CHAPTER VII
The Mysterious Visitor
The entire Crow family watched him in stupefaction until he disappeared
down the lane that led to Hapgood's grove. It was then, and not until
then, that Anderson Crow took a breath.
"Good Lord, Eva, what do you mean?" he gasped.
"Mean?" she almost shrieked. "Anderson Crow, didn't you recognise that
feller? He ain't no more detective than you er me. He's the self-same
tramp that you put in the calaboose last week, and the week before, too.
I thought I'd seen his ugly face before. He's--"
"Great jumpin' geeswax!" roared the town marshal. "I recollect him now.
He's the one that said he'd been exposed to smallpox an' wanted to be
kept where it was warm all winter. Well, I'll be--I'll be--"
"Don't say it, pa. He said it fer you when he clumb over that barb-wire
fence out there," cried Edna gleefully.
Several days of anxiety and energy followed this interesting episode. In
that time two tramps attempted to obtain food and shelter at Crow's
home, one on the plea that he was the father of the unfortunate child,
the other as an officer for the Foundlings' Home at Boggs City. Three
babies were left on the doorstep--two in one night--their fond mothers
confessing fessing by letters that they appreciated Anderson's
well-known charitable inclinations and implored him to care for their
offspring as if they were his own.
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