ed the doctor. "The
advertisement merely mentioned a watch. What sort of watch was
yours, domestic or foreign, stemwinder or keyed, open face or
hunting case, gold, silver, or nickel case? If the watch is as
you describe it, it is yours. Otherwise I shall have to hold it."

"Really now, I could not describe it so accurately as all that.
Ah, do you mind showing it to me? I am very what you may call
hazy on descriptions. I could not really say if it was large
or small, those terms being relative, you know. Yes, it is in
a gold case and is a stemwinder, that much I remember. It is
an American, of course, but whether Elgin, Waltham, Howard, Thomas
or---or any other make I really could not tell you."

"You are sure it is American make?"

"Oh, yes, positively, and in a gold case, and about half this size,"
closing her thumb and first finger to form a circle.

"Well, I am very sorry, Ma'am, but this is not an American watch.
I trust that you will find yours, but this is not it. I wish you
good morning, Ma'am," and Bucephalus showed the lady out evidently
greatly disappointed.

Half an hour later a self-satisfied looking man came into the camp
and asked to see the boy who had found a watch, and had advertised
the same in the Riverton paper.

Billy Manners happened to see him first, and, seeing Jack at a
little distance with Percival, called out:

"Hello, Jack, come here, somebody wants you!"

Jack came up with Percival in a few moments, and the self-satisfied
man, eyeing him fiercely, said:

"You are the boy who found a watch, I believe. Describe it to me."

"Excuse me," laughed Jack, "I have not lost a watch. I have found
one. If you have lost one describe it, and we will see if it is the
same as the one I have found."

"I have not lost a watch," snapped the other. "I am in the detective
service, and if I have the description of the article I can enquire
who has lost one like it, don't you understand?"

"And you wish to be a sort of middle man between me and the owner?"
and Jack laughed again. "I advertised for the owner of the watch,
not for an agent who would help me find the owner. I cannot see
that we need spend any more time on the affair."

"How do I know that you have not stolen the-----"

It was very fortunate for the man that Jack was nearer to him than
Percival, who suddenly aimed a swinging blow at him.

Jack threw up Dick's arm, and said quickly:

"Dick! What are you about?"