The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-23
STOLEN BOY BACK.
CONFINED from Page one.l

ia .. tne boys pocket. lie read:
Seno thls boy to the HoHenden hotel
him that if anybody asked him who took
Mr.. Jones''
Just tell them your name is Jones,
Willie. = -
Presently a car came into view and
the mysterious Mr.. Jones drew the
boy closer to him.
Wei, Willie, you are going down
town now. and you will see your papa
pretty soon,' he said.
The Return Trip.
This delighted Willie. He swung
onto the car quickly, according to the
conductors"Mr. Jones' paid the boys
car fare and then got off the car and
dlsappeared,> after waving a friendly
adieu-
The boy glanced about the car for
a familiar face. He saw no one he
knew: Presently, Edward Mahoney.
VINO IS II years old, of jolly visage,
came ltno the car. He sat down in the
seat with the boy. Mahoney, like
most every other person in Cleveland,
was looking for little Willie Whitla,
the kidnapped boy. So when his eyes
lighted on Willie. he started con-
versation.
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
suggested that Willie might be the
missing child. When Willie showed
him his transfer slip, saying that he
should be put off at the Hollenden
hotel, and they were soon convinced
that they had accomplished more than
all the sleuths in the country.
The boys took Willie to the hotel.
He skipped ahead of them into the
lobby. The boys partly lost track of
him in the crowd, so anxious was the
youngster to catch a glimpse of face
he loved. Willie did not see his
father, mother 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.. Whitla's Willie" he
replied.
The crowd nearest the boy, who
him. The lad was showed up against
the hotel counter and the scene
closely resembled panic.
Heard His Sons Voice.
Across the lobby, the father his
eyes red from weeping, heard the pip
at the sound, he rushed through the
office corridor and in a moment
was fighting his way through the
spectators Plunging and squirming,
knocking
frenzied parent made his way to the
boy in knickerbockers standing sol
emnIy with automobile goggles IL front
of the clerks desk. The kidnapped boy
saw his parent coming. He opened his
lips to speak The words were never
spoken. Grasping Willie in his arms,
the happy father lifted the boy into
his arms and planted score of kisses
on his lips.
ITS my bod, my darling Wi1lie,'' he
cried.
Tears gushed from his eyes. He
pressed the child to his breast and
hugged 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
child had been returned to
its parent, a cheer rang out For
shouting continued There were cheers
for the boy and then cheers for the
father.
Stripping off the boys cap and the
glasses, Whitla lifted the lad |
high above his head so that every one |
might get good view of the now ia |
nous youngster. AS soon as he could |
push his way through the crowd, |
Whitla, sr., went to his room on the
second floor. He carried the boy in his |
arms For several minutes he was |
alone in the room with his schoolboy |
son. Then through the door came
these words spoken by the father to
the boys mother on the long distance
The Mother Is Told.
ooh, mother, I have Willie here in
my arms. He is safe. Glory to GOD,
mamma, it is the happiest night of my
life"
There was a pause. the mother was
plea ding for her husband to return
The boy to his home at once.
"I am sorry, mother" Whitla said.
"I can't get train out of here until
s O'Clock in the morning. But will +
come home as soon as possible. You
can trust me with him, little mother,
can't you?"
phone. Whitla praised him for his
work Five minutes after the father
had entered his room fully 1000 per-
sons were gathered in the hotel. Those
stood on the sidewalk and showed for /
a glimpse of the boy. Again and again
they called his name and implored his
father to bring him out and let them
WhitIa acquiesced to the request
and taking the boy on his shoulder
walked down into the lobby. Mount
ing raised platform in the center of
the lobby, Whitla gave every one
chance to see his son.
Cries of "speech, speech caused
Whitla to say few words HIS
quavering voice was too full OF JOY Tor
01In TO MAKE d CO1llACOlNN TESCSAA.
he poured out the happiness of his
heart in the few words that he utter
ed. With his right arm around the
neck of the boy, who nestled into the
folds of his fathers coat, the father
said: 'fThis is my son. He was lost
and is found again. If I live a thou
sand years I can never do enough to
repay the press, the police and the
oeopIe who have all done noble work
n helping me find my boy and in ex-
tending their sympathy to me and to
my family and relatives"
Boy Becomes Frightened.
When Whitla ceased speaking there
we're demands for a few words from
I'll. Al,c fret