The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-02
THE
7OUNDLING
By ELINOR MARSH

Ie0 1or lttle one 10 care Tor anu
bve. and her husband. whose active
did not seem to require it, was dis
binted ON his wife's account
be evening there was a ring at the
mond bell. Mrs. Redmond went to
door and there found a basket. I'm
q soft. warm blanket lay q baby
fast asleep. Taking up the bas-
she carried it into the house. re
led the child and made an exami-
On of everything that might fur
a clew to its identity. But there
no clew.
br seven years the Redmonds gave
little fellow everything to make
comfortable and happy. Then one
he disappeared.
ank-they had named him Fran
was playing on the sidewalk when
Gentleman approached him and,
asking him where he lived and
hame of his parents, told him that
would go with him around the
er he would buy him some candy
hk consented. and as soon as they
out of sight of Franks home he
put into carriage and driven
ben the boy was missed his foster
nts believed that he had been kid
d by some one who would apply
y ransom. They had saved some
BY and expected to pay il over for
boy. but no demand was ever made.
was he returned 10 them.
INK was taken to the home of the
who had kidnapped him and from
D to an office in a big building.
boy noticed on the door of the
the word Surrogate" but he did
knOw what it meant
bis is Thomas Barton Clarke.
the kidnaper. sole heir at-law TO
Estate of his grandfather. William
INK heard the man beside the desk
30 the kidnaper that he was APP
led guardian. and $1,000 year
b be paid from the income of the
E for the child's maintenance
INK grew to manhood under the
of this guardian. who pocketed
um put aside for the boys sup
When Frank came of age he
cted that his guardian, who was
dead, had doubtless kidnapped him
kept him in his possession to Sc
this income Frank had a dim
mbrance OF his foster father and
er, but had no idea who they
He learned that his possession
estate he had inherited had been
ted and that the evidence of his
ty. trumped up by his guardian.
very thin and would have been
bted by other claimants had they
beans to do so
now that the estate was about
turned over to him these claim
dubbed together and brought suit
bvent his having II on the ground
be was not Thomas Barton Clarke.
lnwhile an evil fortune befell Ed
Redmond. He lost his savings
unfortunate investment and was
Ill. Doctors bills and a cutting
income through being laid up
perished him. and he and his wife
ION the border of starvation.
morning Mrs. Redmond took up
sspaper to examine the advertise
hoping to find something that
Ould do to earn money. though
vas really too old to fill any but
bit position. when her eyes fell
one asking for information con
Ag a couple who had brought up
babyhood to about seven years Of
homas Barton Clarke.
Redmond had never heard OF
)as Barton Clarke. but it occurred
that he and the baby who had
lett at her door and whom she
llled Frank might be one and the
person She told her husband of
hspicion. but be poo-poohed her
er rainbow hope However. she
an answer to the advertisement
next morning Frank drew up be
be house where be had lived as
ID. The street looked familiar
hg the Redmond bell. and an old
came to the door 1t seemed
Ink that he had seen her before
there In the dim past She was
upon him as In a dream.
ave note In answer to an ad
lment for
nkr exclaimed the woman. then
10 his arms
that moment 1t all came back
NIX. He was taken to his foster
whom be remembered dimly
remembered bis play room and
there he had kept his rocking
md other articles of amusement
ster mother had kept the basket
CD he had been left at the house
8 contents Of bedding and cloth
d she brought 1t out for Franks
(ion.
leans OF these articles Frank sue
In esta blishing bis identity as
p Barton Clarke. but only as q
other evidence and after q
1eal OF searching. The basket |
certain make. and q bill was
Tor its purchase more than TWEEN