Evening star., 1911-08-27

Oh, L expect can nnd 1t all r1gnt. / III call ABOUT
seven o'clock. Where is it, in the dining room?'
"'Yep. The first speaker handed over house key.
You can't miss it. Be and have it insured. It's
all sealed up and addressed
"The two men got off the car, and OShea grinned.
He decided go after that silver himself that night get
it home, and melt it he could get furnace
THAT evening he hired old covered wagon, and
drove out over the mildam and out the Brighton
Road to Harvard-st. The house easily found.
OShea left his wagon outside slipped round to the back
of the house. and rnmed the dining window. 1t
nothing at all to do. He got in, found huge
been described, and lifted it. 1t heavier than he
expected but he opened the front door and got it out
that way, though it hard job He watched till he
was sure there was passing hosted the basket
into his cart, ard drove back home in high good
humor. 1t two o'clock when he reached the little
side street where he lived and got the basket into his
tosee the swag They quickly cut the rope and tlrewup
the lid.
"There resting on old bedquilts carefully arranged
that he could not be harmed child four years
DID, apparently dead OShea stared in horror his wife
nearly tainted One look at the child told the story.
It Bruce Courtenay-the boy O'Shea had spent
three months and his last dollar trying capure His
hair first sight seemed black; but at the roots it
showed reddish proving that it had been dyed. Around
his neck gold locket set with star in diamonds,
pictures of which had appeared in all the newspapers
If there had been any doubt about the boys identity,
the pinned to his breast would have settled it. 1t
was from Lemon Pye and said:
"You can have him now. I'm through with him l.. F.
1You can imagine O'Sheas feelings. With the hue
and cry after Bruce Courenay, it like receiving
present of stick of dynamite with the fuse lighted
Despite the fact that twenty thousand dollars reward
had been offered for the boy his presence the most
dangerous thing possible. How could OShea ever
plain how he had found him? He could not confess to
a burglary-he was already in too good repute
with the poice,and his movements where the boy had
closed the information But worse than this, what #
the boy dead? 1t would be almost impossible to
dispose of the body. The case was desperate. OShea
summoned his nerve, took up the boy, and found that
he was still breathing, but in deep stupor. AT all
hazards he must be revived If possible.
5" O'Shea undressed the child, put him to bed, and
disposed of the basket 1t two in the morning when
the doctor arrived He looked at the boy and looked
again. Then he turned to OShea.
is this your child? he asked sharply.
@Mrs. OShea answered quickly as women will in an
emergency. 1t is my sisters boy, Doctor She died
last week. and going to adopt the poor little fellow.
Will he live, d'you Think She burst into tears
@Wel, that settled it. Luckily she had talked with
the boy The OSheas took the bull by the horns and
made the best of apretty bad bargain. Bruce Courte
nay became Michael O'Shea. He recovered from the
drugs, had his head shaved and in week was in fair
way to grow into South Boston tough.
"Bu when the reward again raised for the return
of Courtenay's son, OShea looked at his wife and
@'Hes worth twenty-five thousand dollars he
stands he groaned and dassnt claim cent of it.
This kidnapping business amt what it's cracked up to
be. You can't get money easy in this world. Wen
have to put the boy to work. He's bad investment
for them what can't afford him.
"This thought rubbed into him well by Lemon
Pye who fat and compacent at the end of his victorious
campaign day met O'Shea as he was going to work
with his soldering iron and lead pipes
1'You in too much of hurry for that silver.
OShea, he said. We had barely time to feed the poor
kddy the knockout drops before you were IN at the
window. should have come downstairs and helped
you with the basket, only was laughing SO hard l
couldn't hated to part with the lad for was
growing fond of him; but the detectives getting
too lively for me-and, BESIDES you wanted him SO bad
l thought it shame not to let you have him. ;"