Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1912-12-26
RECOGNIZED A PATCH
By JACOB LowENeuRo.

IN MS Ire rnat the pubic would en-.
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
the memory, 1T 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 was
coming from the ferryboat with Mrs.
Johnson, then my flance; as we
stepped into the street she dropped
her umbrella. stopped to pick 1t
up, and small box. containing the en-
gagement ring ] had just purchased
for her, dropped out. There were a
lot of newsboys gathered about. One
grabbed the box before could get it
and disappeared into the crowd. I In
stantly 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 /, SO in short time he
managed to lose me. Mrs. Johnson
had grown tired and taken the car to
my mothers, SO / at once telephoned
to the police, then went home"
Gee! What luck to lose such a
ring" The reporter spoke sympa-
thetically.
1--WE 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
well, so my fiance sat with her, and
father and went to the theater. 1t
was amateur night; they had the usual
bill, followed by the amateurs. Most Of
them we're impossible.
"About the tenth on the bill was q
little fellow who looked about ten
years old. He was nervous chap and
very shabby. He worried through the
first verse of a popular song. Some
thing in the song-or perhaps 1t was
the boy pleased the bowling mob, for
they actually let him sing the chorus,
not once, but fully dozen times.
"His voice was beautiful, the most
vibrant, sympathetic boys voice have
ever heard"
well, it's wonderful, now" the re-
porter smiled knowingly. IL
Gas he left the stage" Mr. johnson
resumed, something familiar caught
my eye-a patch on the seat OF his
trousers. had 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 left the theater. Faith
er hurried to the police station, and
went to the stage door, found the man
ager and told him the story.
1.-THE boy was waiting with the
crowd for his prize. He received 1t;
then Mr.. Emery, the manager, brought
him to me-
Johnny he said. did you ever
see this gentleman before?' sss
No, SIR the boy replied promptly.
sBut was sure about the patch, so
I simply accused him at once. For a
minute he seemed terribly frightened.
then he looked me In the eye and
said: ee
"T didn't take your ring. SIR And
his lip trembled slightly.
but, my boy think said It
kindly, I recognize the patch on your
trousers s*}
".Oh, SIR he smiled, these amt
my pants; didn't have any SO good,
SO he lent them to me, the boy next
door did. He's sick tonight
II laughed at the boy, but the clue
was too good to lose, SO offered him
large reward If he would take me to
his friend.
"'Will you put him in jail?' he ask
ed. And it was not until I had given
him my word not to punish his friend
IL the ring was returned, that he con-
sented to take 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 theft" The reporter
had been busily writing. ~
1--WE sent the guilty one to farm,
where he was cared for and Mrs.
Johnson received the ring In due
time"
"And little Hendricks?''
1--WE looked up his family records,
and finding he was quite alone, we
adopted him. And not once in the
seven years hare 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 hay
ing. and It is now almost my most
valued possession. Outside OF my
tears came into his eyes-@foster faith
er and mother"
Court With Little Pomp.
Tho sim pIicifv of fha No.,tarorx~tS,