The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-03-04
RECOGNIZED A PATCH
BY JACOB LoWENBURo.

Is mere any interesting incident
in his life that the public would en-
10y 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 at
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 to take
his notes
1T was late afternoon. and I was
coming from the ferryboat with Mrs.
Johnson. then my fance: as we
stepped into the street she dropped
her umbrella | stopped to pick It
up. and small box. containing the en-
gagement ring | had Just purchased
for her. dropped out. There were .
lot of newsboys gathered about One
grabbed the box before could get It
and disappeared into the crowd. In.
etantly 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. con-
tinuing after him He was a 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 | 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. 90 my flance 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 WIS nervous chap and
very shabby He worried through the
first verse OF popular song. Some
thing in the song--or perhaps 1t was
the boy pleased the bowling mob, fol
they actually lct him sing the chorus
not once. but fully n dozen times.
His voice was beautiful. the most
vibrant. sympathetic boys voice have
ever heard"
swell. It's wonderful. now" the re
porter smiled knowingly.
"As he left the STAGE" MIR. 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 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.
"Thn boy was waiting with TN
crowd for his prize He received II
then Mr. Emery, the manager brough
him to me.
"Johnny.' he said. did you eve
see this gentleman before"
"No. SIR the hoy replied promptly
Put 7 was sure about the patch 81
I simply accused him ut once. For
minute he seemed terribly frightened
then he looked me In the eye an
said
az didn't take your ring, SIR IN
his In trcmhlod slightly.
".Bnt my boy think l said !
kindly. I recognize the patch on you
trousers
".Oh. cir he smiled. these ain
nv pants: I didn't have any so good
SO he lent them 10 mo. the boy mex
door did He's sick tonight
81 laughed at the boy. but the clu
was too good 10 lose. 50 ! offered hiI
n large reward II he would take me {
his friend.
"'Will YOU put him in jail?' he ash
Cd. And 1t was not until had give
him my word not to punish his friend
n the ring was returned, that he cor
i scnted to take me to his house. II
had worn the pants. and he could ~
be ureaithful to the one who had bee
kind 10 him"
Ibid ycu recover the ring. and WIN
tocar}o Of The thief" The reporte
Lid been busily writing.
1--WE sent the guilty ono to farrT
whore he was cared for and Nr'
Johnson received the ring in du
time"
"And little TIendrlcks?"
4 "NVe looked up his family record
and finding he was quite alone, v
adopted him. And not once In III
seven years have We regretted It"
"That was lucky patch for him.
As the reporter spoke Hendricks joir
ed them.
"Yon are correct" he said to the r.
porter. "That was patch worth hay
ing. and it Is now almost my mos
valued possession. Outside OF my
tears came into his eyes-"fostcr fatf