The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-08-23
The Silver Watch
By THOMAS COBB

1t was only the importantly Of his
wife and daughters which induced Mr..
Markwick to take four seats in White
hall for the coronation, and fortunate
ly he was also persuaded to substitute
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-five
looking very well fed, self-satisfied,
and aggressively prosperous-found
himself wedged in the crowd whilst
deft hands passed stealthily over his
white waistcoat Still, as Mrs. Mark
wick subsequently remarked. how for
tunate It was that he had left his gold
watch at home
Ahl1 occurred on the Thursday, and
the following morning he did not go
to the city as usual. Late in the aft
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 a man Of about
bis own age standing on his doorstep
"a tall, slendorly built man wearing
blue serge suit little the worse for
wear and a soft felt hat. He had
somewhat pale face, moustache. and
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"
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 Muriel
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 If he had felt less sur
prised by the restoration of his watch.
Kindly walk this way" he said,
turning towards his smoking room at
the end of the hall, and after a mo-
ment's hesitation the visitor followed
him. 81 feel curious" Mr.. Markwick
added. ito hear what is your object in
bringing back my watch. / presume
you are aware 1t was stolen from my
pocket yesterday morning"
so you don't recognize me-" was
the answer.
Certainly not" said Andrew Mark
wick.
Look again." replied the visitor,
and raising hand he held 1t In front
of his pointed beard. "Dimsdale." he
added.
Good heavens! You can't be Jack
Dimsdale," he added.
Nobody else, l assure you" return
ed Jack
why. didn't you speak?" demanded
Mr. Markwick.
"Oh. we'll, you see you've got along
in the world. haven't"
YES, said Mr.. Markwick compla-
Gently, "I've not done so badly. But
then l have worked hard. How the
sight of you takes ones memory back.
Not that l should have known you
from Adam. You haven't" Mr. Mark
wick added, told me how my watch
came into your possession. You can
scarcely have been the man who pick
ed my pocket"
Scarcely" replied Jack.
"It must be-good gracious!-it
must be pretty we'll twenty-three years
since we met, Dimsdale."
ITO think" muttered Jack. that
Muriel can have been dead so long.
Markwick.
His jacket was unbuttoned. and Mr..
Markwick recognized the thin gold
chain which hung from his waistcoat