Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1889-07-25
JAY CARO- A,JUIY2 1sso
by THOMPSON, SMITH, s. yAYNEs.

- b4slItOhRSON, SNllEHJ ~ u "A
Fifteen or twenty minutes elapsed
bef ore they emerged from the room,
and when they were seated ! learned.
the natnre Of that private interview,
Oscar Mansfield, my friend from
very childhood, had been missing
from home for the past ten days.
What had become of him could not
be conjectured. When he was at
first missed it was supposed he had
visited an uncle residing few miles
from the city. He frequently paid
this relative flying visit, remaining
two or three days at a time, but he
invariably apprised his parents of
the contemplated visit. J.
This uncle was a childless widow
ef, aiia Wa5 veiy mitch attached ~
Oscar, and it was presumed that the
young man would be his heir. This
gentleman was written to, but the
reply was tnat Oscar had not been
there for two weeks.
Alarmed, Mr.. Marshfeld wrote
letters to different parties where his
son was in the habit of visiting, bat
the answer from each was the
same--they had not seen him of
late.
Advertisements were inserted in
the Manchester papers, requesting
information of his whereabouts,
and this failing to elicit a responce,
Mr.. Marshficld finally came to liver
pool to engage the services of a. de-
tective to ascertain his fate, and I
was selected for that purpose.
1t is just possible that tho choice
fell to me through the solicitation of
Mr. Marshfield, from the fact that
was so well acquainted with the
missing man. But I half believed
that l was indebted rs much to Mr..
l.arkins for this unexpected honor
as was to my friends father.
"James," said Mr.. Marshfeld, as
no was about departing, 81 look to
you to restore to his wretchcd
mother her son, your friend, If you
cannot find him, no other person can
and we shall have to give him up for
lost, as his brother was years before.
Use every means at your command
to accomplish your work, and if you
restore him to his mothers arms,
you will not only have the consola-
tion OF knowing that you saved her
life, but your reward will be COM
mcnsuratc with the service you shall
have rendered u.s."
He placed hundred pound check
in my hand, and requested me to ap-
ply for more when that was ex-
pended in the search. He then left
me.
Wou're in luck my lad," said the
chief, when we were alone.
"That depends on the successful
termination of my undertaking." re-
joined l.. 81 may make most mis-
cradle failure, and then I shall sink
into insignificancc."
l must have uttered the final
words in Responding tone, for tho
chief checrily responded:
"Tut, tut, my brave lad. Do not
be down in the mouth at the very
outset. Cherish more confidence in
your favor. You know the missing,
man we'll, his habits, propcnsities,
and all that, and have no.nccd to re-
fer to q photograph whenever you
meet with one who might be him.
or, worse still, to glance over a writ
ten description Of the person, and
while doing so your game slips away
and is lost, perhaps for good. No,
my lad; keep a stiff upper lip; go
boldly and confidently to work, and
do your best, and I predict that you
will not only surprise the public
with your maiden effort, but your
self as WELL"
Were those prophetic words? As
the last syllable fell from his lips all
my fears for the result vanished like
mist in the rays Of the morning sun,
and | made the necessary prcpara-
tions with GOODNESS and calm dcliber-
alton, and by next, morning was
ready.
From some hints given me by Mr..
Marshfcld | had decided to return
to Manchester on the fol owing day
and linger in it's vicinity for an
indefinite period, in order to watch the
movements of second or third
cousin of Oscar, whom Mr.. Marsh
field half suspected of being the in
direct cauan Of hio eon,o unoooon,4