, 1888-05-19

"Certainly; I'm sneakweIl, the detect
i've"
Pardon me, Mr.. Sneakwell, your face
is new to me. There Is a little matter /
would like to have you look into"
mo harm done, colonel. What can i
do for your"
Last evening about dusk 1 was
knocked down on Liberty street and
robbed of an old timepiece. The watch
would only be worth old gold TO a
stranger; but l value 1t as a keepsake"
81 see, colonel. Describe the mar that
slugged you"
"tHe was dressed like a workman, had
q full beard, and was about my own
height, 1 should judge"
ANY peculiarities9"
"None that 1 Observed"
"What color was his hatr2"
81 really can't say"
"Blue eyes, black, brown2"
There you have me, Mr.. Sneakwell.
Understand, l was angry and 1t was
growing dark. / can recall very little of
the mans appearance. The only striking
thing about him was his fist"
Mr.. Sneakwell cogitated, measured the
distance TO the cuspidore with his eye,
and spat at it with official gravity, miss
ing it as before.
'Did the man carry a dinner bucket9"
he asked.
'tNo."
"You was in a big crowd?'
Eyes"
"'Well, colonel, it's just this way: You
was In n crowd, you can't describe the
man closely, you don't know which way
he went or whether he had any pals. All
you know is he handled his fists like a
good 'un. You couldn't testify that he
robbed you. Very well; the clew is
slight, but III work 1t up. You're in
good hands, colonel; don't fret. Give
me n little time and leave it all to me.
I'll get your watch"
~ sincerely hope 30, Mr.. Sneakwell.
Have a cigar2"
"Will II Never known to refuse. Good
day, colonel"
Col. Bond, albeit n little brusque and
hasty Mt times, was n man of naturally
generous impulses. He allowed Mr..
Sneakwell abundance of time. That
worthy man frequently called at his office
in q hopeful frame Of mind, expectorat-
ing freely on rugs and carpets, and In
one instance deluging the office cat In
mistake for the cuspldore. But the watch
was not found. Clew after clew was
worked up, but nothing came of 1t. The
newspaper advertisement was quite as
unsuccessful. Col. Bond grew discour-
aged.
Meantime law had resumed its sway In
the Iron City, and business went on In Its
old chandels. The momentous days Of
h riots became a part of history, with
less apd less said about them.
On opening his mail one morning in
August, Col. Bond found n ~curiously adj
dressed letter, written in a crude and ir-
regular hand. 1t said:
To Conl Bond:
DEERE sUR-Mi Boy tom is sick of
Feaver he talks About 20 and ses hes got
some Thing of yores hes very sick raves
sometimes 1 wish yo could cum to see
Him | liv ct No. % Ally mi old
man WORKED in yore Nil ded now theas
fore yers. with Crate respect, yore
friend, NANCY WELSH.
Col Bond was mystihed. What did
it meant He had never heard of such G
person as Nancy Welsh. He learned
that a man named Welsh had worked IL
the mill; but it had been years before
BE laid the letter aside In his desk, and
engrossed in other matters, soon forgot
all about it.
In n few days the postman brough
another letter, addressed In the sam,
hand. Curiously he opened 1t and read
DEERE Sun, mi Boy Is wors He wants to Sc y,
cum Sune god Knows what II do II tom die
Don't tare this Letter up Conf Bond for toni
sake cum god vii bless yo for It.
yoro friend, NANCY WELSH.
The colonel thought the matter over.
''Why shouldn't l gop" he said. 1.-THE
poor woman Is evidently in trouble. I'll
walk up to the place and look at it."
In n of the meanest quarters of the
city be found No. 90 - alley. he
stopped in front of the house, h~esitating.
Dirty children were playing In tho alley
a venerable goat was chewing papers In
the gutter, A woman appeared on the
doorstep.
God bless you' Col, BOndr' she said.
He had never seen the woman before;
but he went in. The room he entered
was mean and small.
tom is up stairs, sir" said the wo-
a He kept u saying you'd come,
sir. Will you come upf He'll be SO
gladp'
With curiosity excited, the colonel fol-
lowed her, as she led the way up a dark
and narrow flight of stairs. He was
ushered into a room darkened 30 that he
could distinguish very little.
"Col. Bond is here, Tom," said the
mother.
A weak voice answered:
Let me see him, mother"
A blind WIS raised Just a little, and
Col Bond saw the sick boy lying on q
bed In q corner of the room. The thin
and feverish face was that of n stranger;
but there was a smile of welcome on it.
II knew you'd come, sir" said the
boy, with a breathing pause between
each word. Mother said nc; but
looked for you"
'How long has the little fellow beer
sickp asked the colonel.
ga long time, SIR" answered the boy
himself. ''Sit down near me; I've some.
thing to-to"-the voice grew husky,
choked.
"He'ss so weak" said the mother, bend.
ing over him.
.Tm near you, my boy" said tn,
colonel.
'Do you know me, sir7"
mo, my boy"