The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-11-10
HE FOUND
A BROTHER
By ARTHUR BOYNTON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1871,

they kept me for long while. send
ing me out to steal what | could get
my hands on. One day after being
out on this errand | returned to the
shabby room and found it empty.
l must have been about seven years
old at this time. At any rate, was
old enough to pick up living as a
street gamin. didn't like stealing
because | had been often kicked and
cuffed for doing so. l therefore in
vested the proceeds Of very success
full theft In newspapers and entered
upon that business. On one or two
occasions got out into the country
and longed to be there instead Of in
the dirty and dingy city. This threw
me into the profession Of tramp, but I
instinctively shrank from asking peo-
pie for food, therefore l made very
poor living. I noticed that whenever
/ asked any one for help was always
looked upon with a sort Of curiosity
that l did not understand.
One night, tired and hungry, I was
tramping on a road. l had failed to
obtain any supper. and no one would
let me sleep on the premises. l was
about to choose my accustomed bed on
such occasions, two fiat fence rails,
when saw dim light ahead Trudg-
ing on, I came to house.
l looked in at a window and saw
that the room was lighted by bright
Goals left from a wood fire. There
was a bearsk1n rug before the fire.
place, and longed to lie down on 1t
and have a comfortable sleep I tried
the window sash, expecting to find it
locked, but 1t wasn't. I could lift it
easily and without making sound.
l did so, put my head in and listened,
then climbed into the room.
The house no doubt belonged to we'll
to do persons They had evidently
gone to bed. I thought might snatch
a few hours sleep and get out before
any one moved In the msTning.
knew 1t would he risky to d. so, but I
was desperate and ready to take any
chance. So down got on the rug and
had hardly struck it when fell asleep.
was awakened by being shaken.
Opening my eyes, perceived that the
room was Illuminated. A man in pa
tamas was STOPPING beside me, shak-
ing me with one hand and holding
cooked revolver in the other.
"Get up and get out of herep' he said
roughly. =.
"All right" I replied.
Raising myself, I stood on my feet
and rubbed my eyes. The man asked
me how got in and what came for.
He soon saw that l was not danger
Gus and knocked his pistol. When he
learned that I was tramp and tired
and hungry he softened toward me.
noticed that he looked at me with that
same curious gaze with which others
had regarded me. After talking with
me a few minutes he got me some
thing to eat and, not having the heart
to turn me out, told me he would show
me into room where I could sleep till
morning. I told him l would rather
lie on the rug, and he said | might do
So He had come down before going
to sleep to make sure the fire was in
safe condition, had seen me lying be-
fore it, had gone back upstairs for a
revolver and had awakened me.
In the morning early he came down,
reused me and told me to follow him
upstairs, showing me into q beautiful
tiled bathroom and pointing to a suit
of clothes, with undergarments, hang
ing to hooks. I bathed, put on the
clothes and went downstairs. The
man who had befriended me was +,
there and, turning, gazed at me stead
lily and with wondering look.
''If l didn't know better" he said. 81 |
would think you were my own broth
err"
He led me to pier glass, where our
figures were reflected. | had never
seen myself decently dressed before
and was astonished at the change in
my appearance. | was as much aston
lshed as he at the resemblance between
me and the man beside me. Turning
TO me, he said:
"You're no tramp. l saw that last
night. You are or were at least born
gentleman. You've got genter blood
In your veins than I. You're working
some game"
l assured him that he was mistaken
and during our conversation gave him
the sketch Of my life | have given
here. From the first he seemed moved
BY some powerful emotion. Before |
had finished he ran into the hall and
called: Mother! Emily! Jack! Come
herer"
When these persons came down he
Iaid to them, "Lcok at us two togeth"
er and tell me who you think he is
"Oh. heavensw exclaimed the moth
n. Can he be .JulianT
In few words it was explained to
ne that sixteen years before her little
BOY, five years old, had been kidnapped.
During the negotiations for his return
he kidnapers had become frightened
Ind disappeared. The child was at
asst given up for dead. II
No direct proof was ever adduced
hat 7 u-oS tho Loot r,op,bor of fbIa Z