Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-04-03
0UTWITTED

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Il have had some of my strangest
experiences" said a detective in
hunting up missing people. l will
give you an instance:
"Mr Naylor was rich farmer near
Abingdon, England lie had married
late in life, and had one child, Marga-
ret. She was well-built, handsome
lass of eighteen with light, curly
hair, very bright, and of resolute will.
Her father dotted upon her and had
her educated at home by goyernesses.
lie was very curious man, and very
mean in money matters, except where
his daughter was concerned His
brother George was the rector of an
adjoining parish, and, though com
paratively poor man, as liberal as his
brother was stingy. lie had married
a poor widow with one son, named
John Major. John and Margaret had
been playmates from infancy, and were
/ like brother and sister. John was
articled to a lawyer in York, but when
an aunt died and left him an income
of some ei00 year his studies ceased,
and he lived at home and amused him
self with his horses and dogs. Farmer
Naylor looked on this life with much
disfayor, and took every opportunity
to let John know what he thought of
his idle course. John was a roliicking,
good-natured youth, and took this in
good part. admitting that he hated
work, and never intended to devote
hlmself to it If he could heIt, ~
by and by John began to be very
attentive to Margaret. This greatly
incensed her father, and in order TO
stop the thing he sent Margaret to an
dunt's, near Driflield, to spend month
or two. When she returned, John
,agan to visit the house again, but
.Iargaret, though she treated him
Kindly, gave him no encouragement as
lover, so far as the Watchful eyes of
he father could discover. Finally the
old farmer told John his company was
not wanted, and that his daughter
should never marry him, forbidding
him ever to come near the farm again.
"Soon after this young man APP
piled to Farmer Naylor for work. He
gave the name of Charles Simms, and
being a strong, likely young fellow,
the farmer put him to work When
he harvest was over Simms told the
armer that his fathers health was fail
ing and he must 60 home, and the far
mer parted with him with reluctance.
The next day, September 18th, Mar
garet disappeared. Not trace was
left, AM was employed to discover
her whereabouts. Then the facts a.
ready narrated came to my knowledge.
The first thing found was that
the very day Margaret disappeared,
John Major disappeared also, simply
telling his people that he would be
away for a few days. l ascertained
that a youth of fifteen or sixteen had
been seen in the adjoining village, and
that John joined him there, the two
then taking a train for Hull. To that
town l at once went, satisfied from
the description of the youth that il
could have been none other than
Margaret Naylor in male attire. On
reaching Hull, interested the police
authorities in the case, and in few
oours ascertained that young man
lswering Johns description was tC
seen daily in the Geological Gardens
t on the outskirts of the town
3)mpanied by youth of sixteen
an elderly, intirm man. / visited
e gardens, and was lucky enough &c
I'd the persons for whom | was look
1g. had a photograph Of John anc
ne of Margaret, and was at once
satisfied that, though the younger man
was John Major without doubt, the
youth was not Margaret Naylor
still, here was 4 mystery, and felt
must solve it. | managed to scrapt
an acquaintance with the elderly
gentleman as he sat on a bench, anC
when he was joined by the other t"C
we sat for half an hour and had
pleasant chat together. Much TO III!
surprise the young man and the youVl
called the old man father, met theH
two days in succession, and then sug
gested that as the weather was beautl
full we should take a trip next day u
the Humber to Goole. suggesting ina
a lady's company would be agreeaole
They gladly assented to the trip Du'
said they knew no lady, and we hao .
very pleasant time. I and the OLD lna-
were together much of the tlme' any
as we were returning home ~ 'A'
autumn evening he related u iH0
strange story,