As he spoke, he drew from his pocket what appeared to be a handsome gold watch of considerable size.
“Did you find that?” said Joshua, enviously, wishing he had had the same good fortune.
“Yes; somebody must have dropped it. It must be worth a hundred dollars. Why, the chain is worth thirty, at least,” and he pointed to the chain, which also was, to all appearances, gold.
“I wish I had been as lucky,” said Joshua, gazing at the watch and chain with longing eyes. “How long is it since you found it?”
“About twenty minutes. However, I’ve got another watch at home. I don’t need it. I’d sell it for a good deal less than it is worth,” and he looked suggestively in Joshua’s face.
Now, Joshua had long cherished the desire of having a watch, though his hopes had been confined to a silver one, and a chain of silk braid. Never, in his wildest and most ambitious dreams, had he thought of an elegant gold watch and chain like this.
“How much will you take?” he asked, eagerly.
“Why, it’s well worth a hundred dollars,” said the stranger, “but I’ll take half price.”
“That is, fifty dollars?”
“Yes; it’ll be a great bargain at that. Any jeweler would give more, but I haven’t time to go and see one; I must go out of this city in an hour.”