Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-25

lenden MOTEL, and they We're convinced
that they had accomplished more than
mad all the slueths in the country.
The boys took Willie to the hotel
He skipped through the doors
ahead of them and into the lobby. The
toys partly lost track of him in the
crowd, so anxious was the youngster
to catch glimpse of a face he loved.
Walking over to the clerk. he ask
ed: 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
heard the words rushed in around him
The lad was showed up against the
hotel counter and the scene CLOSELY re-
sembled a panic.
Finds Son at Last.
Across the lobby, the father, his
eyes red from weeping, heard the pip
ing voice of his son. Frantic with JOY
at the sound, he rushed through the
office corridor and in a moment was
fighting his way through the specta-
tors. Plunging and squirming. knock
ing bystanders right and left, the
frenzied parent made his way to the
boz
The kidnapped boy saw his parent
coming. He opened his lips to speak
The words We're never spoken. Grasp
ing Willie in his arm the happy father
lifted the boy 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 parents cheer rang out. For three
minutes the handclappin~ and shout
ing continued. There We're cheers for
the boy and then cheers for the father.
Tells Glad Tidinqs.
Stripping off the boys cap and the
smoked glasses, Whitla lifted the lad
high above his head so that everybody
might get q good view of the now ia
nous youngster, who came near to
rivaling the lost Charlie Ross"
AS soon as he could push his way
through the crowd Mr.. Whitla went to
his room on the second floor. He car
ried the boy in his arms. For several
minutes he was alone in the room with
his son. Then through the door came
these words, spoken by the father to
the boys mother on the long distance
telephone:
ooh, mother, I have Willie here in
nv arms. He is safe. Glory to God,
mamma, it is the happiest day of my
life!"
There was a pause. The mother was
pleading for her husband to return the
boy to his home at once.
II am sorry, mother" Whitla said
II can't get a train out Of here until s
o'clock in the morning. But l will
come home as soon as possible. You
can trust me with him. little mother,
can't you?''
Work of sleuth Praised.
Detective Reed next answered the
phone, Whitla praised him for his
work and told him of the recovery of
the child.
Five minutes after the father had
entered his room fully 1000 persons
were gathered in the Railways and
Hobbies of the hotel. Those who were
unable to get into the hotel stood on
the sidewalk and shouted for a glimpse
of the boy. Again and again they
called his name and implored his faith
er to bring him out and let them look
at him.
Whitla acquiesced to the request Of
the crowd and, carrying the boy on
his shoulder. walked down into the
lobby. Mounting a raised platform in
the center of the lobby Whitla gave
every one chance to see both father
and recovered SON.
Cries of Speech, speech caused
Whitla to say few words. His quav-
erins voice was too full of joy for him
to make connected speech. With his
right arm around the boys neck the
father said:
This is nv son. He was lost and
is found again. If l live a thousand
years / can never do enough to repay
the press, the police and the people.
who have all done noble work In help
ing me find my boy and in extending
their sympathy to me and to my fam
lily and relatives"
Crowd Frishtens Lad.
When Whitla ceased speaking there
were demands for few words from
the boy. The lad for the first time
restored to his feet, he wrapped his
arms around his "daddv's" legs and
hid his face under the coat Whitla
gently drew the lads head from out
the folds of the coat and told him to
say something. The boy turned his
face upward. But he could not speak.
The tears coursed down his cheeks.
was lifted from the platform by his
father and returned to his room.
Whitla refused to see any one in
his room until after he had personally
thanked the Mahoney and Ramsey
boys, who brought Willie to the hotel.
He made each of them a substantial
gift.
Whitla received the newspaper men
| later. Willie told his story as best he
| could 1t was not a lucid story. but
| it was romantic from his childish lips.
He merely gave an idea of his travels.
Papa" said the boy in a tone of
childish prattle, Il have been bueey
riding, been on cars and in nice, big
white house that looked like a hos
pital. l have been treated nice and
had lots Of good things to eat.
Zone man. tall and with black
mustache, came to the schoolhouse
Thursday and told my teacher. Mrs
Anna Lewis, that you wanted me at
your office. 1 went out to a 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. I did this and then drop
ped it into a mail box. He was awful
| ly kind.
Story Of Child's Trip.
1--WE went from Sharon to Warren
We had the incest trip. The man. who
was the same one who brought me tc
the car line tonight, was nice to me
He tucked the robe about my legs anc
mo "a mo toh mir