The Bossier banner., 1891-11-26
!. BAFFLING MYSTERY.
srange, Remarkable Case of Mr.
Mansheld's Wife.

m was excitement at the Mansfield
,,nsion; its mistress, the beautiful
"A accomplished wife OF David Mans
s.u had suddenly and mysteriously
ds,pueared. They were all ready for
an evening ride. Mr.. Mansfield was
,padv at the carriage, awaiting his
viie's coming. She had appeared at
he doorway, but stopped, and, telling
her husband that she had forgotten her
soves and would return for them, she
reptered the house and started up
aztrs to her room.
That was the last Mr.. Mansfield saw
Adhs wife. He waited fifteen or twen-
minutes, and then sent a servant to
hurry Mrs Mansfield. The servant re-
turned and reported that the door to
8 6e lady's room was locked, and that
Mere had been no response when she
nOeked
Frightened, Mr. Mansfield hastened
ugtairs and tried the door of his wife's
nom 1t was locked, as the servant
bad said. Mr.. Mansfield called his
Eifes name, but received no reply.
He was now thoroughly frightened,
and summoning all his strength, he
burst the door open. One hasty glance
sbOut the room was sufficient.
The room was empty-his wife was
gone!
But where, and how, and why?
These were the questions that agi-
tted the mind of the husband, and he
could 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
voman could they find.
] Then they extended their search to
the grounds, with the same results, and
Mr. Mansfield was in despair. The
dlSappearance of rs wife was so sud
den, so unexpected, so mysterious, that
be was filed with a rind of nameless
uumbing feeling of kerror, of fear, OF
ae knew not what.
For hours the search had been kept
Up and at last, disheartened, weary
Mgush-stricken, the bereaved husband
Eaered the search discontinued. What
% DO next he did not know, until il
was suggested to him to send for a de
teetiye.
ar Mansfield caught at the sug
sestOn at once, and telegraphed to thC
aiy for detective. The next trair
wrought one of the best detectives il
ne city OF New York, and he lost NJ
ane ID setting to work.
accompanied by Mr. Mansfield, h,
'n4red the room of the missing lady
'ua Oegan an examination of it.
Is everything just as it was whel
,sr absence was discovered?" askeC
- Ferret, the detective; ''has nothin!
'eea moved or changed in any way?
Nothing replied Mr.. Mansfield
@Yerythlng is just as she left it."
men that window was OPEN" as
sl'ea the detective, Indicating al
Fsn window at one side of the room
4u Nr. Mansfield nodded assent.
-aE Ferret crossed the room, and eS
suiGed the sill and floor beneath tn
auuow' Then he looked out. Tn
Iy possible means of reaching tn
s'ouha' thirty feet below, was by
sH9hlng rod, which could be reache
. lOn tie window, and the detectiv
4. tsooN MS head. 1t would be a power
: Incentive that would induce a won
. 70 descend by means of this rod.
ai'ee examining every nook an
Sanny OF the room, the detective sa
"n and studied the matter frol
~ point of view, as he thought A
= ~, nc turned to his companion:
4E Mansfield" he said, 81 wish t
Az you a question. 1t is of rather
- a'e nature, but I hope you will ne
aagry. Did you and your wife hav
trouble? Do you know any reaso
,o.o' ~ sue should wish to get away frol
.oa 10 not, was the reply. My wi
es. ~ were on the best terms; we nevt
'.S.reled :, in our lives
so.p e detective looked puzzled.
a. understand it, " he said: ''the on
ehat can advance is that 81
~. submitted suicide, though if yc
.esss ~ ol good terms there would be /
TsOn tor her doing this"
uetsetIve spent . week seaTohiI