Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-21
The Argus. Daily Story
The Mozio Boy-By Clarissa Mackie
Copyrighted 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

seen turning something over in nv
mind. Jack. It's question the woman
put up TO you, and its a stickcr too
"Out with It"
What does any one want with
poor little Italian hoy? There isn't
any money in It Find = motive and
you'll discover what has become Of
the child"
Got any ideas?"
Yes. You can help me- search
through back files OF some OF tho
newspapers to see II You can find
where there has been a death in the
family OF n well 70 do italian family
say the death Of a boy about Leouar-
dos age"
"Batty! Yes. you are al Of that,
Harley"
why? Ask yourself the question.
What would any one want with n
poor little Italian bovT And the only
answer l can ind is that be might
take the place OF a child who had
passed away"
'Loony as can be- murmured Jack
as we alighted and went to look up
the newspaper files.
The joke was that Rogers found the
only notice OF the sort we were look
ing for.
II find that Lorenzo Orsati and
Rosa, his wife. lost their siX-year-old
son on the 10Th OF July" said Rogers
sheepishly.
We looked up the record OF the Or
salts and found that they were A
wealthy italian family. the father en-
gagged in the importing Of olives. They
lived in a fashionable apartment house
uptown.
The next morning we made our way
uptown to the apartment house whers
the Orsatis lived. AS usual, Rogers
took the initiative. and when we
reached the vestibule he suddenly or
dered me about face and said he had
an idea.
Come to the park first and II you
see any dago looking children say so"
There's the genuine article Jack"
l whispered. Hear 'em rattle or the
Itaunnr"
Sure enoughw And with the fas-
cinating smile which has brought him
no little success when he aims to win
confidence Jack approached the olive
skinned nursemaid who was chatter
ing to the dark eyed children about
her
"Mr. Orsati's little boy is not here
today?' he inquired graciously.
She shook her head. displaying mag
nificent teeth Then she sighed. $50
sad, signor The little one Is deadT'
Rogers started. mo, no." he said
quickly. II mean the new boy-the
one they have taken to I'll his place"
She shook her head with n puzzled
glance. but one OF the children who
had been listening eagerly evidently
understood enough English TO grasp
the trend Of questioning and spoke -
her I'm fluent Italian. Her pretty face
showed surprise. incredibly and then
pleasure.
Little Nina snys II IL true-the poor
parents have adopted a little boy ~
I'll the place Of their beloved one IL
is said that the boy cries all day long.
1t is so sad!'
Rogers pressed thanks upon them
and dragged me AWAY. Harley, old
man, please be careful not to lose
your head. It's Invaluable to the firm
OF Harley &, Rogers"
81 always said So" I admitted mod.
estly.
At the OrsaH apartment we found
it difficult 10 gain admittnnce. At last
Rogers went out and teleDhoned 10
them that he had come after the boy
= II, the upsnot or Il was that we
did gain possession OF little Leonardo
MoZiO, who was tcarfulIy resplendent
IN a sort Of Lord Fauntlcroy suit OF
black velvet. in which he looked more
like brigaud than anything else. He
was weeping noisily when we rescued
him after promising Mrs. Orsat that
we would try and End her "A boy after
this pattern whom they could legally
adopt.
1t is needless TO describe the Joyous
scene when Leonardo WIS restored TO
his happy mother. lie WAS her only
child and she was a widow Leonardo
was the center Of an excited audience
when he told Of how be had wandered
uptown after supper that Monday night
and how a beautiful automobile had
stopped and a lady and gentleman had
questioned him If he would Ike to live
with them and be their little boy
Leonardo had said he would, and
they took him at his word Afterward
be repented bitterly. although they
treated him royalty.
The upshot OF this mia tier was We
dil find a. child for the Orsutla. and
the check that we received for our
services was az an oasis in n tracklcs4
desert. Moreover, the Orsatls took an
interest In the Mozios. and AIrs. Orsau
found work Of n better sort for Mrs.
Nozio, who was discovered to be
h. 4E..gt
they moved into better quarters. and
Leonardo Mozi1 has the promise OF
job ia the Orsau Offices when he grows
big enough
And the funny part Of the whole
business Is that they an look upon
Rogers and myself as ycneiactors.