The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-14
He Found
A Watch
And Received the Re.
ward He Wished For
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

devoted to residences. The sidewalks
were broad and laid between grass
plots. In the grass on one side he saw
something sparkle. Going to 1t he took
up a gold hunting watch. The first
thing that Simpson did was to press
the spring to open the lid over the face.
He caught his breath. Inside the lid
was photograph of the face of
young girl and so pretty that Simpson
would have given his head for one kiss
Of the original. The watch was Of good
size and evidently belonged to a man.
A pang shot through the finder as 1t
occurred to him that the girl was the
betrothed Of the owner Of the watch.
On the outside of the case, In a
smooth space within the chasing. were
the initials III. f. L." That's the guy
that owns the watch and the girl, too,
/ suppose" muttered Simpson to him
self. II can find out who he is through
the directory or possibly the telephone
book. | don't mind returning the
watch, but I'd like to keep the pic
ture'
He went to the nearest drug store,
where he took down the telephone book,
turned to IL" and began to run his eyes
down the names, keeping them open
for the three letters on the watch. 1t
was a long hunt, for there were more
than a thousand surnames beginning
with H." and In this case the second
letter In the surname was at the lower
end Of the alphabet. 1t was 70" The
name with the letters 81. F." before II
was Loring. Henry f. Loring CORE.
sponded with the letters on the watch.
and 1t was probable that this Lorins
was the owner His residence was OH
an eminently respectable street, and
very likely he was one of the upper
ten thousand.
Simpson was In no hurry to return
the watch because the picture went
with 1t, and the oftener he looked at 1t
the more he was infatuated 18th 1t
But conscience, combined with wdesire
to find the original, compelled him to
look for an advertisement of the lost
property, and at last one met his eye.
A reward was offered If the watch was
delivered at the Office of the newspaper
containing the ad.
Simpson was not to be put off in this
way. He walked past Mr.. Loring
residence and asked a cop on the beat
who lived there and what persons con-
stttuted the family. He was pleased
to learn that Mr.. Loring was its head
This was all he elected or needed Mr.
Loring was doubtless the father of the
girl whose picture had enthralled
Simpson instead of being her lover.
What luck!
Simpson went home, took down his
telephone book and learned the Loring
number. Then he called for 1t.
"Is Miss Loring at home" he asked
Hold the WIRE"
In few moments a feminine voice
asked what was wanted.
81 have found a watch with the
initials II. It. L. on the case. Ha:
any one of your family lost watch 2
isn't that lovely! Mamma, papa's
watch has been foundw Then agar
In the transmitter. There's a reward
offered
"Never mind that l wish first to es
tablish the fact that the property be
longs to your family. Can you identify
it in any way7"
Eyes; there is photograph insid,
the case"
"Of very lovely girlr
"Oh, no, not that; only girl!
"Thendt can't be the watch you sup
pose 1t to be. The photograph is sure
ly that of an angel. Sorry. suppos
must look further for the owner"
There was no reply to this. So Simp
son began again:
II might take the watch to you
house. and II the photograph appear
to be likeness of one Of your famil.
that would prove property"
Quite likely by this time the girl ha,
got on to Simpsons facetious name
Of returning the watch and propose
to play him at his own game.
"If the photograph is that Of an al
gel there is no use OF bringing It herr
There's no angel in this house."
Simpson was a gentleman and n
membered that such a dialogue force
unnecessarily ON a young lady by
stranger-indeed, one she could nc
even see-was impertinent. He mus
be cautious or he would get himse
shut or.
Are your fathers initials n.
LIZ" he asked.
''They are"
Then the watch must belong
him. It is not for me to suggest Il
manner of its return. I am Georl
Simpson, Athenaeum club. Unless
hear from some one Of your fami
soon shall send 1t by messenger
your house."
''Pn tell papa. Thank you ver
much"
"Goodby."
"Goodby."
Simpson battered himself that he hs
u,ada a vary cpOnd HID FOR on {nfrodu