Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-04-17

utes and I'll ring when l want you to
bring him in"
Yes, sah,' said the deferential jeff,
retiring.
Col. Cheney finished his mail, dis
missed Miss Wood and then, stepping
over to one side of the room, pressed
an unseen spring, and small panel
nOiselessly opened. By a clever ar
rangement of mirrors the entire out-
side waiting room could be seen.
Cheney called it his "tell-tale," and al
| ways used it when a stranger wanted
to see him. Jeff's analysis of Mr. Far
well was quite accurate. He was good
looking, his eyes were black and he
had the appearance of money. Like
a Gagged lion Mr.. Farwell paced up and
down the room, his eyes glancing I'M
easily from side to side, and every
once in awhile he looked at his watch
its woman all right said Cheney
to himself, land if | don't get him in
here pretty quick I'll have a crazy
man on my hands" The secret panel
was closed and Col Cheney touched
button on his desk A moment later
the door was opened and jeff an
nounced: 'Mr Farwell," and the Wis
itor entered.
Col. Cheney, l believer"
yes, SIR said Cheney, extending
his hand. Wont you sit DOWN."
Thank you" said Farwell, vigors.
ously shaking the preferred hand and
nervously sinking into a convenient
chair.
"Col. Cheney" he continued, 81 am
in serious trouble, very serious, and l
want your help" He paused for
moment and Cheney merely said
yes" He always allowed his client
to do the talking, that is until some
thing tangible was shown. Farwell
hummed and hawed and seemed at
loss for words with which to express
himself. Cheney saw he wanted a
| quieting influence.
Nov, Mr.. Farwell, just pull your
| self together. You're nervous and
overweight, but if you want my
help you must give me all the facts
in the case. Come, now, what is it?
What help do you want?'
This seemed to have the desired
effect and Farwell looked Cheney
square in the eyes and said:
Col Cheney, I want you to find
me a name. have everything else
in this world, money, position.
friends, the love of good woman,
but | haven't a name"
''You-haven't-a- gasped
| Cheney, for a minute dumfounded
What is this one?" he said, reading
Charles B. Farwell" neatly engraved
on the card.
That's the one I've had so far in
| life, but it's not mine. That's just it,
| don't know what mine is. | don't
know that l am entitled to one. |
want YOU to find out for me. Wait
| please. until l have finished. l am
in business in Duluth, and am COM
fortably fixed so far as this world 5
goods go, but my birth is clouded IN
mystery. AS near as | can make out
| am about % years old. In my
childhood days | was known as
Basket Charley because l was
found on a doorstep of a mans house
near ExmoOr, Ontario, in a basket.
| His name was Farwell and he gave
me the name Charley and brought me
M. The b. in my name | put in for
| FORMS sake. The old man Farwell
was poor and had hard work provid-
| ing for his own family and me, but
he was generous to fault and did
the best he could. When | was about
ten years old he died and since then
I've shifted for myself. Pinned to
nv clothing when | was found was
| this note" Here Farwel stopped
and handed Cheney a slip of paper.
1t was old and yellow, but the words
thereon written in & delicate feminine
! hand read as follows: 28 ss:t' .,...S
MIR. Farwell: This baby boy
comes of Respectable parents who are
too poor to bring him up. We are
leaving for the west to try and make
our fortunes. When we do we shall
send lor him. Here is two dollars
and a half and a similar amount
will be sent every week. Be good
to him and Gods choicest blessings
rest on your head" Signed "a
heart broken mother" Cheney read
it carefully, laid it on his desk and
said: well, go on please, Mr.. Far
we'll"
Mr.. Farwell moistened his lips from
glass of water near by and con-
tinued: after Mr.. Farwell found me
but one more remittance was received.
Some three weeks after came an en-
velope postmarked Detroit and di-
rected in the same handwriting. In
it was the promised amount, $3.50.
After that there was nothing but ST.
lence. Subsequent to Mr. FarwelI S
death I did various jobs on farms
around EXmoor. / lived like a beggar.
but getting at odd times what school
ing | could. The boys and girls of nv
age knew my history and derisivelv
called me Basket Charley. II be-
came unbearable and | struck out for
,,,,-raIf The only link I had b1+,-.,,