The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-12-29
Tuesdays and Fridays
FATHER FINDS
MISSING BOY
Little Charley Reed Was Working A.
Waiter In Lexington Hotel
Mother Happy Again

Mr.. and Mrs. C. R. Reed, six miles
west of Stanford, on the Danville
pike.
On Christmas Eve Mr.. Reed found
In Lexington their 14-year-old son.
Charles Morgan Reed, who has been
missing for over a month. He took the
lad back to his mother, Sunday night,
and this Christmas was one of the
happiest that this mother-whose
heart had been almost breaking with
grief over the disappearance of her
little son-has ever known.
Mr.. Reed came to town Monday
afternoon and was congratulated on
all sides for finding the boy. The story
of the little prodigal is soon told. Like
many another boy, who doesn't real
lie Just how cold and barren the wide
world is until he goes up against it,
young Reed thought it would be fine
to run away and be free.
He admits that he was anxious to get
away from parental influence and dis
cipline for little while He accom-
pllshed his purpose almost at the cost
of his mothers life, however, He had
his fling, and Mr.. Reed saws that
the lad is just as glad to be back
home as his parents are to have him
there again, safely in the family fold.
1t was due to the detective work
that the father himself did, more than
anything else that the child was
found. Mr.. Reed went to Danville
Sunday morning, with the intention
OF gong to Lexington to make a per-
sonal search. The Lexington police
and detectives had been handling the
case for several weeks, and had Sc
r.
that number of policemen in Licking
ton asked him if he was not Charley
Reed, of near Danville," but he was
always able to persuade them that
ne was some one else. He told most of
them he says that his name was
Charley Parker" and that he was
an orphan boy from Tennessee.
Strange to say, policeman sought to
Identify him as the missing boy Sun
day morning. Young Reed, as usual
denied his identity, whereupon the
policeman remarked to him, that he
certainly did wish he could find that
missing Reed boy for his mother was
sick and about to die of a broken
heart because of his disappearance.
Young Reed says this was the first
he had heard of the effect his running
away from home had had upon his
mother. He told his father that after
the cop had told him that, he had
determined to return home Christ
mas morning voluntarily, and would
have gone, had not his father appear
ed on the scene and taken him back
the eve before
1t was by the veriest good luck
that the father found the boy in Lex
lngton. He spent all day Sunday in
the search of that city.
He says that the police were excep-
tlonally kind and courteous to him.
They did everything in their power
to aid him in his search. 1t appeared
hopeless, however. No trace could he.
with the assistance of the police de-
partment, discover of the missing
boy. 1t had been simply a Fremont
ton that had taken Mr.. Reed to Lex
lngton, in the first place When ev-
enlng came on he took a car to the
Southern depot to catch train for
Danville. His heart was heavy. He
had no news to tighten the woe of
the broken-hearted mother back
home. The train was late. Reed found
he had some time on his hands. He
had noticed the big tobacco ware
houses out in the South Broadway
section, as he came in. He saw them
again while waiting at the depot, and
determined to investigate them. Luck
was with him. Some one told him at
one of the warehouses, that bow
answering the description of his son,
had worked there for several DAYS a
short time before that. Another man
directed him to boy who could prob
ably tell him where this boy who
answered his sons description could
be found. This boy knew something
of him. but told of another boy who
could tell where he was boarding. By
this time, Mr.. Reed believed he had a
sure trail. He hired taxi cab and
lost no time. E. F. Stansbury, of 21O
East Main, who happened to be near
took an interest in the fathers case,
and went with him. The boys finally
took Inn to boarding house conduct
ed by man named Baker Mr.. Reed
who is unfamiliar with Lexington
streets, does not know where it is To-
Gated but left the directing to his two
boy guides. Mr.. Baker said that a bow
answering the description Reed gave
was boarding with him; was down
town with his own son, but would
soon be IN. Mr.. Reed sat down and
oi'Cu' WHEN the youngSter came in
shortly afterward, the first person he
saw was his father. He seemed just
IS glad to see his father as the latter
vas to see him, and instantly got
ready to return home, after his five
weeks absence.
81 just wanted to go out and see
he world for myself, a little while"
aid young Reed. "Of course had mo-
dea how mother would look at it. II
vas sorter wild goose chase with
ne, and am glad to be back horne"
The youngster was working as
waiter In hotel down town, and
making So week.