A WANDERING BOY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16398, 18 December 1918, Page 4

A WANDERING BOY.

THREATENED BY A "SWAGGER."

A curious story was related to a representative of "The Press" by a member oi the party of epidemic relief workers v.'ho visited' tlio Setwyn huts on Monday. Soma distance this side of Lincoln College, he stated, .the occurnnt3 of one of the cars noticed a boy lying on the side of the road, and apparently unwell. They stoppoj to examine him, and wiiile they were doing so a second cor came up and also stopped. The boy, who was about 10 or lii years of ago, was hatless and bootless, and appeared to be dazed. It was surmisod that he might be suffering from sunstroke. From a note which was folind on him from the lolice constable at Lincoln and from what could be elicited from the child himself it transpired that ho was ail inmate of a. 'receiving home, but board- , ed out with a resident of PrSbbleton. According to tho boy's story the occupants of the house were away on Sunday night, and he was left by himself, wlien a "swagger" came along and demanded tea. issuing a threat to kiii him if he did not comply with the demand. The boy became frightenod and ran away, eventually finding his way to the Lincoln police station, where he told his story to the constable, who gave him an explanatory note and sent him home again. • He had been without a meal from Sunday

night till within the vicinity of 1 p.m. on Monday, when lie was found. The reporter was told that the boy was taken to the house at which lie had resided, but the occunnnts were found to be still awnv. and tho little wandorer was finally deposited at tlio Prebblcton store.