The daily Alaskan., 1916-07-29
By ESTHER yVANDEyEER

plots. In the grass on one side he saw something sparkle Going to 1t be took up a gold hunting watch The first thing that Simpson did. was to press the spring to open the lid over the face
 Be caught his breath Inside the ld was a photograph ot- the face of a 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 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 "H. F. L." "Thats the guy that owns the watch and the girl, too, I suppose" muttered Simpson to him self. 'I 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 IT.. and began to run his eyes down the names. keeping them open for the three letters OD the watch It was a long hunt, for there were more rhan a. thousand 'surnames beginning with "L,". and in this case the second letter in the surname was at the lower end of the alphabet. It was 70" The name with, the letters "H. F." before 1t was Lorlng, Henry F. Loring core spOnded with the letters on the watch. and it was probable that this LOring was the owner. His -resIdence was on an. emlnently 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 it, and the oftener he looked at 1t the more be was infatuated with 1t. But conscience. combined with desire to find the original. compelled him to look for an advertisement of the lost property, and at last one met bis 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 thls way. He. walked past MT. Loring' residence and asked cop on the beat who lived there and what persons con. shtuted the family. He was pleased to learn that MT. Loring was Its head. This was all he elicited or needed. MT. 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 homer he asked
 Hold the wire"
 In a few moments q feminine voice asked what was warted.
 "I have found a watch with the initials Fl. F. L.. On the ease. Has any one of your family lost a watchT
 Isn't that lovely. Mamma, papa's watch has been sfOundr' Then again In the transmltter. There's reward oGered"-
 Never mind that l wish first to es, tabnsh the fact that the property be longs to your family. Can you identify It In any wayT
 "Nes; there Is a photograph inside the case"
 "OE a verylIoEely girIr'
 "Oh. no. not that; only girl?'
 Then 1t cant be the watch you sup, poae it to be. The photograph is sure , ly:tAat of an angel. Sorry. I,suppose I must look further for the owner"
 There was no reply to this. So Simp' son began again:
 ~ might take the watch to your house. and If the photograph appears to be a likeness of one of your family Q that would prove property"
 Quite likely by this time the girl had got on to Simpsons facetiOus manner of returning the watch and proposed to play him at bis own game.
 "If the photograph Is that of an an gel there.is no use of bringing 1t here There's no angel in this house"
 Simpson was a gentleman and re menbered that such a dialogue forced unnecessarily on a young lady by g strnnEer-indeed. one she could not even .see--was imDertinent He must be cautious or he would get himself shut on.
 "Are your fathers initials 'H. F L.r" he asked.
 ''TheY are"
 Then the watch. must belong tC him. It is not for. me to suggest the manner of its return. l am George Simpson, Athenaeum club. Unless hear from some one of your family soon l shall send 1t by messenger to your house"
 "Tu tell papa. Thank you very much"
 HGOodby."
 "GOOdby."
 Simpson dattered himself that he had made a very good bid for an intrOduc, ton. He could scarcely be accused of transcending, the proper limits. He was not supposed to know that the per son at the phone was the original of the photograph. He had got in a fine ,o,,,1,lt,,,a,E rvItbouF OfFense 2 He had