The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-12-02

| AiOhd hohic lCi bAC pCilCu Va tou Joy
What had become of him could NOT b
conjectured. When he was first miss
ed 1T was supposed he had visited a.
uncle residing few miles from th
city. He frequently paid this rela
tive flying visit, remaining two o
three days at time, but he invari
ably apprised his parents of the con
templated visit.
This uncle was childless widowel
and was very much attached &C Osca
and it was presumed that the youn,
man would be his heir. This gentle
man was written to, but the repI,
was that Oscar had not been there TO
| two weeks
Alarmed, MIR. Marshfeld wrote let
ters to different parties where his sol
was in the habit of visiting, but thu
answer from each YVES the same-they
had not seen him of late.
Advertisements were inserted in thu
Manchester papers, requesting infor-
nation of his whereabouts, and this
failing to elicit a response, Mr.
Marshfield finally came to Liverpool
to engage the services of a detective
to ascertain his fate, and / was Sc
lected for that purpose
1t is Just possible that the choice
fell to me through the solicitation oil
Mr., Marshtield, from the fact that
was 80 we'll acquainted with tho miss
ing man. But / half believed that
was indebted as much to Mr.. Larkins
for this unexpected honor as was to
my friends fatLer.
James, SAID Mr. Marshfeld, as he
was about departing, 81 look to you
to restore to his wretched mother her
son, your friend. Ifyou 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 ac-
complish your work, and if you re-
store him to his mothers arms, you
will not Only have the consolation of
knowing that you saved her life, but
your reward will be commensurate
With the service you shall have rend
cred us.
He placed hundred pound check
In my hand, aud requested me to apply
for more when that was expended in
the search. He then left me.
you're in luck my lad," said the
chief, when we were alone.
That depends on the successful
termination of my undertaking." re-
joined |. Il may make most miser-
able failure, and then l shall sink in
to iusignificance.'
| must have uttered the final words
in desponding tone, for the chief
cheerily responded:
Tut, tut, my brave lad. Do not
be down+in the mouth at the very out
set. Cherish more confidence in
yourself You have everything in
your favor You know the missing
man we'll, his habits, propensities,
and all that, and have no need to re-
fer to a photograph whenever you
meet with one who might he him. or,
worse still, to glance over a written
description of the person, and while
doing so your game slips away and is
lost, perhaps for good. No, my lad;
keep stiff upper lip; go boldly and
confidently to work. ,and do your best,
and l predict that you will not only
surprise the public with your maiden
effort, but astonish yourself as we'll"
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 1 made the necessary prepa-
rations with GOODNESS and calm deli
beration, and by next morning I was
ready,
From some hint given me by Mr.
Marshfield l had decided to return
to Manchester on the following day
and linger in it's vicinity for an III
definite period, in order to watch the
movements of a second or third cou
sin of Oscar, whom Mr. Marshfield
half suspected of being the direct or
indirect cause of his sons unaccount-
able absence.
But again fate, m y guardian angel
| have felt inclined to regard it, in
terposed, causing complete change
of my proposed plans.
Having an hours leisure time be
fore the train would come in, | stray
ell down to the docks and watched
the busy seamen in their respective
duties on board the vessels lying at
anchor | had taken ont my note
book to jot down few lines, and
forgetting that hidden among It's
leaves was III excellent pencil like
ness of my friend Oscar, it dropped
out unperceived by me, and would in
all probability have been lost foreve,
had not stranger seen it fall to the
ground.
He picked it up and overlook me
then handing the picture to me he
remarked, with peculiar smile:
Il beg your pardon, sir, but yor
have dropped the counterfeit pre-
sentiment of Lost Identity
Sir" responded I, with a start, a.
my eyes fell on the loved face of my
missing friend, and hardly knowing
how to interpret the strange word:
uttered by the stranger.
Il remarked" rejoined he, still
with an amused smile on his lips
that you came near losing You
Lost Identity"
Sir" returned l, ''you speak il
riddles; pray be more explicit, ant
explain the meaning of the words you
have just spoken"
You dropped that picture did yol
notr, asked he.
Yes"
"And it is the likeness of "a Twins
person?" continued he.
1T is the likeness of living per
SOD, aud that person is my deares
friend" replied.
well, sir. and by what name d,
you know him"
oscar Marshfeld," replied ].
"Ahp' said the stranger. He i
called b. those who know him-o
re.her by those who associate witt
him-the Lost Identity, and that i
the only name by which heard hin