The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1909-03-23

Willie, was cheerful enough. The
mysterious one and the youngster
skipped in schoolboy fashion toward
the trolley line, testing in the mean
time.
A few rods from the car line the
man stopped the boy. Pulling pair
of smoked glasses from his pocket he
the remark, you'll look better in
these" The sides of the black yarn
cap were pulled carefully over the
boys ears. A slip, which Willie was
to hand to the conductor, was put in
the boys pocket. 1t read:
Send this boy to the Hollenden
hotel double quick
Willie says the man told MIN that
if anybody asked him who took him
to the car line to tell them it was
"Mr. Jones'"
'Just tell them your name is Jones,
too, if you want to-" said the kid
naper. "All right, Mr.. Jones'" said
Willie
Presently car came into view and
the mysterious mir. Jones drew the
boy closer TO him.
well, Willie, you are going down
town now and you will see your papa
pretty soon" he said.
This delighted Willie. He swung
onto the car quickly. according to
the conductor. Mr.. Jones" paid the
boys fare and then got off the car
and disappeared after waving o
friendly adieu.
The boy gazed about the car for
familiar face. He saw no one he
knew. Presently Edward Mahoney,
who is a 17-year-old boy of jolly
visage, came into the car. He sat
down in the seat with the boy. Maho-
ney, like most every other person IN
Cleveland last night, was looking for
little Willie Whitla, the kidnapped boy.
So when his eyes lighted on Willie he
started a conversation.
Whats your name?" he queried.
Jones" answered Willie, true to his
kidnaper friend.
But Mahoney was not to be fooled.
He called his friend Ramsey over
from another part of the car and
showed him Willie. He suggested that
it might be the missing child. Then
Willie showed them his transfer slip,
saying that he should be put off at
the Hollenden hotel and they were
/ convinced they had accomplished
more than had all the sleuths in the
country.
The boys, now willing companions.
took Willie 10 the hotel. He skipped
through the doors ahead of them into
the lobby. The boys partly lost track
of him in the crowd. so anxious was
the youngster to catch asglimpse of a
face he loved. And then again Maho-
ney and Ramsey were not sure Of
their abilities as sleuths when they
got in view of a crowd
Willie\ did not see his father. moth
er or sister in the lobby. Walking
over to the clerk he asked, Have you
seen my papa?" "Who is he, boy?"
he was asked.
"Oh, I'm Mr.. Whitlas Willie" he
replied.
The crowd nearest the boy who
heard the words rushed in around
him. The lad was showed UP against
the hotel counter and the scene close
ly resembled a panic.
Across the lobby the father, his
eyes red from weeping. heard the
piping voice of his son. Frantic with
Joy at the sound, he rushed through
the Office corridor and in moment
was fighting his way through the
| spectators. Plunging and squirming.
knocking bystanders right and left,
the frenzied parent made his way to
the bewildered boy in knickerbockers
standing solemnly with automobile
goggles in front of the clerks desk.
The kidnapped boy saw his parent
coming. He opened his lips to speak.
| The words were never spoken. Grasp
ing Willie in his arms, the happy
father lifted the boy into his arms
and planted a score of kisses on his
lips.
Its my boy. my darling Willie"
he cried.
Tears gushed from his eyes. He
pressed the child to his breast and
Rugged him tightly. Willie smiled a
little He was glad to see his papa,
but he did not realize what all the
fuss was about.
When the crowd realized that the
kidnapped child had been returned to
its parent a cheer rang out For three
minutes the handclapping and shout
ing continued. There were cheers
for the boy and then cheers for the
father.
Stripping off the boys cap and the
smoked glasses. .Whitla revealed his
! boys bare head for the first time. He
lifted the lad high above his head so
that evey one might get good view
| of the now famous youngster, who
came near to rivalling the Lost
Charlie Ross Of KIDNAPPED fame. 4