The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-05-07
RECOGNIZED A PATCH
ey JACOB LOWENBURG.

had just come from.
"Why, yes" Mr.. Johnson smiled at
the memory. ut 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 I was
coming from the ferryboat with Mrs.
Johnson, then my fiance; as we
stepped into the street she dropped
her umbrella. I stopped to pick 1t
up, and small box. containing the en-.
gagement ring I had just purchased
for her, dropped out. There were a
lot of newsboys gathered about. One
grabbed the box before l could get it
and disappeared into the crowd. 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, I con.
tinuing after him. He was q better
runner than I, so in a short time he
managed to lose me. Mrs. johnson
had grown tired and taken the car to
my mothers, 80 l at once telephoned
to the police. then went home"
Gee! What luck to lose such Z
rinr" The renorter smoke sympa-
thetically.
I'VE 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
we'll. 80 my nance sat with her. and
father and went to the theater. It
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 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 ~
porter smiled knowingly.
"As 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.
II whispered a word to my father.
and together we left the theater. Faith
er hurried to the police station, and I
went to the stage door, found the man.
ager and told him the story.
"The boy was waiting with the
crowd for his prize. He received Il;
then Mr.. Emery. the manager. brought
him to me.
"Johnny,' he said did you ever
see this gentleman before7'
"'No. SIR the boy replied promptly.
"But I was sure about the patch. 30
I simply accused him at once. For
minute he seemed terribly frightened.
then he looked me In the eye and
said:
"T didn't take your ring. SIR And
his lip trembled slightly.
"'But. my boy think I said It
kindly. I recognize the patch on your
trousers
"'Oh, SIR he smiled. these amt
my pants; I 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 I offered him
large reward II he would take me to
his friend.
"'Will you put him in jan?' he ask.
ed. And 1t was not until I had given
him my word not to punish his friend,
II 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 thief" The reporter
had been busily writing.
1--WE sent the guilty one to a 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 have 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 WIS patch worth hav.
Ing. and 1t Is now almost my most
valued possession. Outside Of N.Y.
tears came into his eyes-"foster faith.
er and mother"