The Search
The incident with Billy, and Marzetta Le Claire's claims
to be his mother, were long forgotten. Billy went on with his life
in Camden Corners without a worry about his past. Will Duesenberry
could not forget his fear when there was a possibility his son would
be taken away from his family.
He knew his next step would be to find any information
he could about the biological families of both Billy and Butch.
He and Oscar Crowley were discussing the matter when
Neville Merryweather walked through the doors of the coffee shop in
Merryweather's, the antique shop operated by his sister, Millie.
“Good morning gentlemen. I can see you are involved
in a discussion and won't disturb you,” said Neville.
“Nonsense, please sit down Neville. In fact, I
wouldn't mind your opinion on this matter since you have a son you
didn't know existed until recently,” said Will.
Will explained the circumstance in which Billy and Butch
came into their lives and the scam that Marzetta and Anton tried to
pull off.
Neville listened intently as Will told him the whole
story. He thought it was incredible that the two boys were able to
fend for themselves all these years and that Billy had lived like
that since he was seven years old.
“Kate and I haven't spoken to Butch yet about his
memories. I think with a little prodding both boys will remember
more as time goes by. At the present time we are concentrating on
our new baby who will be arriving any day now. Oscar knows about
waiting, he is waiting for two babies.”
“And I wish they would both hurry up. I'm not getting
any younger,” Oscar added.
“I had dealings with some folks in Pittsburgh when I
was still active in the agency. I do remember seeing the orphanage.
I use to walk from the train station to my client's plant. The
orphanage was on my way. On warm days when the children were out
playing they would run up to the fence to greet me. It was as though
they were craving any contact they could find outside of those high
fences. I got in the habit of filling my pockets with peppermints
and offering them to the children as I passed by. Don't think I
haven't wondered about James growing up in a place like that. If it
hadn't been for Chester Robinson, Helene might not have had a choice.
I'm at loose ends now. I've all but given up the insurance agency.
I was thinking of buying a house here so I have a place to bring a
bride should the occasion arise.” Neville look a little embarrassed
but his friends knew the circumstances and understood.
“Neville, I don't know why you aren't courting Helene
now. It has been several months since Prudence died. No one would
fault you for moving on with your life.”
“As much as I would like to be with Helene, I feel I
owe it to my daughters to respect the memory of their mother. They
argue with me about it all the time. Granted Prudence wasn't much of
a mother to them but she was still their mother. I blame myself for
her unhappiness. If I hadn't been such a coward years ago, Helene
and I would have been celebrating our thirtieth wedding anniversary
by now. Instead I let my father talk me out of marrying the only
woman I ever loved. Money was so very important to me back then and
look what it brought me. A marriage with a woman I never loved and
who never loved me. On the plus side, I have two beautiful daughters
who I adore.
“Back to what I was saying. I'm not doing anything
productive these days and wouldn't mind a trip to Pittsburgh. I could
inquire at the orphanage. Maybe they would be able to give me some
information. I've always wondered what it would be like to be a
private investigator. Maybe this could be a start of a whole new
career for me.”
Oscar spoke up. “That's not such a bad idea. I'd go
with you myself but Nettie would wring my neck if I left when my
grandchildren are so close to arriving. Do you know Max Harcourt?
He has done his share of investigating. I'll bet this would be
something he'd like to be involved with.”
“Yes, I know Max. Not very well but he seems like a
nice fellow. Maybe I'll stop by his place when I leave here.”
said Neville. He was looking forward to the adventure and wanted to
get started on the investigation right away.
“I'll go with you. I haven't seen Max in a while.”
Oscar said wanting to be involved in this latest mystery.
“You fellows are the greatest. Thank you for your
help. Maybe we will have some answers soon and then we can start
worrying about Butch's family,” said Will.
Max welcomed the challenge Neville and Oscar presented
to him. Sarah served the men coffee and was invited to sit with them
and hear the plan.
“Max, I'll pack your bag,” said Sarah “I can tell
by the look in your eyes that you are ready to board the train to
Pittsburgh.”
“How soon can you be ready Neville?”
“As soon as I can get back to the boarding house and
pack a bag myself. I'll meet you at the train station.”
“How do you know there will be a train going to
Pittsburgh any time soon?” asked Oscar
“We have strategy to work out and there is plenty of
room at the station to do that.” said Max.
Neville dropped by the library to let Helene know he
would be out of town for a few days.
“Thank you Neville for letting me know. It's nice of
you to think of me.”
