The Bismarck tribune., 1924-07-08
Bobby Discovers
Missing Father
BY HAROLD CARTER

Bobby was lost. 1t is very hard
to be lost when you are only dve
years old and have gone out Into
the world to find father.
He held the scrap Of paper which
was to be talislnan In his hand.
He had taken that from his moth
er's desk when she was In the other
room. He knew that this would
help him to find a father such AZ
he had always wanted. r
Suddenly Bobby's legs gave ont
He was tired and bewildered by
the rush OF traffic and the busy
pedestrians. ta
He sat down upon the curb and
rubbed his eyes with two grimy lit
tie hands, and still he could not rub
the tears away. y 3
"What's the matterY asked q big
policeman, striding up to him. Are
you lost, boy7" s,>
Bobby handed him the piece Of
paper. The policeman looked at It
and whistled.
"Mr. Swanscott!" he calculated.
saints alive! Is he your daddy"
Bobby nodded dubiously. The po-
licemar picked him up and carried
him across the street to a big build-
ing and spoke to- the porter. The
porter took Bobby to the door Of
a little room that was moving up
and UP. rs'' '.~ q" rc
Upstairs John Swanscott was
holding a company meeting. The
director were all assembled and
ready to begin business. John
Swanscott walked restlessly about
the room. His heart was not in the
company that day. He was think
ing Of the girlish wife who had left
him FIVE years before because-be-
cause 'i@ ?" ~
Well, he had tried to hnd her
many times. But Hilda's pride had
lent her power to evade him, and
he had learned nothing. He did
not know, for instance, that he was
the father. Is z
But with the shrewd instinct Of
FIVE years Bobby had long ago d.
vined that something was the mat
ter with mother. True. he did not
know that mothers ought not to
cry at night, and sometimes during
the day as we'll; 1t was only q sub
tie instinct that informed him how
happy he would be, and mother,
too, II he could bring home q
father. &f IT
He had noticed particularly that
the piece of paper with the name on
it was treasured, and that often
mother took 1t out Of the desk
drawer and began to write letter,
and that she always ended by tear
ing up the paper on which she had
written, and throwing the pieces
into the basket. ~.
All, we'll, 1t was not necessary
for John Swanscott to know all
this He had troubles enough. He
had thrown himself unreservedly.
into his work, an embittered man,
and not a very generous one. The
name Of Swanscott had become
feared In Wall street. There was
not one of the directors, who stood
nervously about the room, who was
not afraid Of him.
The meeting is called. gentle
men," he said-and just then
clerk came in through the private
door. aE f-s
""To see mel" exclaimed John
Swanscott incredulously. 1.-THE
porter, did you say" Then anger
got the better Of him. Ibid you tell
him / had q company meeting" he
De&0l.
And just then q dirty little boy
with a tear-stained face and grimy
hands that clutched q scrap Of pa.
per, came toddling into the room.
Bobby looked around gravely,
and he stared into the face Of each
of the amused directors In turn be.
fore planting himself upon his
sturdy little legs In front Of Swan
well, sir, what can do for
you?" inquired Swanscott gravely.
Have you come to attend the
meeting Of this company"
YES" answered Bobby, with
equal gravity. Il want father"
The words strung Swanscott to
the quick. He glared at the little
IVY ouu AuC ulG0ElOTS, 68C0 OF
whom knew the. tragic story of
Swanscott's life though he did not
know they knew, tried to suppress
their interest.
so you have come to me, to find
father for you, have your in.
Quired the president. 'sWhat is
that You have IN your hand, young
man?" -.
Bobby stretched ont his hand and
offered him the paper, with the
assurance Of five years old. Swan
scott took It and gave an involun-
tary start. ~ q,
It was Hilda's handwriting that
he saw before his eyes. It was
impossible to mistake that. How
many times had he not seen It upon
those letters at home, every one of
which he had read so often that he
knew It by hearth. q =.
Mother is always.crying because
IFhaven't q father" exclaimed Bob.
by. "She cried all night, and some
times she writes things on. q piece