Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-11-13
L.adsby Lost His
Cuff Link
BY DON MARK LEMON
(copyright.)

cried Ladsby, glazing at the
newspaper he had been eagerly scan
ming. "Of all the brass-riveted cheek,
this Is the limit What, me go lose
the other link Mel"
"What is wrong, dear2" timldly ques-
toned Ladsby's wife, alarmed by the
expletive Outburst of her husband.
Ladsby glared from the paper to
his wife. II told you lost one of my
diamond cuff links last evening, on
the way home from the Office. Well,
read that !" He thrust the paper at
his wife, pointing to a notice among
those of the lost-and-found column.
Mrs. Ladsby read the following
cheerful advertisement:
DIAMOND CUFF LINK-if the gentle
man who lost a diamond cuff link at
the corner of II and Sixth street last
evening will kindly lose tho mate at
the same corner, near the hydrant on
the south side, between five and six
o'clock this evening, the finder Of the
first link will esteem it high personal
favor.
"WellT demanded Ladsby, fairly
quivering with choler.
Mrs. Ladsby smiled meekly. "It's so
singular, really don't know what to
say" she sighed.
But Ladsby did. At least he knew
what he wished to say, and he said
1t noisily.
'T'll lay for the fellowi I'll lose the
other link, and the foreigner who picks
1t up will be the Indian who put IN
this notice. And when catch him"
Don't get yourself arrested"
pleaded the wife. at Just may be his
way Of appointing a place where he
can return the other link"
mot muchl" cNed Ladsby. "And II
II is, won't be publicly trlhed With"
He hurried into the hallway for his
hat, and left the house in anything but
an agreeable mood.
Mrs. Ladsby drew a deep breath Of
relief, then one Of dread.
"If he would only meet the man
quietly" she sighed, "he might get the
lost Hnk back, and not run any danger
of offending him."
She began to gather up the break
fast things, when n sudden idea made
her sit down quickly. Why should she
not be at the corner Of ii and Sixth
streets at five o'clock and, II bad went
to worse, prevent her husband from
committing an outrage upon the per-
son Of the writer Of the advertisement
Her resolve made her contented the
whole day, and at five o'clock she
reached the corner where the denOue
ment was to take place and, crossing
TO the north side, she found little
safety station between n street light
and telegraph pole, where she could
seem to be watching for a car.
At five minutes after the hour Lads
by turned the corner. He was walking
brislly, and his anger made him step
high. He crossed to the hydrant re
ferred to In the advertisement, and
openly removing the diamond link
from his left cuff, dropped It upon the
sidewalk at the foot of the hydrant.
A boy was seated astride the iron
plug, engaged at swinging his legs and
whistling shrilIy. At least II seemed
that boy was seated on the hydrant,
but as Ladsby dropped the valuable
link the 1.-THE. youthful form leaped
from its perch, snatched up the treas
ure, and disappeared around the cor
ner into nearby cellarway with such
amazing suddenness that Ladsby for n
moment stood mOtiOnless on the spot,
believing the figure fallacy Of vision
Then, with a shout, he made after the
disappearing point Of boy. He took
the cellar stairs with q leap, landed
In puddle at the bottom, gathered
himself up with painted oath, and
rushed forward headlong into the
walled vacancy before him.
Mrs. Ladsby hurried over and peered
down the stairs, and watched and
waited In great trepidatiOn, but as a
familiar form appeared below, she
hastily mingled with the passers-by
husband arrived. His clothes we're
muddy, and bore every evidence to
their wearer having lately crawled or
attempted to crawl through narrow
exit barred with barbed wire. He had
a cut over his right eye, and was cuff
less.
Ladsby made for the bathroom, to
efface the marks Of his unsuccessful
gymnastics. II fell off street car"
he lucidly explained to his wife.
Mrs. Ladsby said nothing She loved
her husband and was sorry for him,
though he had lied like an extra, but
the next morning, when she picked up
the paper that Ladsby had been read
ing at the breakfast table and dlscOv-
cred corner torn away, she became
curious and ran over and borrowed a
neighbours paper. The torn corner,
among other lost-andfound notices,
contained the following:
DIAMOND CUFF LINKS-I wish to
thank the gentleman for kindly los
ing the mate to the pair OF diamond
cuff links. The link found so pleased
me that could not be happy till had
got the mate. Now l have them both,
and I would not part with them for
two hundred dollars. Thanks.
Mrs Ladsby thought 1t over.