Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-06-10


II know everything" responded
Scroggs, with 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 got another boy to
read it, an the mint he said 'Trotty
knew it was me. Cause why? Trot-
tvs my name, sir. An allus knew /
belonged to somebody, cause 1 never
belonged to old Scroggs, but for the
life o. me 1 couldn't remember who it
was"
BY this time Mr.. Lawrence was trem-
bling violently and striving to pene-
trate the boys dirt-begrimed 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 child'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-
pointment 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.
"Tell me about it," he said, gently.
Scroggs appeared both bewildered
and embarrassed at the warmth of his
reception, and was at first at a loss how
to begin; but after moments thought
he said:
"'Twere all on account o that name
O. Trotty. When lived in this house."
he continued, his eyes rowing familiar
ly around the room, you used to give
me a cane to ride on-a cane with
birds head on the end"
''Yes; an eagles head!" interrupted
Mr.. Lawrence, eagerly.
"Well, rode that cane all over the
house, upstairs an down, an so you
an the la1y-was that my mammal
you an she used to call me Trotty.
o. course, you know, can't member
everything, for must "a been pretty
small kid then; but when heard that
bill read it seemed to bring back lots
O. things as I'd forgot all about. I
member one day man comm round
with music organ, an follered him,
ridin' on my cane an not noticin' where
was goin'. BY m by got tired, an it
was gettin' dark, an l cried for my
mamma. An then the grinder give
me 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 Inc,
which he said was more proper for
man; an I thought so too. An then
we went way out into the country an
walked 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 ways I
turned an ran back to the town. l
expected the grinder would chase me,
but he didn't, an when 1 got to the
town / found the blind man a walkin'
h 1r,sf rr,xy Z
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
him, an he was pretty good to me, was
Scroggs. An he said 1 got more pen
MES for him than he ever got before,
an that I'd better stay with him an
see the world.
well, after awhile we come back to
the city, an we've lived here ever since.
/ s'pose if Scroggs hadn't been blind
he'd "a read your bills an give me up,
cause he liked money pretty we'll; but
neither O. US knew as anybody was
huntin' for me. Bout a year ago
Scroggs died, an 1 went to work for
Dick Rogers, postin' bills. Everybody
called me Scroggs an thought be-
longed to the blind man, but 1 allus
'membered as my name was Trotts,
an I've got the cane, sir, over to Dick
Rogers place."
Mr.. Lawrence listened attentively to
this story, which Trotty told very SIM
ply and earnestly. When t was ended
he took the boy tenderly in his arms.
Thank God, my darling" he said.
"that we have found you at last!"
A few minutes later, when Trotty
had shyly released himself from the
embrace of his sobbing but delighted
mother, who had recognized Eer boy at
the first glance, he remarked, casually
II s'pose there's no use postin' the
rest o. them bills?"
No." said the father, with a smile.
"the bills have fulfilled their mission"
"But the $4,000 reward?" asked the
boy, anxiously.
why, really, Trotty," replied the hap
Ply father, as he bent down and kissed
the bright face, 81 believe you've earned