The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-06-12

! top and considerable descriptive mat
ter at the bottom. Scroggs could no
read; he merely knew when the letter,
were right side up, but that was quit,
enough for his purpose. He was quicl
70 see a conspicuous position where :
bill could be noticed by the genera
public, and he never let a good space
escape him. Here was one in especial
the broad front of a deserted shoD
where the remains of various old bill:
stlH futtered. Scroggs posted thre:
bills in a row upon the front, and ther
sat down to rest a 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 a WON.
an paused to read, and another man,
and still another. Several boys joined
the group, and o o there was quite a
little crowd inspecting the posters.
Scroggs smiled; it pleased him tc
think his work was so effective.
Five thousand dollars!" remarked
a tat 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 Scroegs 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. Scrogrs looked at
the boys critically, and decided he
might venture a question.
What does ii say?" he asked.
Cant yer read?" demanded the big
gest boy.
Scroggs shook mis- 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. 2O13 Wellington av-
anue, on JuEe ., 1890, Kenneth Keith Law
Familiarity called "Trotty." age,
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
organ played by an old Italian. The
above reward will be paid for information
to the recovery of said Kenneth
Lawrence, and all prosecutions will
be waived.
JOHN KEITH LAWRENCE.
2O13 Wellington Avenue.
September II. 1896.
There We have it," continued the
a pay $500 reward must have
money to burn, an no mistake"
Scroggs made no reply; with hands
thrust deep into his pockets he was
blankly at the bills before him.
The boys passed on, but still he stood
.hcughtfully regarding the printed an
.louncement, and paying no heed, for
,nce, to the fact that half his bills re-
NAMED ~unposted.
Another little crowd collected about
lin; Scroggs retreated across the side
walk, and sitting down upon his paste
not rested his head upon his hands and
continued TO think deeply.
Another Charlie Ross Case" a man
saying in front of him.
Scroggs suddenly o and swung
lis paste pot over his back.
III do it," he m%uttered, mo matter
What comes of it. Why, it's the rum
nest go l ever heard tell of, an l s'pose
might as well win that $1,000 as any
Down the street he marched, and be-
ore he had gone a block his face had
ost its grave expression and he was
gain whistling merrily. 1t was a long
walk to Wellington avenue; miles and
it seemed to Scroggs, and after
Le had reached the venue he found
hat he was still a long distance from
10. 2012, and the further he walked the
1ore imposing and grand were the resi-
ences that lined the street. Finally
e paused before a large, handsome
uilding, set well back in the midst of
carefully trimmed lawn, and stared
noughtfully over the iron gate. The
oy tried hard to decipher the bright
figures upon the gate, but finally
e nodded his head and muttered:
This is the place, all right; I'm sure
that"
Carelessly shifting his bill bag to the
Their shoulder he opened the gate,
,alked resolutely up the broad walk
the front door, and rang the bell.
The tall servant in severe black who
pened the door looked at the minia- l
Ire bill poster in amazement.
Mr.. Lawrence in?" demanded
croggs, meeting the mans gaze smil-
lgly.
"Yes, he's in; but 1 don't think you 6
In see him."
"Oh, yes 1 can," returned the boy.
lest tell him I'm Scropps. an I've