The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-03-25

20 the hotel He skipped throush the
doors ahead % them and into the
lobby.
Willie didn't Sc his father. mother
or sister in the lobby. Walking over
TO the clerk. he asked: Have you seen
my papa
who is lie. boy - he was asked.
piled
The crowd nearest the boy who
heard the words rushed In around him
The lad was showed up against the no
tel counter and the scene closely re
semoled 4 panic.
Across the lobby the father. his ewes
red from weeping. heard the piping
voice OF his son. Frantic with joy al
the sound. he rushed through the ONCE
corridor and in a moment was fighting
his way through the spectators. Plung-
ing and sQUirming. knocking bystand-
ers right and left. the frenSied parent
made his way to the bewildered boy
In knickerbockers standing solemnly
the clerks desk.
The Kidnapped boy saw his parent
coming. He opened his lips 10 speak
The words were never spoken. Grasp
ing Willie in his arms. the happy faith
er lifted the boy into HIS arms and
planted a score of kisses on his lips
Its my boy. my darling Willie" be
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 parents cheers rang out For three
minutes the handclapping and shout
ing continued. There were cheers for
the boy and then cheers for the father
AS soon as he could push his way
through the CROWD. Whisa senior went
20 his room on the second floor. He
carried the boy in his arms. Through
the door come these words, spoken by
the father to the boys mother on the
long distance telephone: "Oh. mother
| have Willie here in my arms. He is
safe. Glory TO God. mamma: IL Is the
happiest night OF my life"
Willie Tells His Story.
Whitla received the newspaper men
later. Willie told his story as best he
could. IL was not n lucid story in
every way. but IL was romantic from
bis childish lips. He could not remem-
Der every place he had been, but he
gave an idea OF his travels so that il
will be possible for the police to cover
part of the trail made by the Kid
pappers.
Papa" said the boy. Il have been
buggy riding. been on cars and in a
nice big white house that looked like n
hospital. have been treated nice and
had lots Of good things to eat.
One man. tall and with a black
moustache. came to the school house
and told NY teacher that you wanted
me at your Office. I went TO the buggy
with him. I got in and then he got in
Then We rode away. On the way down
town he asked me TO address a letter
TO you. | did this and then dropped II
into a mail box. He was awfully kind.
Abdue:or Was Good to Him.
We went from Sharon to Warren.
We had the incest trip. The man. who
was the same one who brought me to
the car line. was nice To NE. He tucked
the robe about my legs and made me
comfortable IL was nice ride and I
enjoyed it. Gee. he was good.
When we got to a place the man
said was Warren. the man left the
buggy in the road. Then We got on
what ! think was an electric car.
don't just remember what II was. but
II was something like a street car.
don't know what became OF the horse
and buggy | was sleepy when we got
on the car and | slept much OF the
way to the place where We were 90
ing.
When We got TO a town that the
man called New Castle they took me
10 a big building and turned me over
to woman. She was good TO me. The
hospital. or whatever the building
was. was a clean place. There was a
man there who think was a doctor
He looked like a doctor. because lie
had whiskers. short gray whiskers.
On Saturday night ! was taken
away from the hospital and think We
went TO a town called Ashtabula We
travelled in buggy and on foot. Early
In the morning We went back to the
hospital. | heard one OF the men saw
There will be nothing doing tonight.
guess
Told Willie He Was on a Vacation.
They told me all along that | was
Just on little vacation. wasn't go
ing to be hurt. they told me So | lust
acted nice and had a good time play
ing around the hospital. | knew 1
would get back home all right and
Just supposed Mr.. Jones was one of
my friends who was treating me nice
because you wanted him to treat me
that way. papa. dear"
The boy told the story slowly At
times he stopped and kissed and
Rugged his father. The father sat as
II in a trance. The music OF his boys
voice seemed to charm him as no
music ever had before. A minute after
the lad finished his narrative and the
detectives We're standing around ad
miring him. the father said: Willie
1 am happier tonight than | ever have
been before in my whole life"