Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-06-12

1.-THE kid as was lost"
"Come in said the servant, with
alacrity; that was the message he did
not dare to ignore.
Scroggs entered and sat down IN the
big hall while the servant departed to
speak to his master. The boy eyed the
grand furniture with a perpIeXed air,
and then, impelled by some recollec-
ton of what was fitting, removed his
cap and thrust it into the pocket of his
Jacket. AS he did so Mr.. Lawrence en-
tered and hurriedly approached him.
You are the bill posters boy" he
said, after start of recognition; Il
thought it was some one else. What is
it, my Lads anything wrong about
the billS?''
Not as knows off, replied Scroggs,
looking up earnestly into Mr.. Law
rence's face; Il thought I'd come an
tell you bout the l1id-him was lost,
you know.
Mr.. Lawrence sank back into chair
with a white face.
what do you know of him?'' he
asked, in a quick, agitated voice.
Il know everything" responded
Scroggs, with a grin. I'm the kid"
.You!" cried the man, springing to
his feet; impossible! What do you
mean, boy?"
Now, don't you get excited said
Scroggs, coolly; Jest set down agin an
listen, an I'll tell you all about it. You
see, / couldn't read the bill myself, not
KNOWN how, but L got another boy to
read it, an the mint he said 'Trotty'
L knew it was me. Cause why? Trot-
tvs my name, sir. An allus knew L
belonged to somebody, cause I never
belonged to old Scroggs, but for the
life O. me L couldn't remember who it
was
By this time Mr.. Lawrence was trem-
bling violently and striving to pene-
trate the boys dirt-beg rimed face in
search of familiar features; and now,
suddenly, the truth came to him in a
mighty wave that swept away all
| doubt.
Come with me-" he cried, and, taking
the chiId's hand, led him up to his own
private room.
81 must be sure I am right before I
speak to my wife," he thought; '-disap-
pointmen might kill her.
He carefully washed the CRIME from
Scroggs' countenance, brushed back his
curly hair, and then. holding the rosy
face firmly between his two hands, he
gazed upon it earnestly, studying every
line of the boys expressive features.
There was world of yearning and
| tenderness in the fathers face, and sud-
denly he bent down and kissed Scroggs
softly upon his forehead.
''Ten me about it, he said. gently.
Scroggs appeared both bewildered
and embarrassed at the warmth of his
reception, and was at first al a loss how
to begin; but after moments thought
he said:
"'Twere all on account o that name
O. Trotty. When 1 lived in this house."
he continued, his eyes rowing familiar
ly around the room, you used to give
me cane to ride on-a cane with
birds head on the end"
Yes; an eagles headi" interrupted
Mr.. Lawrence, eagerly
"Well, I rode that cane all over the
| house, upstairs an down, an so you
an the lady-was that my mamma p
you an she used to call me Trotty.
o. course, you know, L can't member
everything, for / must "a been pretty
small kid then; but when I heard that
| bill read it seemed to bring back lots
O. things as I'd forgot all about. I
member one day a man comm round
| with a music organ, an I follered him,
ridin' on my cane an not noticin' where
I was goin'. By N by got tired, an it
was gettin' dark, an I cried for my
mamma. An then the grinder give
me a ride on his organ, an took me
home with him.
"Next day he promised to take me
home, but he didn't do it. He took off
my dress an put some pants on me,
which he said was more proper for a
man; an I thought so too. An then
we went way out into the country an
walked a good many days, and he allus
said he was tryin' to find my home.
| One day we come to town where
there was blind man named Scroggs,
an the grinder sold the cane with the
birds head to the blind man. I cried
when he took the cane away, an after
we had gone up the road a ways I
turned an ran back to the town. I
expected the grinder would chase me.
but he didn't, an when 1 got to the
town L found the blind man walkin'
with my cane. He wouldn't give it up,
but he said if would come with him
| an lead him back to the city he'd find
my folks for me again. So went with