The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-19
The Silver Watch
By THOMAS COBB

It was only the importantly Of his
wife and daughters which induced Mr..
Warwick to take four seats In White
hall for the coronation. and fortunate
~ he was also persuaded to substitute
for his gold English lever Z compar.
atvely valueless silver watch which
had lain in one Of his drawers for sew.
eral years.
Mr.. Andrew Markwick-forty.nve,
looking very well fed. selfsatisfed.
and agsressively prosperous-found
himself wedged In the crowd whilst
deft hands passed stealthily over bis
white waistcoat. Still. as Mrs. Mark.
wick subsequently remarked. how for
tunate 1t was that he had left his gold
watch at home.
This occurred on the Thursday. and
the following morning he did not 60
TO the city as usual. Late in the aft
crnoon he set out for q stroll through
some Of the more deserted streets. and
on reapproaching bis house shortly
after six o'clock saw a man Of about
bis own age standing on his Doorstep
"a tall. slenderly built man wearing
blue serge suit little the worse for
wear and a soft felt hat. He had
somewhat pale face. moustache. and
a short pointed beard.
For you. SIR" said the butler. hand.
Ing Mr.. Warwick small cardboard
box.
Good gracious" was the answer as
he removed the unsecured lid. Its my
silver watch"
That It should have been stolen In
the crowd was not very astonishing,
but why In the world should the thief
take the trouble to return It? How
did he know the address. II he was
stricken by remorse why had he not
brought back the fountain pen. the
few odd shillings. and the pocket knife
as we'll? As ne stood looking from
the watch to the restorer, who certain.
ly had rot the appearance OF thief,
Mr. Markwick's thoughts mOmentarily
flew back nearly a quarter OF cen
fury.
He was back at Chesterborough-
boy again In his case the child had
not been father to the man What
young fool he was in those days lie
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
az contentedly with his VIII a. a man
may In IN imperfect world be had
never felt towards her as be once had
felt towards Muriel..
They used to read poetry together
In those days. Good heavens! Mr..
Markwick could have smiled at the
recollection II he had felt less sur
prised BY the restoration Of his watch.
Kindly walk this way" hs said.
turninS towards his smoking room at
the end Of the hall, and after . mo-
msnt's hesitation the visitor followed
him. Il feel curious" Mr. Markwick
added. TO hear what 10 your objsct 10
bringing back my watch. presume
ypu are aware It was stolen from my
pocket yesterday morning"
80 you don't recognise me" vas
the answer.
Certainly not" said Andrew Mark
wick.
Look again" replied the visitor.
and raising q hand be held 1t In front
Of his pointed beard. "Dimsdale. he
added.
Good heavens, You cant be Jack
Dimsdale." he added.
Nobody else. assure you, return
ed Jack. "A beard makes world OF
difference. Now you haven't altered
much-stouter. Of course. and all that
but then the change has been gradual
and I've known you about town BY
sight . long while"
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. Warwick compIa
Gently. i've not done 90 badly. But
then I have worked hard How the
sight OF you takes ones memory back
Not that | 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.
1T must be good gracious.--it
| must be pretty we'll twenty three years
since We met. Dimsdale."
ITO think" muttered Jack. that
Mur,el can have been dead so long
Markwick." he continued. do you
recollect how you and | used TO dodge
one another-the tricks We used TO
play to cut each other OUT There
was never another woman in the
world"
His Jacket was unbuttoned and MIR.
Markwick recognized the thin sold
chain which hung from his waistcoat
As a matter Of fact it was attached TO
a cheap gun-metal watch.
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