Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25
- blown Out to Sea &sa

throng, in the midst Of which he noticed the
blue coats of two police officers.
what is it? What's wrong?" asked Jack,
as, with heart full of indeinable fear, he
pushed his way through the pitying faces Of
the crowd, upon which sudden hush had
fallen.
Brace up, Jackl" said Officer Wentworth.
coming forward and laying his hand on the
agitated boys shoulder. "There's bad news
for you: Bear it like man"
say more,
is dead, Jack!" was the solemn answer.
And a great cry broke forth from the lonely
boys heart, as he suddenly realized that he
was now alone in the world.
Poor Ouita had been found lifeless in her
room, one cruel blow upon the temple telling
how the foul deed was done.
The ri1ed boxes and bureau drawers showed
that plunder was the object.
Ouita had always kept her little stock OF
money, consisting of couple of hundred dol
lars and gold tiligree cross with few trim
kets, given her by Nicolo years before, in
small tin trunk. under her bed.
The empty trunk lay upside down by the
open window, from which the murderer had
made his successful escape into the court and
thence into the street, unseen by any one.,
Through the kind efforts Of Mr. Wentworth,
subscription was raised to defray the ex-
penses of the funeral, and poor, sorTowing
Jack returned to the lonely room to pack up
his few worldly possessions.
On every side was something to remind him
of the only person on the whole earth whom
he had loved and who had tenderly cared for
him.
Looking sadly about him, his eye rested up
on a piece of soiled paper, which had fut-
tered partly under the bed.
Mechanically picking it up, he read with
strange emotions this last message from his
mother Ouita, in her own rude, uncultiveted
handwriting:
"Monday night, eight Of the. clock.
ga little while after l left the house." said
Jack, to himself. as his eyes filed with tears.
81 has bad feelings that my mother Angela
have before she die sudden. If something's
happen, this is for my dear boy jack to forgiv
me that his own mother am not. in summer
ateen sixty-eght Nicolo with me find you in
middle Of night left in basket in place we
comes threw. We thinks, some one has desert
you that was rich the shawl that was round
you is camil hare wort hundreds of dollar it
is in the tin box with the monies which is
yours dear jack. the shawl has jack in white
silk thred in the corner made it after. the
place we finds you is"
Here the remainder of the paper had been
torn off,
"Perhaps," thought Jack, vengefully, 'to
wrap poor Mother Ouita's money in
And he felt that, unless the murderer should
be discovered, his chances of ever finding out
small; for with him had disappeared the shawl
and the rest of the paper, which would have
told Jack of his birthplace at least.
Maybe. III run across him some. day. he
said, carefully folding the precious bit of pa
per away. Stranger things have happened"
Dividing as best he could the scanty stock
of furniture and clothing which had belonged
to Ouita, among his humble neighbors, Jack
took counsel with himself as to his future
career.
eff Petroleum Jim only knew some clever
captain, now, and would speak good word
for me- he thought as he suddenly remem-
bered that young mans invitation of a few
he continued; "and, come to think Of it, I
will"
To BE Continued Next Sunday