The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-05-01
RECOGNIZED A PATCH
ev JACOB LoWENBUR0.

10Y reading ABOUT! Ans 'epoASoA
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 l have it," The reporter took
out his pad and pencil ready to take
bis notes.
1T 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. l stopped to pick 1t
up, and a small box. containing the en-.
gagement ring l had just purchased
for her, dropped out. There were q
lot Of newsboys gathered about one
grabbed the box before l could get 1t
and disappeared into the crowd. ! IN
stantly darted after him, and Mrs.
Johnson 0ICeT me.
1--WE ran through Twenty.third
street to the elevated station; he ran
up one side and down the other. l con-
tinuing after him. He was better
runner than I, so in short time ne
managed to lose me. Mrs. Johnson
had grown tired and taken the car to
my mothers, so I at once telephoned
to the police, then went home"
"Gee! What luck to lose such Q
ring" The reporter spoke 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 fiance sat with her. and
father and I went to the theater. 1t
was amateur night; they had the usual
bill, followed by the amateurs. Most OF
them were impossible.
about the tenth on the bill was a
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"
"We]l, it's wonderful. now" the re-
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 1t;
then Mr.. Emery, the manager, brought
him to me.
"'Johnny,' he said, did you ever
see this gentleman before?'
"'No, sir the boy replied promptly.
"But I was sure about the patch, so
I simply accused him at once. For a
minute he seemed terribly frightened,
then lie looked me in the eye and
said:
"T didn't take your ring, SIR And
his lip trembled slightly.
"'But, my boy l think I said II
kindly, 4 recognize the patch on your
trousers
"'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 I offered him
a large reward If he would take me to
his friend.
"'Will you put him in jail?' he ask
ed. And 1t was not until l had given
him my word not to punish his friend
II the ring was returned, that he con
scented to take me to his house. He
had worn the pants, and he could no,
be unfaithful to the one who had beer
kind to him."
did you recover the ring, and what
became Of the thiet?" The reporter
had been buslly writing.
I'VE sent the guilty one to a farm
where he was cared for. and Mrs
Johnson received the ring In du,
Time"
"And little Hendrlcks?"
I'VE looked up his family records
and finding he was quite alone, W,
adopted him. And not once In tn,
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 was patch worth hay
Ing. and 1t is now almost my mos
valued possession Outside of N.Y.
tears came into his eyes-"foster fatf
| or and p,ofboro