The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-23
RECOGNIZED A PATCH
BY JACOB IoWgNBURQ

"Is there any Interesting incident
IN his life that the public would en-
Joy reading about!" The reporter
turned to Mr.. johnson. the friend Of
the great singer, whose concert they
had Just come from.
why. yes" Mr.. johnson smiled q
the memory. 1T 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 70 take
his notes.
1T was late afternoon. and was
coming from the ferryboat with Mrs.
Johnson. then my ilance: - We
stepped into the street she dropped
her umbrella. I stopped 70 pick Il
up, and small box. containing the en-
gagement ring had Just purchased
Tor her, dropped out There were .
lot Of newsboys gathered about. One
grabbed the box before ! could get II
and disappeared into the crowd. l In
SANITY darted after him. and Mrs.
Johnson after me.
I'VE 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 he
managed to lose mo. Mrs. johnson
had grown tired and taken the car to
my mothers. 20 I At once telephoned
% the police. then went home"
Gee! What luck 70 lose such q
ring" The reporter spoke sympe'
thetically.
We put several detectives o. tho
oase, bat there was little they could
DO, outside Of watching ths vaEioua
newsboys ct the ferry.
THAT evening my mother was noe
wen. % my hance at with her. and
father and I went 70 the theater. II
vas amateur night: they had the usual
bin, followed By the amateurs. Most Of
tee, were impossible.
"About the tenth on the bin was q
title fellow who looked about ten
years old. He was . nervous chap and
very shabby. He worried through the
first verse Of popular song. Some
thing In the song-or perhaps It was
the boy-pleased the bowling mob. for
they actually let him sing tho chorus,
not once. but fully q dozen times.
Ills voice was beautiful. the most
vibrant, sympathetic boys voice ! have
ever heard"
"well. it, 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 hid
trousers. I 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 q word to my father
and together we left the theater. Faith
er hurried to the police station. and
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 before!'
"'No. SIR the boy replied promptly.
"But I was sure about the patch. 20
I simply accused him at once. For q
minute he seemed terribly frightened,
then he looked me in the eye and
said:
81 didn't take your ring. SIR And
his lip trembled slightly.
"'But. my boy I think I said II
kindly. I recognize the patch on your
trousers
"'Oh. SIR he smiled. these amt
my pants: I didn't have any 20 good.
% he lent them to me. the boy next
door did. He's sick tonight
RI laughed at the boy. but tho clue
was too good to lose. 20 I offered him
. large reward II he would take me 70
his friend.
"'will You put him IN jalr he ash.
"a. And Il was not until had given
him my word not to punish bic friend.
n the ring was returned. that ho con.
sented to take me to HE house. He
had worn the pants. and he could not
be unfaithful to the one who had been
kind to him"
ibid you recover the ring, and what
became Of the thief?" The reporter
had been busily writing.
"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 a lucky patch for him"
As the reporter spoke Hendricks Join.
ed them.
"You are correct" he said to the re.
porter. "That was a patch worth hav.
ing. and II is now almost my most
valued possession. Outside Of N.Y.
tears came into his eyes-"fostcr faith.
er and mother"