Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-21

once UulAGluEs d10 III NAal WY VIC
first learned that little Leonardo Mo
zio had disappeared from his accus-
toned haunts In the Italian district,
and his mother was frantic with
fright and grief.
Rogers and 1 were interested in the
case at once. for Mrs. MoziO was the
woman who cleaned our Office and
also washed our clothes at her home
we never dared 10 think where II
might be. Mrs. Mozio needed the
work. and we had recklessIy torn it
from the grasp OF a mechanical laun-
dry and carried 1t down 10 our Office,
where little Leonardo MoLio trudged
after it every Monday morning and
brought it back in more or less in
different state OF purity on Friday
evening.
Suppose we go down there and find
out about 1t. Perhaps we can help the
poor SOUL" suggested Rogers.
81 presume there is nothing pressing
to keep us here" said rather apollo
getically.
Jack glanced quiEzically at the morn
ing newspaper which held in my
hand and then at the elaborate disar-
ray Of legal papers on my desk.
"A casual observer might think you
were head over ears in work." he
grinned.
Some one has got to keep up the
reputation Of the firm" said weakly.
''Never mind, old fellow" encour-
aged my optimistic partner as we
sprinted for g descending elevator and
lost it, "nevSsr mind, some day they'll
be waiting our pleasure. Therell be
so MANY clients Wen have to have an
extra large waiting room and take a
few more partners into the firm to
handle the business"
What did you learn about the Mo-
zio boys disappearanceP 1 asked,
changing the subject
The ianitor says he heard the boy
carried some laundry home Monday
night to his mother. He went out to
play in the street after supper and
hasn't been seen since. OF course the
newspapers suggest Black Hand, but
that is absurd. as there's nothing to
gain by stealing n penniless Italian
lad His mother believes that he went
down to one Of the piers to have a
swim and was QroW ned-
THAT sounds most likely. Let me
see. he must be about seven years old,
eh?'
so they say. Here we are, Harley
lord love you. what -an excitement"
A babbling, chattering crowd of Ital-
fan women and children, with here and
there a man, idly curious, gathered
about the dirty doorway of the tene-
ment house where the MoZioS lived.
Inside the narrow hallway was Mrs.
Mozio. pale and dfstraught, her black
hair streaming down her thin cheeks,
her work worn hands gesticulating
despairingly.
When she saw US coming through
the crowd her voice lifted in n thin
wall of grief:
mo gotta da clothes done. signor.
Leonardo he nevva coma back no
mOrer'
Take us upstairs, please" said to
the distracted woman. Mr. Rogers
and 1 have come to help you IL we
can"
Breathing broken thanks, Mrs. Mo
zio led the way up the rickety stairs
to the single room where she and her
boy had lived contentedly together.
"His-a father he die quick, and now
my Ieetle Leonardo is gone" She
threw her apron over her head and
wept noIsily.
"See here, Mrs. Mozio," said my
partner briskly; I'VE have come to
help you find Leonardo. You will have
TO help too"
She looked up and shrugged her
shoulders. He in da river" she SAID
sullenly.
How do you known
"Where else Whatta any one waDta
poor little Italian boyF'
That's what were going TO find
out" soOthed Rogers. THE police
have been on the lookout, and there
isn't the least reason for your think
ing your boy is drowned. Very likely
be has run away"
She listened eagerly and drank In ev-
cry word. weighing it carefully to
let its foreign meaning sink into her
understanding.
"Whatta you thinkT' she asked when
he had finished.
I'VE viii come tomorrow and tell
you unless Here is car fare. Mrs.
Mozio; you come to our Office and we
win have some news for you You
say he has been away since Monday
night?'
"Ah, yesl He bringa da signor's
linen for da wash and be eatta supper.
and he go-and nevaire come-a back
no more" She wept again.
"'What did be wearE" asked Rogers. |
pulling out notebook. But details of
the poor little tragedy were very mea-
ger, and Rogers made most Of them,
asking questions about trivial matters
just to encourage the poor soul who /
had no relatives in this country and /
who was widowed shortly after her |
arrival
We discovered that little Leonardo !
Mozio wore q pair Of corduroy knick- f.
erbockers and a pink calico shirt, also
that he needed a hair cut badly, and .
we did not doubt that bath would .
bot