The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1895-05-31

tiiiiS ASA VIZ SAAy SUI Oi' ""o VIZ
reply
Mr.. Blackwell gave it up. Rising to
go, he said
II appear to have offended you in
some way. Madam, | beg your par
don. But the city surveyor is public
officer, and will no doubt answer my
inquiries l will find his Office. Good
morning"
And while Mr.. Blackwell went in
search of the surveyors Office Aunt
Ruthy went up the street to confer
with her niece, Mrs. Gust. Let us fol-
low her.
MARY" said Aunt Ruthy to her
niece, "a stranger, who says he is from
Kentucky, came to my house-think-
ing it was yours-aslSing about Little
Joe. / think he wants him. Can you
give him up?"
81 can do whatever is right. But l
hardly know how could let Little Joe
go away"
Joe was sitting quietly at the win
dow watching passers-by in the street;
but he heard and apparently under
stood the import of the words spoken
by Mrs. Gust, and he went to where
she sat, threw his arms about her neck,
kissed her with expressive affection
and said: Never go with strangers,
Joe.''
mo, joe" responded the foster
mother, mo strangers, unless with
very strong claims in behalf of one who
NAV love you more than l, shall ever
take you away"
This long sentence was rather too
much for Joe's comprehension; but he
felt its import, and looked pleased and
reassured
A minute later Mr.. Gust entered the
room accompanied by the strange gem
tleman. whom he introduced to his
wife and Aunt Ruthy as Mr.. Blackwell.
Mrs. Gust received the gentleman with
lady-like respect and kindness. Aunt
Ruthy, said "Humph," with nod OF
recognition; and Joe took the hand OF
Mr.. Gust, saying; "Never go with
strangers, joe"
'Is that the boy, sir?" said Blake
well.
This is joe" replied Mr.. Gust.
SIS he always sop
eyes, just as you see him"
"Does he never talk sense, sir? Has
he told nothing OF his history ,"
''He has told nothing, and knows
nothing. He is a harmless, feeble
minded boy"
"You call him Little Joe only from
the medal, you say?" Then, turning
TO the boy: LET me see the medal,
Joe?"
Joe slowly moved his head negative
ly from side to side with scared look.
This is not the boy l am seeking"
said BLACKWELL. THAT boy was specially
bright; and his fate and that of his
father is still a mystery. But, If you
please, sir-as l am a stranger to you
i will deposit the money value of the
medal. and take it to the mother of the
lost boy to learn whether she can
throw any light upon it. At the same
time he took from his pocket bank
bill for $50 and offered it to Mr.. Gust.
Joseph Gust" here interposed Aunt
Ruthy, don't you do it!'
81 could certainly trust you with the
medal" said Mr.. Gust, but it has
never been off his neck since he came
to my care. He clings to it with
strange pertinacity, and l believe If it
were forcibly taken away the boy
would 90 into commissions / will give
you a copy of the inscription; probably
that will answer every purpose.
Then he, gently drew the medal by
its chain from the boys bosom, exhib-
tied it to Mr.. BLACKWELL and made for
him copy of the inscription-Joe all
the while in a tremble of suppressed
fear. Mr.. Blackwell thanked him po-
litely; obtained from Mr.. Gust full par
ticulars of the drowning of the man
and horses and the rescue of Joe and
took his leave. And no sooner was he
fairly outside the door than Aunt
Ruthy said very positively:
THAT man is scoundrel He means
no good to Joe, and wouldn'. trust
him"
"Why, Aunt Ruthy, what has he
said or done that you should suspect
him?"
81 saw clear through him in a
minute" replied Aunt Ruthy. He
means mischief"
From Mr.. Gusts door BLACKWELL
walked straight to a cheap jewelry
store in Lower Market street, kept by
man known all over the city as "Old
Charley Molier" How BLACKWELL
learned this mans peculiarities was
never known; but he knew them, or
thought he knew them, well. BY birth
Molier was a Frenchman; but from
long residence in the United States he
had lost all faint of Gallicism from his
speech, and spoke English at least as
well as his neighbors. He was 60 years
old, short, stout, broad-shouldered,
walked with stealthy step like cat,
and talked in quiet undertone. His
hair, once jet black, was now well
grizzled; his eyes small and black as
coal; his brows heavy and bushy; and