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


THAT ducks on regular wild goose
chase he reflected, but that's no bust
ness o mine. 1 expect he'll be a regular
customer for years to come
Meanwhile Scroggs pursued his way
up one street and down another, leav-
ing trail of bills wherever he went.
They were odd-loolxing bills, he no
ticed, with great black letters at the
top and considerable descriptive mat
ter at the bottom. Scroggs could not
read; he merely knew when the letters
were right side up, but that was quite
enough for his purpose. He was quick
to conspicuous position where a
bill could be noticed by the general
public, and he never let good space
escape him. Here was one in especial,
the broad front of a deserted shop,
where the remains of various old bills
still futtered. Scroggs posted three
bills in a row upon the front, and then
sat down to rest a minute and admire
his work.
They're all 'zactly straight" he muir
INJURED, complacently," AN jest the right
distance apart"
Two men, passing by. stopped and
read the bills curiously. Then a wom-
an paused to read, and another man.
and still another. Several boys joined
little crowd inspecting the posters.
Scroggs smiled; it pleased him tc
think his work was so effective.
Five thousand dollars!" remarked
a fat man to no one in particular;
''that's 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 purport 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!
ENTICED OR STRAYED
From his home, No. 2013 Wellington av-
enue, on June 2, 1890, Kenneth Keith Law
renee, Familiarity 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-
dcnce. Wore at the time of his disappear
ance a white dress with blue sash, blue
flannel jacket and straw sailor hat. Was
fhn in ~
said residence listening to the music of a
hand organ played by an old Italian. The
above reward will be paid for informa ton
leading to the recovery of said Kenneth
Keith Lawrence, and all prosecutions will
JOHN KEITH LAWRENCE.
2O13 Wellington Avenue.
| September II. 1896.
There ye have it," continued the
reader, IAN wish 1 was the kid. Folks
| as can pay $4,000 reward must have
money to burn, an no mistake"
Scroggs made no reply; with hands
thrust deep into his pockets he was
staring blanllly at the bills before him.
The boys passed on, but still he stood
thcughtfully 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" a 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 L ever heard tell of, an I s'pose
1 might as we'll win that $4,000 as any
one!''
Down the street he marched, and be-
fore he had gone block his face had
lost its 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 2O13, and the further he walked the
more imposing and grand were the resi-
dences that lined the street. Finally
he paused before a large, handsome
building, set well back in the midst of
-