Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-07-04
THE
FOUNDING
By ELlNOR MARSH

Edward Redmond and his wife were
childless. Mrs. Redmond especially
longed for little one to care for and
to love, and her husband, whose active
life did not seem to require 1t, was dis
appointed ON his wife's account
+ One evening there was ring at the
Redmond bell. Mrs. Redmond went to
the door and there found basket. Un-
der a soft, warm blanket lay 4 baby
boy fast asleep. Taking up the bas-
ket, she carried it into the house, re-
moved the child and made an exami-
nation of everything that might fur
nish clew to its identity. But there
was no clew. -.14,
For seven years the Redmonds gave
the little fellow everything to make
him comfortable and happy. Then one
day he disappeared. .r GIl,.
Frank-they had named him Fran
cis--was playing on the sidewalk when
a gentleman approached him and,
after asking him where he lived and
the name of his parents, told him that
If he would 60 with him around the
corner he would buy him some candy.
Frank consented, and as soon as they
were out of sight Of Franks home be
was put into carriage and driven
away. ...
When the boy was missed his foster
parents believed that he had been kid
mapped by son,c one who would apply
for a ransom. They had saved some
money and expected to pay it over for
the boy, but no demand was ever made.
nor was he returned to them. ....
Frank was taken to the home Of the
man who had kidnapped him and from
there to an Office in big building.
The boy noticed on the door Of the
office the word Surrogate" but be did
not know what it meant.
This is Thomas Barton Clarke"
said the kidnaper, sole heir-at-law to
the estate Of his grandfather, William
Cook"
Frank heard the man beside the desk
say to the kidnaper that he was ap-
pointed guardian, and $1,000 year
would be paid from the income Of the
estate for the child's maintenance.
Frank grew to manhood under the
,are of this guardian, who pocketed
he sum put aside for the boys sup
)ort. When Frank came of age he
that his guardian. who was
low dead, had doubtless kidnapped him
md kept him in his possession to Sc
.ure this income Frank had dim
of his foster father and
mother, but had no idea who they
vere He learned that his possession
# the estate he had inherited had been
disputed and that the evidence of his
IDENTIFY, trumped up by his guardian,
vas very thin and would have been
contested by other claimants had they
lad means to do so.
But now that the estate was about
o be turned over to him these claim
nts dubbed together and brought suit
o prevent his having it on the ground
hat he was not Thomas Barton Clarke.
Meanwhile an evil fortune befell Ed
ward Redmond. He lost his savings
" an unfortunate Investment and was
aiken ILL., Doctors bills and a cutting
If of income through being laid up
him, and he and his wife
we're on the border Of starvation.
One morning Mrs. Redmond took up
newspaper to examine the advertise
aents, hoping to find something that |
he could do to earn money, though
he was really too old to fill any but
light position, when her eyes fell
pom one asking for information con
erning couple who had brought up
rom babyhood to about seven years of
&c Thomas Barton Clarke.
Mrs. Redmond had never heard Of |
'homas Barton Clarke, but it occurred
D her that he and the baby who had
cen left at her door and whom she
ad called Frank might be one and the |
anne person. She told her husband of |
err suspicion, but he poo-poohed her
Or her rainbow hope. However, she
'rote an answer to the advertisement.
The next morning Frank drew up be-
ore the house where he had lived as
child. The street looked familiar. |
lie rang the Redmond bell, and an old
oman came to the door. It seemed
, Frank that he had seen her before
omewhere in the dim past. She was
azing upon him as in dream.
II have note in answer to an ad- |
for
frank" exclaimed the woman, then |
III into his arms.
From that moment 1t all came back |
, Frank. He was taken to his foster |
lther, whom he remembered dimly. |
ut he remembered his play room and
,st where he had kept his rocking |
orse and other articles of amusement
lis foster mother had kept the basket
which he had been left at the house |
18th it's contents of bedding and CLOTH
*, and she brought it out for Franks
lspection.
By means Of these articles Frank sue
,eded in establishing his identity as
homas Barton Clarke, but only as a
nix in other evidence and after
rcat deal Of searching. The basket
as Of certain make, and bill was
,und for it's purchase more than twen-
years before. In similar way |
,me Of the clothing was converted
ito proof. Sufficient evidence was
JUS collected to enable the state to
I'm over the estate to Frank, and he
ecame very rich.