The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-05
BY w. NJ. 3. FERGUSON.

return of the prodigal. He made no
effort to find him. He trusted blindly
to the boys inherent manhood. He
hoped he had worked safely out of his
past mistakes. righted himself in his
own and his fellow mans esteem. Then
when he had won recognition from the
world he would return to him, and his
past would be laughed over and his
present achievements praised. And he
would be the one, the rightful one, to
cheer his and the mothers declining
years-the mother who had ever striven
to be a buffer between the son and
retribution in the family circle, and
who was eating her heart out because
the world would not admit Of such
services. Yes, the prOdigal son would
return, weighed in the balance OF hui
man achievement and found no longer
wanting. And so the old police COM
missioner dreamed.
1t was on a misty evening In late
September when Captain Schmidt of
the precinct lined up the night
patrol in front of the desk for the usual
instructions and orders. Among the
bluecoats was one John Hogan, plain
clothes man, who for the past week
had been on pool room detail in the
Tenderloin. Among the various orders
the captain read the following notice
from headquarters:
WANTED-Charles (alias "Sport'')
Fairchild, gambler, bookmaker and
forger; age 80 years; height feet 10
in. weight. $50 pounds; hair, sandy,
thin; face, long. oval, clean-shaven,
sometimes small Van Dyke beard;
complexion, clear; birthmark, three
Ynoles formed like q triangle on right
cheek; known to be married and to
have one child: formerly resided in
West Thirty-first street; wanted for
passing forged check on the national
bank of this city; when last seen had
on light gray suit, tan shoes, etc, etc
Keep your eyes open for him, men, I"
concluded Captain Schmidt. THE COM
missioner has determined to round up
all the crooks and forgers. and his or
ders are strict. 1t might Just happen
that your man is in this precinct 1 may
say, unofficially, that it will be good
work for the man who happens to run
him in"
The men saluted and filed out They
were accustomed to such orders. They
seldom resulted in anything. The CEN
trail office men had all the show when
il came to trailing high-class game. 1t
would be owing to luck if the forger
came their way. He had formerly lived
I'm their precinct, and it was not likely
that he would return to his old haunts
for some time. More likely he was in
Baltimore or Chicago by now.
A month passed, and the forger was
still wanted" by headquarters. Ev-
cry time John Hogan had gone out on
his detail he kept freshly busted in his
mental Rogues' gallery the picture of
sport" Fairchild. He had come to
know the characteristics of that face
by heart. His soul was concentrated
upon it-his ambition. Once let him
make this capture and his promotion
would be won. Captain Schmidt could
no longer withhold his recommendation.
But though Hogan narrowly scanned
each face he passed in the street. the
face that meant his promotion never
met his eyes.
Two months. three months slipped
away. Then one evening as Hogan
was standing on Fifth avenue his at
tention was attracted to the opposite
corner. Patrolman Mullaney of his
precinct had a small boy by the hand.
The boy was about years old and
dressed in a short REFER jacket and
leather leggings. Hogan crossed idly
over.
LOST" he asked, indifferently
'Shure." said Muilaney, a perplexed
look wrinkling his Milesian counten-
dDCes been iOSl IoT lDuF EOuTSs 4
guess. Faix, the bye don't know his
own name at. all. nor where ne lives,
ORR have to be afther takin' him to tn
station house.
Hogan had a way with children
Let me try" he said, and lifted the
little chap in his strong arms. The vio-
let glare from a neighboring arc light
struck full upon the cllild's frightened
eyes. Large, gray eyes they were, and
as they met Hogan's a vague memory
thrilled through the latter. But it was
not the eyes that had sent the blood
pounding in the plain clothes mans
breast. Tt was the sight Of three nnoles
formed like triangle upon the child s
right cheek.
Hogan's voice was steady and sooth-
ing.
"And where were you going when you
got lost % he asked.
Toto see favver." said the boy,
struggling to keep back the tears.
And don't you live with your Ia
ther?" pursued Hogan gently.
The child shook his head.
II live wiv-wiv muvver. Favver's
been away-a long way
oh" said Hogan. And so your
father has just come back, ehev
The bod nodded slowly.
well. why didn't he come home TO
see mother and his little boy? All IA
Tiers do that the first thing. you
know" suggested the plain clothes
man.
The child eyed him in grave surprise.
'tOh- but you know, favver-farver
can't"
"Retter let me take him to tn house.
Ye're wasiin' time quIEzin' tn lad in
terrupted Mullansy.