The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-20
THE LOST FOUND.

"My DEAR" said Mr.. Elm. put on the
frying-pan and get ready to make some
oyster fritters. Pm hungry and we'll have
a bit of supper before we sleep"
Mrs Elm liked bit of supper and oyster
fritters as well as her husband. and she
nodded an assent; and putting by her work
went into the kitchen at the end OF the hat,
and having handed her spouse small TIN
Kettle with a handle, looked TO the IRE ana
set all that was necessary on the cooklng
table Then she sat down to wait for him.
TWAS warm and coZy in the kitchen, and
Mrs Elm leaned against the wall ana smut
- eyes. Not sleeping, OH no; only think
ing. The clock licked on; the tea-kettle
sang its song. Mrs. Elm was back in the
country place, where she was born, talking
at the garden gate with Tom. Then some
thing aroused her. She started up.
Toni Toni Why, where was Tom Elm?
He had been gone an hour, and the oyster
saloon was only around the corner. She
must have had a nap. Frightened and ner-
yous, she ran to the door. All was still out
side. and where the houses were not utterly
= dark the lights had gone TO the upper
floors Perhaps the saloon was closed ana
he had gone farther for the oysters. She
went back to the kitchen, butn0 Tom came.
In fact, he didn't come that night.
At daylight next morning the servant.
coming downstairs TO kindle the FIRE, saw
her mistress cTouched up IN a corner moan
ing and rocking herself to and fro. When
asked what the matter was She said:
''YCur master is dead, Sally.
Sally shrieked, but when Informed that
the iady's reasons for this statement were
that her husband had gone out intending 10
return in few minutes, and was not yet at
home, Sally grinned and took the affair
lightly.
depend upon it, num-" she said, "he's
only gore off on a spree They all does it
sooner OF later. My last lady didn't see
hers Tor two weeks one winter. Mr.. Emil
turn up all right again soon"
But her mistress could not be comfOrted,
and neither was Sally true prophet 1t
was soon evident that Mr.. Elm had disap-
peared.
- All his maze relatives and connections
went TO work at the search for him as soon
as they could be telegraphed for. No one of
his description had bought oysters late that
evening in the neighborhoOd.
a person waited for him at o'clock that
morning at his place Of business by appoint
ment. Failing in this meeting was very dis
advantageous to Mr.. Elm.
He had bought tickets for the theater the
next evening, for Mrs. Elm aud himself,
and had given them TO her TO keep safe.
Not the most suspicious detective of them
all could believe he had voluntarily left
home.
A respectable man of his age, well dressed
as he always was, probably would have
been taken to a hospital if he had been
seized with a sudden attack Of illness In the
street; or al least, if he had been supposed
10 have been intoxicated, dubbed and
locked up for daring to have apOpeXy or
heart disease, his remains would have been
found before this time.
They searched high and low for q week
AT last a body was found 10 the river. Its
clenched baud was closed over something
that proved to be the handle OF tin can.
Time and weather had done their worst
with person and wearing apparel, but the
body was identified by the loss Of TWO front
teeth and a bald spot on the top of his head
To be sure, Mr.. Elm had worn two arti-
fetal teeth, but that was nothing. The de-
tectIyes, the bTOther-ln-laW, the two cousins,
talked the affair over and decided that there
could be no doubt concerning the manner
OF his death.
The unfortunate widow had the news
broken TO her. She was prepared for the
had full account of the affair. 1t stated
that:
Mr.. Elm, prominent business man of
this city, feeling some appetite at II O'clock
at night, on Wednesday, with the simplicity
and amiability that distinguished him. took
a small tin can from his kitchen dresser
and set forth TO buy q certain number Of
those luscious biValYeS, which his estlmable
lady agreed TO dress for him. Proceeding
down the street, he had reached a lonely
place opposite the well-known church under
the pastorage Of DR.. Checkem, when sud
denly from the shadows OF the sacred portal
ruffisn darted toward him crying, your
money or your lifep' and at the same time
dealing him a furious blow in the mouth,
which deprived him OF two front teeth. Mr..
Elm defended himself ably with the can,
but finally fell senseless under the blows
the wretch continued to deal him. The can
was wrenched from the handle which his
manly hand still clutched even in insensi-
bility, and after being robbed Of all his
vauanles he was dragged to the wharf and
cast in.
in vain his anxious wife waited for his
return. His body lay beneath the dark
waters--hls soul had flown heaYenward, and
the nlntterer fed with MS il!Es0ts6n spoils.
Mr.. Elm's terrible death is deeply regretted
by all who were acquainted with him."
The funeral was large one. For awhile
every one thought poor Mrs. Elm would
die; but she had fine constitution, and
with this grief IS not apt to kill. though IL
may put an end to a weakly or aiing per-
son. She got about in her widows weeds
and her brother, person of dispatch and
pTOmptitude, who always took time by the
foTelock. closed up her husbands business,
sold his house aud furniture, invested the
Fmoney for the widows benefit, and engaged
an excellent boardiDg-place for her in no
time
All she wished to do was to mourn In re-
tlrement for awhile, and TO visit the grave
over which the same active brother-in-law
craven with the name and virtues of the
deceased-and she must go to church, of
course.
There came Sunday morning when the
WIDOW stood IN her long Grape veil before
her mirror, and decided that black became
her greatly. She sat down and drew on her
gloves. She remembered that, after all, 80
was no great age.
How wicked of me to think of It" she
SAID 10 herself; "but l wonder whether |
10 n hnrp ID
again? 1t will be lonely; and poor Tom
always said that any one who had been
happy In one marriage would be sure to
make another. I've been very happy
very. Poor Tomp'
She shed tear, and took from glass on
tne mantel bunch of tiny violets which
she nad bought OF pity from a poor little
mower girl and put them in her belt
Crape has such close smell. and no one
Will notice them," she said In excuse.
GOOD heavens. Selinap cried voice be-
She started up. Mr.. Elm or his ghost
= 5000 -. IN the doorway. The ghost was but
we thought OF an instant, and. as we have
SAID. Mrs. Elm was very healthy, She did
not iaint. Instead, she uttered a fuI
sell into his arms Iva
oid you come 10 life again ?" ~"
-Hayenf been dead" said Mr. Finn uoo1
caoied. Good heavens, what mass ~
black Grape you arei" ""'9 VI
on wouldn't--have-liked me-not n
n manfn Ior you, Toni sobbed Mrs. Elm.
aged to say de - de deepest black
said Mr. Elm. ouineu ior!
u ~. didn't put II on until they found
you sobbed his wife. "You looked en-
dreadful L didn't know you, but Won were
iqentihed. Jack identified you, and there's
the handsomest shaft over your remainsp'
haven't any as yet. Why are won
-aeier Why are those strange people occu-