“I'm always thinking of you,” replied Neville. He
knew this adventure would help pass the time until he would be able
take her in his arms. Maybe he was being foolish to wait. All his
life he had been impulsive without regard for anyone or anything.
Why did he have to choose now to be sensible?
Within the hour both Max and Neville arrived at the
train station. The train to Pittsburgh was leaving in two hours.
Plenty of time to devise a plan to get information from the folks at
the orphanage.
The men walked in through the front doors of the
orphanage. It was so dim they had a difficult time adjusting from
the bright sunshine outside. Max used his charm on the receptionist
and she was instantly smitten. It wasn't often a handsome gentleman
greeted her with such a beautiful smile. She informed Miss Walker,
the administrator of their arrival.
Miss Walker greeted the gentlemen without any hint of
friendliness. Max knew his charm would be wasted on this woman and
deferred to Neville. There was a small spark of interest when
Neville spoke softly to the woman. He made the rookie mistake of
mentioning that Billy had run away from her facility. She
immediately shut down.
“No child has ever run away from this institution. I
have no information for you gentlemen. Now if you will excuse me I
trust you are capable of finding your way out.” Miss Walker turned
on her heel and left the room in a huff.
“Me thinks thou doth protest too much” whispered
Max.
As they were leaving, they almost bumped into the
receptionist who had obviously been eavesdropping.
“Meet me at the coffee shop around the corner at 4:35.
I have information for you.” she said as she opened the outside
door for them.
“Sorry I messed that one up. I know now that I should
never have told Miss Walker about Billy running away.”
“No harm done, she wasn't about to tell us anything
anyway. I wonder what Miss Sanders has to say. She is a nervous
little thing but she was adamant about meeting with us.”
“Maybe your charm worked too well, Max. I wouldn't be
surprised if she was hoping you show up alone this afternoon.”
Max laughed. “I know my charm is irresistible but my
guess is the lady really does have some information and doesn't want
her boss knowing she is about to tell us what it is.”
Neville and Max arrived at the coffee shop at 4:25.
They knew Miss Sanders was meeting them after work but didn't want to
miss her if she arrived early. At exactly 4:35 Miss Sanders opened
the door to the coffee shop. She walked past Max and Neville and
whispered for them to follow her. They did as she asked and sat at
the very last table in the shop.
“I'm sorry to be so secretive but if Miss Walker
discovers what I am doing I will lose my job.
I remember a sweet young boy named Billy disappearing in
the early morning hours of September 26th 1899. I will
never forget that date as long as I live. One of the older boys
found an unlocked door in the basement. The janitor forgot to lock
it after he emptied the trash the night before. Cal told some of the
older boys that he was planning to escape the following day. Cal was
almost 18 so would have been leaving soon anyway. Apparently Billy
heard Cal talking about his plan and took it upon himself to follow
him. That is the story we heard from several of the boys when
neither Billy or Cal reported for breakfast that day.
“It was Miss Walker's duty to make sure all doors to
the building were locked before she left for the day and the night
shift took over. I followed Miss Walker to the basement after the
boys were discovered missing and watched her lock the door and then
take a crowbar and break it open. Miss Walker didn't know I saw
her. I only followed her because I was worried about little Billy
and was afraid something dreadful had happened to him. I hid in the
basement until I was sure Miss Walker was back upstairs and in her
office. Before long the sheriff arrived and was questioning Miss
Walker. She told the sheriff she couldn't imagine what happened to
the boys. She said security and safety were her top priority. The
sheriff looked through the building and discovered the broken
basement door. He told Miss Walker it was a case of runaways and he
doubted they would ever be found. Miss Walker bid him farewell and
went to her office with a very satisfied grin on her face.”
“Miss Sanders, do you think you would recognize Billy
if you saw him today? He is 12 years old now.”
“I'm sure I would. Billy was one of my favorites. He
was left at the front door when he was about 3 months old. I came to
work that morning and discovered him there. He had a note pinned to
his blanket that said his name was Billy. That was before Miss
Walker came to work for the orphanage. Miss Tanner was the
administrator. She left two years later to get married. Miss Tanner
was a very special person. She was warm and friendly and all the
children loved her. Miss Tanner let me care for Billy. I did my job
during the day and spent time with him during my lunch break and
after work. Billy was a happy little boy. He looked for me to come
to see him every day. I loved that little baby.” A tear rolled
down her cheek.
“Miss Sanders, if this talk is upsetting you too much,
we can postpone it to another time.”
