The Mount Holly news., 1916-08-15
He Found
A Watch
And Received the Re-
ward He Wished For
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

+ By ESTHER VANDEVEER !
At><%%**%*%%<%*%%**%*4*4%a
Simpson, was walking on the stree
one afternoon in portion Of the cit,
eeyotsd to residences. The sidewalks
vese broad and laid between grasl
paots. In the grass on one side he saw
something sparkle Going to 1t he tool
up gold hunting watch. The frs
thing that Simpson did was TO pres
the spring to open the lid over the face
BE caught his breath. Inside the liz
was q photograph Of the face OF
young girl and so pretty that Simpson
would have given his head for one kis
| OF the original. The watch was of goot
size and evidently belonged to a man
A pang shot through the finder as 1
occurred to him that the girl was thu
betrothed Of the owner Of the watch.
On the outside Of the case, In
smooth space within the chasing, wer,
the initials "H. B. L." "Thats the gu,
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 tn,
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 eyel
Gown the names, keeping them ope1
for the three letters ON the watch Il
WIS long hunt, for there were more
than thousand surnames beginninl
with a. and In this case the SECOND
letter In the surname was at the lower
end Of the alphabet 1t was "o." The
name with the letters "H. f." before Il
was Loring. Henry B. Loring CORE
sponded with the letters on the watch
and it was probable that this Lorine
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 Il
the more he was infatuated with it
Bot conscience, combined with a desire
TO find the original, compelled him tC
look TOR 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 of In this
way. He walked past Mr.. Lorings
residence and asked a cop on the beat
who lived there and what persons con.
situted the family. He was pleased
10 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 luckl
Simpson went home. took down hii
telephone book and learned the Lorins
number. Then he called for It.
"1s Miss Loring at homer" he asked
Hold the wire"
In q few. moments a feminine voice
asked what was wanted.
u have found q watch with the
initials H. E. L. on the case. Has
any one Of your family lost a watch p
"Isn't that lovelyl Mamma, papa's
watch has been foundr Then agair
In the transmitter. There's 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"
"Yes; there is a photograph inside
the case"
"Of very lovely girlT
"Oh. no, not that; only a girlP'
"Then 1t can't be the watch you sup
pose 1t TO be. The photograph Is sure
ly that Of an angel Sorry. suppose
must look further for the owner"
There was no reply to this. So Sirnp.
son began again;
II might take the watch to youl
house. and II the photograph appears
70 be likeness Of one Of your family
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 his own game.
IF the photograph is that OF an an
gel there Is no use Of bringing it here
There's no angel In this house."
Simpson was a gentleman and re-
membered that such dialogue forced
unnecessarily on a young lady by a
stranger-indeed, one she could not
even see-was impertinent. He must
be cautious or he would get himself
shut of.
Are your fathers initials a. f.
LIP" he asked
"They are"
"Then the watch must belong to
him. 1t is not for me to suggest the
manner Of its return. / am George
Simpson, Athenaeum club. Unless l
hear from some one Of your family
soon I shall send it by messenger to
your house."
'T'n tell papa. Thank you very
much"
"Goodby."
"Goodby."
Simpson fattered himself that he had
made 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
compliment without offense. He had
given his address and could only await
the issue.
The NEXT morning ne received note
that Mx. Loring would call upon him
that evening at his club. When the
gentleman called Simpson handed him
the watch OF course the owner made
no mention of reward. He acknowl.
edged the obligation and asked If there
were not some way Of making a re-
turn.
"There b only one way" said Simp.
son, ''of doing that, but It would not be
permissible for me to mention II, al
least not now."
Were the watch an ordinary one,'
replied the other, II should consider
that thanks expressed for its return
would be sufficient But 1t is a very
valuable one. l have had u tested In
an astronomical observatory and those
In charge pronounced 1t equal for &C
curate timekeeping to their best chro-
nometers. But this Is unimportant be.
side the fact that 1t was given me b.
my late Wife, trust that you will
think over the matter and find some
method Of enabling me to show my ap.
probation for ITS return"
How did it come into the position
In which found it7'