The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-02-01

when Cheney mentioned Basket
Charley" "Oh, yes. I remember him, .
she said, in q 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 remfnis-
Gently sweet as she pronounced the
ahectionate name by which her hus-
band was known, PA had big family
to support, and did the best he
could.
1--WE 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. Farwell," he replied, "did you
or your husband ever have any idea
as to who were the parents of 'Bas-
ket Charley?'"
mo, sir, I can't say that we had.
There was note pinned to his cloth
ing
Eyes, I know that" interrupted
Cheney. II have it here"
There was family living near
at the time, Reyburn by name. There
were two girls, one of them, Maggie,
disappeared year before Charley
was left with us. Sometimes I've
thought maybe they knew something
about the case. Once I 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, I 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 settle,
put it: "She was quite comely, 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) land every
once in awhile she went to Detroit tt
visit friends" This old settler was
prolific of information.
did you ever hear of Basket Char
ley?'" asked Cheney.
what, Farwell's founding? Oh
yes, remember him WE'LL"
Ever have any idea how he became
Farwell's foundling?'
mo; but I've suspicioned severa
times that the Reyburns knew some
thing about it. You see, a year before
Charley was found Maggie Reyburr
left home for good. Old man Reyburr
failed and died. Jane tried to rur
the place, but didn't succeed. She
wasn't very sociable, and no one eve1
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"
Eyes, but this boy-Belcher, I be
lieve his name is-where did he come
from, and what became of him?"
God knows stranger. I've heard he
was an Legitimate child, came from
Montreal. Lately I've heard he was
Seventh Day Adventist preacher in
Illinois. Palvo, I 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 a year be
fore Basket Charley was found
then the breaking up of the Reyburr
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 ''olt
settler" had said. En- route back, he
stopped at Chatham and interviewed
Mrs. Rogers; but as soon as he sale
Basket Charley" she closed up like
a clam and terminated the interview
The trail was warm. Belcher, thu
boy, ought to know something. HI
would look him up. Cheney advised
Farwell that progress was being made
and that he would report more full,
later.
A day or so after this Cheney was Al
Palvo, Ill. Belcher was there, and
among his sect, was respectable
member of society. He was married
and had quite family. 1t was Friday
when Cheney reached Palvo, and thai
day and Saturday he spent quietly in
vestigating Belcher. He saw him OF
the street and in the post Office, :
tall, spare-limbed man, with rave1
black hair and eyes, large hands ant
feet, a thinlipped, straight mouth, ant
smooth face It. was almost crue
face. Cheney went TO-. church ant
heard him sway his small congrega