Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-03-28
RECOGNIZED A PATCH
BY JACOB LowENBURo.

In his life that the public would el
10y reading about?" The reporte
turned to Mr. Johnson, the friend {
the great singer whose concert the
had just come from.
why. yes" Mr.. Johnson smiled a
the memory 1T happened about seye
years ago, and was the beginning 0
Alfred Hendricks career"
MAY have it?" The reporter tool
out his pad and pencil ready to taxi
his notes.
1T was late afternoon. and | wal
coming from the ferryboat with Mrs
Johnson. then my iance; as We
stepped into the street she dropped
her umbrella ! stopped to pick II
up, and a 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 IL
and disappeared into the crowd. in
stantly darted after him. and Mrs.
Johnson after me.
1--WE ran through Twenty-third
up one side and down the other. I con-
tinuing after him. He was a better
runner than /. so in a 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
ring" The reporter spoke sympa
thetically
I'VE put several detectives on the
case but there Vas 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 II
was amateur night; they had the usual
bill. followed by the amateurs. Most OF
them were impossible.
about the tenth on the bill was
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 it was
the boy-pleased the bowling mob, for |
they actually let him sing the chorus, |
not once. but fully dozen times
Ills voice was beautiful, the most
vibrant, sympathetic boys voice have !
ever heard"
We'll. it's wonderful now" the re-
porter smiled knowingly
CAS- 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.
" hite check and the trousers gray.
Il whispered a word to my father,
md together we left the theater Faith
sr hurried to the police station, and
vent to the stage door found the man.
lger and told him the story
THE boy was waiting with the
'rowd for his prize He received it;
hen Mr. Emery the manager brought
lin to me.
Johnny. he said, did you ever
ee this gentleman before?'
No, sir. the boy replied promptly
But I was sure about the patch. so
simply accused him at once For a
minute he seemed terribly frightened
hen he looked me In the eve and :
aid, (:
I didn't take your ring. sir And 7
Ia lip trembled slightly i
But. my boy | think | said it {
indy. I recognize the patch on your I
'ousers &
Oh. sir. he smiled these amt I
Iy pants; didn't have any so good, =
} he lent them to me. the boy next +
Dor did. He's sick tonight Z
81 laughed at the boy but the clue +
as too good to lose. so I offered him Z
large reward IL he would take me to i.
g friend :
viii you put him In jail?' he ask +
l. And II was not until had given Z
m my word not to punish his friend, +
the ring was returned. that he con- !.
nted to take me to his house He (
ID worn the pants, and he could not 3
unfaithful to the one who had been :
nd TO him z
did you recover the ring. and what !
came OF the thief?" The reporter Z
d been busily writing. !
I'VE sent the guilty one to farm. !.
lere he was cared for. and Mrs. (
hnson received the ring In due :
ne" +
And little Hendricks7"
We looked up his family records, :
d finding he was quite alone. we :
opted him. And not once In the +
rem years have we regretted IL"
That was lucky patch for him" =
the reporter spoke Hendricks join =
them.
You are correct" he said to the re-
ter THAT was patch worth hav-
. and 1t Is now almost my most
ued possession. Outside OF my
RS came into his eyes-"foster faith
"a r,,Atbar