138 MR. PARKER 



him on some current topic. He continued to put in an 

 appearance for a few nights, and then became more 

 familiar, acquainting Mr. Upton with the melancholy 

 and dire circumstances attending the death of his father ; 

 winding up by saying : 



* The dear old man has left me his watch ; but as I 

 have one already, it is no use to me, and I should be glad 

 to sell it, as the money will be more serviceable.' 



He asked some ridiculously low price for it, consider- 

 ing the watch was really a good one, and Upton made 

 him a bid for it, and got it ; the seller disappearing, and 

 not being seen again. The watch was the next morning 

 sent to be cleaned and set going ; but was detained by 

 the watchmaker, who stated that it had been stolen, and 

 that he was bound to give notice to the police how the 

 watch had come into his hands. The day after, a police- 

 man called on Upton, and said : 



' Unless, sir, you can tell me of whom you bought the 

 watch, I must take you into custody/ 



Mr. Upton related the circumstances connected with 

 the purchase. But as he did not know the person's 

 name he could not give it, and walked off with the 

 policeman on his way to the station. Just before arriving 

 there, he met the man and gave him into custody, and 

 of course was at once liberated. The thief, I may add, 

 was duly tried and convicted. Mr. Upton's experience 

 in the matter must have taught him the need of caution 

 in dealing with a stranger. 



Mr. Parker's association in the afternoon as well as 

 evening with a jovial little fellow like Owen Swift, gave 

 him a taste for boxing ; and he became, I believe, one 

 of the best amateurs of his day in England. Though 

 by no means bad-tempered naturally, at times when he 

 had taken a little to drink he was inclined to be quarrel- 



