The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-12

not return home though after a weeks absence
a clerk in the bank declared that ne saw him at
the bank one night. Investigation shows that
the casalerIor some oneIhad raised Ger IAN AN
sold them A detective IS put on his trail and
finds that man answering his description but
going by the name of Ashley, had been engaged
in fraudulent bank transactions in a little Kan
town \ woman, noticeable because OF a
strange green tinge 10 her hair PASSED as his
wife He be traced further than this
town. Late in the summer a travelling cap and
some gold buttons are found on the river bank
memory. The next development is the appear
in the village OF a laboring man, apparent
haunting likeness to the missing
Gchapter XII Continued from Yesterday
.'oh, but my baby out in the dark woods
all alonep and rush of tears checked
her words.
started off again down the street, this time
followed by Constance, who fancied she
saw lights coming toward the village.
Yes, lights, and shouts, and cheers.
They have found Him" cried Mr.. Carter.
hurrying away, and Constance. faint with
sudden joy, though she almost feared 10
give it room, was forced TO loiter for
Not many rods away now came the tramp
of forty men and boys who held their
torches high above their heads and made
the village ring with a prolonged shout
as soon they left the woods and entered
it. Mrs. Hamilton, with wildly beating
heart, was at the entrance to the bridge,
made darker by the flashing torches be-
yond its range AS she entered it she saw
not far away man with something in
his arms, who no sooner saw Mrs. Ham
flton than he said, in a voice over
charged with feeling that it vibrated upon
her nerves like an electric shock, Il found
him. l knew L should He lay fast asleep
with his head on his arm, in a hollow shut
in by tall trees. But | found him"
'Oh, thank you, thank you, Ny baby,
my baby! taking the boy, still sleepins'
into her arms and covering his face with
kisses.
Il went after beechnuts, mamma; the
boys said they were thick. but 1 didn't find
one, and / got tired and went to sleep,
said the child. rousing up, and winding his
arms about his mothers neck.
Poor little darling to get lost!'
on no, | didn't get lost. 1t was you.
nG it Mas dark the and % Sns m
thought what you told me about God being
everywhere and that He would hear my
prayers e1 SO Just prayed to of find you when hen
next thing Ii was light. and Mr.. Edes had
me in his arms, and now I've found you.
so your prayer was answered, Perley."
said his mother, earnestly. Il canRot be
thankful enough TO God, and TO you"
turning to the silent man, for bringing
him back"
mo one could find him but me-" said
the man again, with his childlike air, as if
longing to be praised again and again, an
air strangely at variance with his thought
No one tried so hard, perhaps" said
Constance. gently.
Yes. that is it. no one tried so hard"
he replied, and then as the feet of the
searching party trod the bridge with a
rhythmic motion that seemed to sway it
for moment, he walked slowly away,
leaving the boy with. his mother.
''Edes found him. said the foremost
man. when we were not a rod away.
Strange our shouting and the fights never
walked him. He was fast asleep, Edes
"a a md xxFifh he rr1lft horr &c ct1ah
occasions, man after man took up the tale,
till the wearied woman was ready TO drop,
but still stood smiling and grateful in the
midst with her boy now sleeping sweetly
in her arms.
At last she felt that he was being gently
drawn from her arms, and looking up she
saw Edes had returned.
Il will carry him home for you: he is
heavy" said he, simply.
Thank you; Edes; Come, Constance"
said her uncle. This standing in the
night air will never do after so much eX-
element"
II am very tired, and 1 thank you ALL
she said to the assembly.
You are welcome said the foreman of
the mill with bluff politeness which yet
was genuine, as they fell behind the owner
and his niece.
After this, it was impossible to one of so
grateful disposition Constance to be
unmindful of Primus Edes She felt that
| he had a claim on her kindness which it
was pleasure as well as duty to re-
| quite.
With one so absent-minded it would be
| easy, she fancied, to make changes in his
surroundings which he would never notice
except in a vague way, or suspect that
| they came through her. By gradual
| evolution, therefore, his room at Mrs. Fry S
came to wear the dainty look that white
| drapery, pictures and books could give ii.
| Next, as cool weather approached a stove
mysteriously found it's way there, and a
| comfortable dressing gown, loose coat
| if he chose to call it that, was found hang
/ ing in the closet.
Up to this time the lodger had accepted
without Questioning these changes as
many an odd job for her in return, but the
coat puzzled him. Taking it to her, he said
u found it. but it isn't mine"
"Oh, yes 1T is" said she. Its yours
fast enough"
No, I never had one like it. 1t got into
/ my things by mistake"
| well, if l was you, I'd Jest wear il an
ask no questions" said Mrs. Fry, speaking
| as she would To child.
But look OF decision flashed into the
| mans face.
| Il can't wear ii until I know where il
| comes from.
"Oh. well if you must know, Mrs. Ham
| ilton sent it over. It's Christmas. you know
| or was last week. and she always thinks
| of them that's alone in the world"
With sudden CLEAN of light in his eyes
| the man left her and went into his room
IL was sabpath morning, and he never
| came out for hours. II Mrs. Fry could
| have seen him with the coat on, sittine
| by his table patiently trying to form the
| letters after Dams copy, and again anc
| again writing the word Constance shs
would have been puzzled. And the happy
| peacefuf look on his face when he succeed
| ed fairly well. would have puzzled hel
| likewise, for Primus Edes was not al
| lmbecile in any sense. Though a sien
| man, he was of average natural Intelligent,
and a skilled workman: Though he NIGH
| be "a poor creetur" because he did no
| laugh and joke and smoke with burly DaI
| and the other boarders; though he haC
advanced ideas of cleanliness forever
a-scrubbin' of his hands," as Mrs Fry
| said; though he could read and write witt
| difficulty, there was something winnin:
| about the mans manner, appealing insensi
bly, to the feminine heart. The foreman a
| the mill, too, took note of his work, and ad
| vanced him in a way that savored O
| faVOritism.
| Indeed, there was a marked peculiarit,
| about the man that after time called at
tention TO him. His skill in detecting an,
righting a defect in machinery, in putin,
| his hand unerringiy on the exact spot an,
devising makeshifts till proper repair
| could be made. was simply marvellous
| particularly when taken in connection
with his statement that he knew little abou
such work until he came to Grovedale.
Hes smarter than papa was, for pap;
could never make things said Per
ley one day to his sister in their mother
hearing.
Papa didn't need 10 make things III
could get living without" said Glare
superciliOusly.
= Mr.. Swan had made a second visit to tn
village since Mrs. Hamilton had consultel
him about the strands of hair and the pos
sibility of their being dyed but he wen
back to Boston in a nonplussed mood afte
talking with Mrs. Fry and having found tn
right OF way through her boarder's smal