The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-02-01

4
she said, in a querulous voice. He
was a bright little fellow, and we all
liked him. We had hard pickin' to get
along, but pa" her voice was reminis
Gently sweet as she pronounced the
afectionate name by which her hus
band was known, "Pa had big family
to support, and did the best he
could
I've been comfortable since Char
ley grew up, though, because he takes
care of me since he's been able to. .
Farwell had not mentioned this fact
to Cheney, and it increased his re
spect for the young man.
Mrs. Farwel1, he replied, "did you
or your husband ever have any idea
as to who were the parents of 'Bas
ket Charley@"
mo, sir, can't say that we had
There was note pinned to his cloth
ing"
"Yes, know that" interrupted
Cheney. Il have it here"
There was a family living near
at the time, Reyburn by name. There
were two girls, one of them, Maggie
disappeared a year before Charley
was left with U.S. Sometimes I've
thought maybe they knew something
about the case. Once 1 asked the 9th
er sister, Jane, where Maggie was
and she froze up and said she didn't
| know. That was all. Jane Reyburn
is married and lives in Chatham now
What is her name?" asked Cheney
interested
Rogers, believe. Her husband is
a lawyer chap"
1t was only slight clew, but it was
worth following up, so Cheney bade
Mrs. Farwell good-by and left. First
he investigated as far as possible the
Reyburn family. There had been the
father and two daughters, and they
| had lived on a small farm near Elk,
moor. When they first came there
everything was pleasant. but they kept
pretty much to themselves. One boy
| about Ia years of age did chores
about the place and helped Mr.. Rey.
burn. This boys name was Roy
Belcher. Of the two girls Maggie was
the best looking. AS one old settler
put it: ''She was quite comedy, and
acted as If she was better than other
girls. She received letters from affair."
| everyone in the small community
knew every ones business, especially
the garrulous postmaster) "and every
once in awhile she went to Detroit to
visit friends" This old settler was
| prolific of information.
did you ever hear of Basket Char.
ley?'" asked Cheney.
| What, Farwells founding? Oh
yes, l remember him we'll"
Ever have any idea how he became
| Farwell's foundling?"
mo; but I've suspicioned several
times that the Reyburns knew some.
thing about it. You see, year before
Charley was found Maggie Reyburn
left home for coed. Old man Reyburn
failed and died. Jane tried to run
the place, but didn't succeed. She
wasn't very sociable, and no one ever
went there. She and the boy were
all there were about the place. They
left one night, just the day before
Charley was found; the place was
sold and now Jane lives in Chatham.
Maggie, reckon, is dead"
"Yes, but this boy-Belcher, / be-
lieve his name is-where did he come
from, and what became of him?"
"God knows stranger. I've heard he
was an illegitimate child, came from
Montreal Lately I've heard he was
Seventh Day Adventist preacher in
Illinois. Palvo, think, is the
place."
The story Of the Reyburns interest.
ed Cheney; the two girls, one comely,
her receiving letters, visiting Detroit
at times, then disappearing year be.
fore Basket Charley" was found /;
then the breaking up of the Reyburn
| family, all pointed circumstantially
strong to their knowing something
about the boy. Cheney went to Mon.
treal, found out that Belcher really
was an illegitimate child, as the "old
settler" had said. En- route back, he
stopped at Chatham and interviewed
Mrs. Rogers; but as soon as he said
Basket Charley" she closed up like
! clam and terminated the interview
The trail was warm. Belcher, the
boy, ought to know something. He
would look him up. Cheney advised
Farwell that progress was being made
and that he would report more fully
| later.
A day or so after this Cheney was at
| Palvo, Ill. Belcher was there, and
| among his sect, was a respectable
member of society. He was married
| and had quite family. It was Friday
when Cheney reached Palvo, and that
day and Saturday he spent quietly in
vestigating Belcher. He saw him on
the street and in the post Office, a
| tall, spare-limbed man, with raven
black hair and eyes, large hands and
feet, thin-lipped, straight mouth, and
smooth face. 1t was almost a cruel
| face Cheney went to church and
heard him sway his small congrega
ton by his rough eloquence. After
church Cheney went to Rev. Belch
er's house. The preacher received