The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-22

SOun0 like a boy learning 20 play the
bones" There was no doubt that /
was lost, and, in the new light which
that days events had thrown upon
searching parties, had no hope that
should ever be found. / recalled the
disgracefui things which had been said
about Mr.. Truesdell, and reflected with
pride that my character was beyond
reproach. / pictured the deep and
poignant sorrow of my many friends and
admirers. 1t was too much. | could
not bear the thought of their grief.
arose, and clearing my throat with a
little '.red-eye, yelled again.
This time it was not in vain; voice
quite near answered me. It came from
beyond a clump of trees and l lost not
second in plunging through. On the
other side tall man stood in fairly
well-beaten path. l fell on my knees
and thanked him as my preserver. I
told him that be had laid an eternal
debt of gratitude upon me. assured
him that all my debts were practically
eternal, and that / would save his for
the very last. Also, l said that graft
tude was due him from the entire coun
try, which would have mourned my
loss. He assured me that the matter
was OF no consequence whatever; and
thea he asked what / was doing out in
the woods. Ny spirits had revived SO
much at the sight of rescue that was
able to give him vivacious account of
the disappearance of Rev. Mr.. Trues-
dell.
"Of course" said I, t'the man has
skipped. l saw that at glance. He
is evidently bad egg, from all that I
can find out from those who know
him"
81 gricve to hear it," replied the
stranger. ''Nhat have you learned
about him?"
I thereupon related all the disagree
able things which had been whispered
around the shores of Hot Hole pond.
He appeared to be deeply moved; so
deeply, indeed, that asked if he had
known the missing man particularly
well.
''Quite well, young man." said he. II
an Mr.. Trucsdell!'
nearly fell dead in the wet grass.
81 have been to Jonesville," he con-
tinued. land l sent word to my family
Of ny intention to remain over night.
1t seems that they did not receive it,
but they must BY this time have been
relieved by a telegram ] sent from
Jonesvilie. ] am just returning from
the station at Waycross."
E ,,,&
sisted Of feeble attempts at apology
from me, and as they did not appear to
impress Mr.. Truesden they probably
would not interest the reader.
An hour later 7 hired horse and
wagon and set ont for roadhouse at
the north end of the woods. where 1
was told that most of the ssarchers
W., d assemble. | found about thirty
nm there. including Carter, and lost
H. tine in telling them the news. 7
said: Rejoice with me, for our worthy
friend has returned"
They did not rejoice. l never saw so
disguised a set ofmen in my life. They
appeared TO regard Mr.. Trresdell's con-
duct in remaining alive as base in
jury ana dn atuciilpU 10 CdSt TlolCule
upon Somesville.
$50 he's been warm and comfortable
while we've been tramping our legs
off, said one.
perhaps he thinks It's funny to
make me pull the bottom out of Hot
Hole pond on day like this, put in
the fisherman. l showed them con-
clusively that Mr.. Trucsdeu was in no
way to blame: but they shook their
heads. and the sentiment of he
party was expressed By a gray-hairrd
farmer from Somcsville Center. IL
Truesdell thinks this is She way to
make himself poplar in our town, he's
more darned badly mistaken than any
man since the Teller who told Noah it
wasn't goin' to rain
HOWARD FIELDING.