yesterday for
nineteen or twenty years"
mot looked at it," cried Jack.
81 shouldn't have seen it then If
my wife hadn't insisted l should run
a risk of having my pocket picked.
Surely enough my wife was right.
did get my pocket picked. and now
you whom / haven't seen all these
years coolly brink 1T back to me. That
beats everything
a 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 to sell illustrated Bibles on COM
mission all over England. and now"
Good gracious! you've not fallen
so low"
"As to pinch your watch. Not
quite. At present" said Jack, Il hap
pen to be a journalist of sorts. You
remember the Trensham robbery last
year,"
"Trensham is friend of mine" an
swered Mr.. Markwick with an air OF
pride.
Well" Jack explained, 81 was doing
odd jobs for the Daily Magnifier. and
tried to play the amateur detective
l knew l should score if l got TO the
bottom of the Trensham affair, but OF
course there was no such luck. How
ever" added Jack, Gin the course OF
my Investigations I made ons or two
rather interesting acquaintances-Jem
Davidson amongst the rest"
who is Jem Davidson?" asked Mr..
Markwick.
The man who went through your
pockets"
How did you find that out?" de-
manded Mr.. Markwick.
81 saw him in the act" said Jack.
"Jem is a member of pretty low
down gang of thieves. l had at one
time and another stood him good
many drinks. We grew quite chummy
have told you l have known you by
sight about town for good many
years. Sometimes | felt | would give
anything for a good jaw over old times
but Well you see, Markwick. |
didn't feel certain | should meet with
any reciprocity"
mo one can say l ever turned my
back on a friend" was the answer
Anyhow" Jack continued with
smile, Il happened to be on the look
out for copy in the crowd on Thurs
day morning when | spotted you Just
in 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 no WOulu plCh you NiVhh' 49,
wasn't likely to leave your watch be-
hind-Muriel's watch. | imagined
you as being immensely cut up at your
loss. | could guess what that would
mean whether you were married or
not No man who had ever known
Muriel Castelet could ever quite for
get her. So tackled Jem Davidson,
Jack explained. I'm the end we COM
pounded felony. After swearing he
had not got your watch till he was
blue in the face he let me have 1t for
a couple Of pounds"
Good heavens!" exclaimed Mr..
Markwick with an expression of right
eous indignation. twice as much as 1t
was worth
There was silence for few seconds.
Jack drew in a deep breath as he stood
gazing at Andrew Markwick. Then he
slowly buttoned his shiny blue serge
jacket.
Now you know the whole story"
he said in different tone, Il should
MT have troubled you If you hadn't
caught me on your doorstep"
Still, can't allow you to be the
loser" ans swered Mr.. Markwick, taking
out his purse Two pounds mean
more to you than they do to me-"
odd" said Jack, picking up the
watch from the writing table by which
he was standing, what few bits OF
old metal do mean to a man"
We'll, here you are" cried Mr..
Markwick, holding out his right hand
with two sovereigns on its palm.
"Oh, none of that, Markwick," ex-
claimed Jack.
81 insist that you allow me to reim-
burse you,' said Mr.. Markwick while
Jack still held the silver watch.
You think 1t was dear at the
price," he suggested.