The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-07-02

UlllS III d. row upon TIE lIoul, anu lueL
sat down to rest minute and admire
his work.
They're all 'zactly straight" he MUIR
INJURED, complacently, IAN jest the right
distance apart"
Two men, passing by, stopped and
read the bills curiously. Then wom-
an paused to read, and another man,
and still another. Several boys joined
the group, and soon there was quite a
little crowd inspecting the posters.
Scroggs smiled; it pleased him to
think his work was so effective.
Five thousand dollars!" remarked
fat man to no one in particular;
that's a pretty stiff reward"
There was no reply, and he passed
on, his place being quickly filled by
another. For the first time Scroggs be-
gan to wonder what the bills were
about. Usually he was Indifferent to
the pu:ilort of his advertisements, but
the remark of the fat man led him to
suspect these bills were more important
than usual. And the gentleman had
told him they were special-very spe-
cial.
The group slowly melted away; only
the boys remained, slowly spelling out
the printed words. Scroggs looked at
the boys critically. and decided he
might venture question.
What does it say?" he asked.
Cant yer read" demanded the big
gest boy.
Scroggs shook his head.
"Well, then, listen," said the boy,
patronizingly, "an' I'll read it out for
yer"
He followed the lines with his finger
and read aloud, slowly, and with some
difficulty, as follows:
5000 Reward!
l. INTICED OR STRAYED
From his home, No. 2O1S Wellington av-
enue, on June 2, 1880, Kenneth Keith Law
renee, familiarly called "Trotty." Age,
| four years and two months. Dark brown
| hair and eyes; large for his age; able to
tell his name, but perhaps not his resi-
dence. Wore at the time of his disappear
ance a white dress with blue sash, blue
| flannel Jacket and straw sailor hat. Was
| last seen upon the sidewalk in front of
said residence listening to the music of a
| hand organ played by an old Italian. The
above reward will be paid for information
| leading to the recovery of said Kenneth
Keith Lawrence. and all prosecutions will
be waived. .
JOHN KEITH LAWRENCE.
2013 Wellington Avenue.
September IL. 1895.
There ye have it," continued the
reader, IAN 1 wish was the kid. Folks
as can pay $1,000 reward must have
money to burn, an no mistake
Scroggs made no reply; with hands
thrust deep into his pockets he was
staring blankly at the bills before him.
The boys passed on, but still he stood
thoughtfully regarding the printed an
nouncement, and paying no heed, for
once, to the fact that half his bills re-
manned unposted.
Another little crowd collected about
him; Scroggs retreated across the side
walk, and sitting down upon his paste
pot rested his head upon his hands and
continued to think deeply.
"Another Charlie Ross Case" man
was saying in front of him.
Scroggs suddenly arose and swung
his paste pot over his back.
"I'll do it," he muttered, mo matter
what comes of it. Why, it's the rum
NEST go 1 ever heard tell of, an l s'pose
I might as we'll win that 5000 as any
one!"
Down the street he marched, and be-
fore he had gone a block his face had
lost it's grave expression and he was
again whistling merrily. 1t was long
walk to Wellington avenue; miles and
miles it seemed to Scroggs, and after
he had reached the avenue he found
that he was still long distance from
No. 2013, and the further he walked the
more imposing and grand were the resi-
dences that lined the street. Finally
he paused before large, handsome
building, set well back in the midst of
carefully trimmed lawn, and stared
thoughtfully over the iron gate. The
boy tried hard to decipher the bright
brass figures upon the gate, but finally
he nodded his head and muttered:
"Ihis is ths place, all right; I'm sure
O. that"
Carelessly shifting his bill bag to the
other shoulder he opened the gate,
walked resolutely up the broad walk
to the front door, and rang the bell.
The tall servant in severe black who
opened the door looked at the minia-
ture bill poster in amazement.
"Mr. Lawrence in" demanded
Scroggs, meeting the mans gaze smil-
ingly.
"Yes, he's in; but I don't think you
can see him."
"Oh, yes I can," returned the boy.
"Yeu jest tell him I'm Scroggs, an I've
come to see him bout that kidn
"What kid?"
''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 perpleXed 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 env
aered 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
II. my Lads anything wrong about
the bills?"
"Not as 1 knows Of" replied Seroggs,
looking up earnestly into Mr.. Law
rence's face; II thought I'd come an
tell you bout the kid-him as was lost,
| Won know"