“No, I'll be fine. I need to tell you the whole
story. After Miss Tanner left and Miss Walker took over, everything
changed. She didn't allow me to see Billy anymore. She said I was
too attached to him and I was spoiling him. When she left the
building I would find an excuse to see him. When he got older I
explained that I wasn't allowed to see him like I had when he was
younger because Miss Walker didn't think it was right. He was just a
little boy but he seemed to understand. Then that horrible day came
and Billy was gone. The sheriff never did come back to tell us where
he was. I have worried about him ever since.”
Neville patted the back of the girl's hand. He felt
sorry for her and sorry for Billy. Maybe she would be able to
identify Billy. He wondered if she would be willing to travel to
Camden Corners with him and Max. Just then she continued on with her
story.
“It was just a few months after Billy disappeared that
his sister Ella came to the orphanage. She asked to speak with Miss
Walker. Ella explained that her parents died of influenza when Billy
was just a baby. Her mother's aunt Beatrice came to get Ella and
Billy to take them home with her. It seems Beatrice's husband did
not want a crying baby in his house disturbing his sleep. He
insisted the boy be delivered to the orphanage that very night. The
next morning Ella woke up and her aunt told her that her brother had
died during the night. Ella was only 8 years old and had lost her
entire family. Her aunt took care of her as she was growing up.
Shortly after Ella turned 18, her aunt became very ill. On her
deathbed she confessed to Ella that her brother didn't die and that
she had taken him to the orphanage.
“That very day Ella came to the orphanage looking for
her brother. Miss Walker asked her to step into her office. She
closed the door but, of course I listened at the key hole. Miss
Walker told Ella her brother had died when he was 6 months old.
“Poor Ella, she was beside herself. It was as though
she lost her brother all over again. I stopped her before she left
that day and asked her to meet me right here in this coffee shop. I
told her about Billy and how he left with an older boy. I tried to
assure her that Cal would take care of Billy although I wasn't sure I
believed that myself. Ella and I have since become friends. I'm
afraid to ask if you two know anything about what happened to dear
Billy.”
Max told her that Billy had a memory of a train station
that had a sign that read Pittsburgh. He explained that he and a
younger friend had been adopted by a vicar and his wife and was very
happy and secure in his life.
“Miss Sanders would you be willing to travel to Camden
Corners to meet Billie, we would gladly pay your way.”
“Mr. Harcourt I do have some money of my own. I would
be able to pay the fare but I would want Ella to come with me. Even
if your Billy is not the same one I remember, I wouldn't feel right
about not telling her about this.”
Neville spoke up. That would be fine. I know this is
an imposition with your employment. If there is any way we can
smooth it over with your boss we would be willing to speak with her.”
“No, I have an aunt who lives in Greensboro. Miss
Walker knows she has been ill. I will tell her she has taken a turn
for the worse and I need to have a few days off. I hope the Lord
forgives me for this lie but I must see Billy if there is a chance he
is that special little boy.”
Max and Neville waited for Miss Sander's return. Miss
Walker wasn't happy that Charlotte would be leaving town for a few
days but she did understand and wished her well.
They went directly to Ella Pritchard's home where Max
and Neville told her of the possibility that her brother could be the
boy known to them as Billy Deusenberry.
“I don't care how improbable it is that my brother is
alive and well and living with a good family. I want to see the boy
myself. If he is indeed my brother I want to assure you I have no
intention of disrupting his life. I can be packed and ready to go in
20 minutes. Charlotte, I'm so glad you will be going too. I'll
gladly pay for your ticket.”
“Do I look like a pauper? Everyone wants to buy my
ticket. I can well afford the passage and it will be worth every
penny if this young boy is truly our Billy.”
The group arrived at the train station separately to
avoid any suspicion should Miss Walker happen by on her way home from
work.
Miss Walker did indeed pass by the station and glanced
in the window. She saw Charlotte Sanders sitting by herself on the
bench. Behind Charlotte were the gentlemen who were inquiring about
the child who escaped her care a number of years ago. Good, they are
leaving Pittsburgh she thought to herself. There was another young
lady who looked vaguely familiar. She was seated three rows back and
studying her ticket. Miss Walker had a sinking feeling in the pit of
her stomach. Something does not seem quite right she thought but
dismissed it. No one will ever find out that it was my fault those
boys escaped. I can't afford any kind of investigation into my
operation of the orphanage.
The train pulled into the station. Neville's carriage
was just where he left it that morning. There was no way to alert
Will and Kate about their arrival with the young ladies so they went
directly to their house. Kate opened the door and welcomed them all
into the parlor.
Ella and Charlotte could feel their hearts beating
wildly when the front door opened and a young boy called out. “Miss
Charlotte? Is that really you?”
