Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-03-21

al! pointed clrcunlStanllaliy StTonS 10
their knowing something about the
boy. Cheney went to Montreal, found
out that Belcher really was an illesiti-
mate child. as th. old settler had
said. En- route back. he stopped at
Chatham and interviewed Mrs. Rogers.
but as soon as he said Basket Guar
ley" she closed up like Il cl;im and ter
minated h. interview. The trail
WAS warm. Belcher. the boy, ought TO
know something. He would look him
up. Cheney advised i'arwcll that prog
ieSs WAS being made. and that he
would report more fully later.
A day or so after this Cheney was al
Palvo. III Relcher WAS there. and
among his see, was a respectable
and had quite a family. IL was Friday
when cheney reached l'alvo. III that
day and Saturday he spent quietly in
TcstisatinS B"lcher. He saw him ON
The street and in the ~postofiice. II tail,
sTare-limb"d man. with raven black
hair and eyes. large hands and feet.
=: thin-!ipped straight mouth. and
smooth face. Il WIS alnlos, a cruel
face. Cheney wen, to church and
heard him sway his small c%ongrega-
ti"n by his rough e%loquencc. After
church cheney went to Rev. Eelcher's
house. rhe preacher received him with
severe cordiality. thinking, perhaps.
'li'il ne WIS II new convert W ms ne
liefs. Cheney let him think so. "
saving he had admired his
IN dealing with men. Cheney was very
direct.
MI. Belcher." he said. I've just
returned from y trip through canada.
and met some friends of yours"
Indeed" replied Eelchcr. wonder
ing what all this meant.
Yes. | was At llXnioor investigate
lnI. nr hirth and n1rtlitlGa of a
boy formerly known as Basket chnr-
ley became DusSessc,l of the idea
that perhaps YOU might know sone-
thing az him" Cheney was watching
HIM closely. Al the mention of "Bas-
ket Charley" Rev. Heicher sat bolt
pressed and eyes dilated.
You say you We're in Montreal;
what-er-wllom did you investigate
there he saspcd.
oh" said Cheney. smiling. Il in
vestigated h birth of II Roy
Belcher.'
And you found out all about him."
Yes, and that's why I'm here. You
know the story of Basket Charley
What is it,
No" gasped the preacher. IT don't.
I've just heard of him. that's all"
The mans manner convinced Cheney
he was lying. He did know; he must
be made To tell.
Would your lock care to know
about your BIRTH"
NO" Numbered Belcher. NO. l
don't want that not now."
Then tell me what you know of
Basket Charley said Cheney. You
do know something, don't YOU"
Yes. 1 know. and if you'll promise
TO reveal my identity I'll tell"
..VA,, 1000. ,-,. -.-,~l ,,-s ~
piled Cheney. 'Candidly. MIR. Belcher.
all ] want to do is to establish the
birth of MIR. Farwell. 1t is simply an
of justice. and you as Il man of
God hould not hesitate to do that.
You preach justice and mercy to your
congregation very Sunday. Exempli-
fy those teachings now by clearing
mystery. Practice what you
preach"
you. but you look like a maj OF your
word Mr.. Belcher settled himself
and closed his eyes as If thinking.
continues:
II need not speak Of my origin. you
know that. When l vas l.. 1 went TO
Exnloor and ~apprenticed witt old mar
Reyburn. The two girls were totally
In her ideas. Maggie was
the opposite and thought life was
naught but pleasure. Poor girl, it was
%undoing. She visited Detroit once
and while there met Il man named
James Eastman. He was of the world
and she of the country. He wrote her
and she was very much in
love with him. MIR. Reyburn and Jane
did not approve and said so. but Mag
was set in her ways, couldn't have
been moved in any manner During
visit to Detroit a marriage took
place. oh, it was "a legal marriage. all
right
"Thank COD for that"
Cheney under his breath.
there's no doubt of the marriage.
I've seen the certificate. But after
the marriage Eastman soon tired CT
his country wife. 1t was the old, old
story of neglect II abuse, and finally
After he left her Maggie
tried to get work but couldn't work
very hard. Things went all wrong at
the farm: Mr.. Reyburn died: Jane
couldn't run IL. neither could 1. and it
sold. 1t didn't bring much money
because a mortgage had to be paid
or. The night we We're to leave Mag
gle came home and brought with her
IL papy scarcely three weeks old. Jane
was incensed and stormed furiously,
upbraiding Maggie for her acts. She
finally refused to have anything to do
with the child. Oh. 1t was awful. that
scene Mr.. Belcher shuddcred at the
memory and resumed.
Maggie was very ill and the ac-
tons Of her sister made her worse.
n was desperate. indeed. | wasn't
much myself. but l was sorry for her.
she came out to the barn where 1 was
II made me promise before God hal
l would try and place her child with
some good family. Then she would
get well and go to work some place.
Her spare earnings would go to the
child and later she would come and
clalm him. 1 promised and then we
cast our minds about for the proper
persons with whom to leave the baby"
L lQAaN Xx,nu