Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-10-07
A BATTLING MYSTERY.
Strange. Remarkable Case Of Mr..
Mansheld's Wife.

Mansf1eld's Wife.
An was excitement at tho Mansfield
mansioni its mistress, the beautiful
and accomplished wife of David Mans
field, had suddenly and mysteriously
disappeared. They were all ready for
an evening ride. MIR. Mansfield was
already at the carriage, awaiting his
wife's coming She had appeared at
the doorway, but stopped. and, telling
her husband that she had forgotten her
gloves and would return for them, she
rOentered the house and started up
stairA to her room.
That WA the last Mr.. Mansfield saw
OF his wife. He waited fifteen or TWEEN
~ minutes, and then sent a servant to
hurry Mrs. Mansfield. The servant re-
turned and reported that the door to
tho lady's room was locked, and that
there had boon no response when she
knocked
frightened, Mr.. Mansfield hastened
upstairs and tried the door Of his wifes
room 1t was looked, as the servant
had said Mr.. Mansfield called his
wife's name, but received no reply.
He was now thoroughly frightened,
and summoning all his strength, he
burst the door open. One hasty glance
about the room was sufficient.
The room was empty-his wife was
Gonel
But where, and how, and why?
These were the questions that agi-
tated the mind of the husband, and he
cShld find no answer for any one of
them. Still, she might be In the house,
Mr.. Mansfield thought, and he set the
servants to searching for her. High
and low, upstairs and down they
searched, but no trace of the missing
woman could they find.
Then they extended their search to
the grounds, with the same results, and
Mr.. Mansfield was In despair. The
disappearance of his wife was 30 sud
den, 30 unexpected, so mysterious, that
he was filed with Q kind OF nameless,
pumbing feeling Of horror, Of fear, of
he knew not what
For hours the search had been kept
mp, and at last, disheartened, weary,
experimentation, the bereaved husband
ordered the search discontinued What
TO do next he did not know, until Il
was suggested to him to send for de-
NecHve.
Mr. Mansfield caught 1t the suR-
gestion at once, and telegraphed TO the
city for detective. The next train
brought one Of the best detectives In
che city of New York, and he Lost no
time In setting TO work.
Accompanied by Mr.. Mansfield, he
"a 4 4
md began an examination Of It
rs everything just as II was when
her absence was discoveredQ" asked
Mr.. Ferret, the detective; has nothing
been moved or changed In any wsyP''
Nothing" replied Mr.. Mansfield
Everything Is just as she left IL"
Then that window was open," as
serted the detective, indiOatinH an
open window at one side Of the room,
and Mr.. Mansfield nodded assent.
Mr. Ferret crossed the room, and ex-
anined the sill and floor beneath the
window. Then he looked out The
only possible means Of reaching the
ground, thirty feet below, was by a
lightning rod, which could be reached
from the window, and the detective
full incentive that would induce q wom-
On to descend by means of this rod
After examining every nook and
Granny of the room, the detective sat
down and studied the matter from
every point of view. "a he thought AT
last he turned to his companion:
''Mr. Msnsheld," he sald, 81 wish to
Ask you question. It II Of rather q
delicate nature, but hope you win not
be angry. Did you and your wife have
any trouble9 Do you know any reason
why she should wish to get away from
your"
1T do not, was the reply. "My wife
and were on the best terms; we never
quarreled in our lives"
The detective looked puzzled. 81
don't understand 1t" he said; 1.-THE only
theory that can advance is that she
has committed suicide, though IL yQE
were on good terms there would b M
reason for her doing this"
The detective spent week searching
for a clew, but could find none. A sys
tematic search was made for mile.
around; advertisements were inserted
In nll the papers, but il awaited moth
ing. Nothing could be discovered The
disappearance of the woman was q
complete and unfathomable q mystery
as ever.
Mr. Mansfield grew pale and thin
He had loved his beautiful wife as few
men do love, and the uncertainty at
tending the disappearance Of his loved
one made his sorrow all thu harder K
bear II was worse really than 4
would have been had he known his wife
was dead He was unwilling the de
tective should give up the search, and
the week grew into month
Two, three, four months the de-
tective kept at it. He exhausted every
resource, sifted every semblance Of .
clew, and finally at the end of Ave
months, refused to work longer
Its waste of my time and your
money" he declared, and Mr.. Mansfielt
reluctantly acquiesced in the detectives
decision
my opinion" said Mr.. Ferret, 'iI
that your wife is dead. think you ha6
better accept that as fact"
II viii not accept that as true until
] know IL Is true.D declared Mr. Mans.
field. and. unable to produce proof thai
bis theory was the correct one, the de
tsctive said no more, but bado the sor,
rowing man good-by and returned h
the city.
A couple Of months later, as he was
sitting a. home, turning over IN hi
n''n4 different e1ec4 That - had beer