The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-11
A REPORTERS STORY

In my early days Twas reporter on The
Clarion Call Only dislike to own my
self beaten and the occasional fascination
which compensated for the more frequent
discomfort kept me in the office. But all
this was before the day was sent to inter
view the wife and daughter of the man
who had just disturbed society by disap-
pearing from it.
Mr. Grey, so it had been learned from
the notices concerning his disappearance,
had one evening after dinner gone out fol
a stroll around the block. He had never
come back. His family was of course
Frustrated after the manner of families on
such sad occasions. After giving him
time to come back, sending to his clubs,
his Office and the houses of his friends his
wife had finally told his lawyers, and sys-
tenatic search was begun. The family
had retired from public life and denied
themselves to every one. Consequently
my chances for an interview with Mrs.
Grey did not seem hopeful, but the city
editors air of granting me the opportuni.
ty had been longing for made me lOath
to admit my fears.
l took the train for the Greys'-they
lived little way out of town-and prepar-
ed myself to meet the servants scorn and
the other attendant evils of such an as
signment. The coach was an ordinary
one, and there were several laboring men
in it, evidently travelling to some suburb
where they were to work upon the roads,
for they carried pickaxes and shovels.
There sat opposite me and slightly for
ward a peculiar type of man to whom
found my gaze wandering every few min
utes. His iron gray hair was thick and
very unevenly cut. His face was covered
with a subtle growth of gray beard. He
looked unwashed, unkempt and generally
unpleasant His blue overalls were stained
with red clay, and his red flannel shirt
opened at the front in way that revealed
anything but beautiful neck, burned and
blistered But the mans twitching lips
and convulsive movements of the jaws at
tracted my attention, and his deep set,
steely blue eyes that burned in cavernous
sockets fascinated me. He did not talk to
the other men, but sat with his head sunk
upon his breast, only occasionally raising
it to cast a look about him. He with the
other laborers, left the train at Forestville,
where the Greys lived, and soon saw
them, under the direction of foreman,
assigned to make various road repairs.
OF course Mrs Grey would not see me.
I sat in the library while the servant took
my card to her, for there were other callers
in the drawing room. Over the mantel
hung a picture, presumably Mrs. Grey,
done in oil She was as beautiful as a
cameo and as hard. Opposite her was the
portrait of clean shaven man, with fine
iron gray hair brushed off his forehead
more plebeian cast of countenance, but
strong and interesting. The face seemed
familiar I stared at it until the servant
returned.
''Mrs. Grey is sorry, miss, but she can
see no one, and has nothing to say for pub
1ication.'
every well, - said l. Then rose to go.
t'Is that Mr.. Grey?'' asked, nodding
toward the picture.
Eyes, miss, - was the reply, and sudden
~ it flashed upon me where 1 had seen
those deep set, curiously shaped, keen blue
eyes. My heart leaped almost into my
mouth. I took one long look at the por-
trait and left the house.
The men were repairing the road, and
noticed one of the wOrkmen whose face
startled me. The resemblance to the por-
trait had seen of Mr.. Grey was remarka-
BILE. He worked with a fierce delight in
the severe labor. His face seemed more
mad than ever, with the exultation of mo-
ton and strength deepening the CLEAN in
his eyes.
There was q telegraph office at the end
of the street. sent message to the city
editor tSend man to FOrestville at
once, " was my command. Then while I
paced the street and walked about the
square 1 reflected upon the welcome I
would receive if I had made a mistake.
Every minute became more and more
convinced that had made the most colos-
sal blunder on record By the time Mr.
Ellington Ellsworth, the only man who
happened to be available when my tele-
gram was received, had arrived was near
" hysterical I told Mr.. Ellsworth my
theory, and he was properly slzeptical. He
discouraged me thoroughly in about two
minutes, but 1 suddenly rallied.
"Wen, - remarked taking command,
81 want you to keep that man in sight. I
shall go to town and get his lawyer.
Find out what train they go in on, and
I'll meet you"
Mr. Ellsworth didn't wish to act upon
that suggestion, but he finally consented
to do so. I went in, summoned Mr.. Grey s
lawyer and with him met the working
mems train. Mr.. Ellsworth, looking bored
and unhappy, got out and pointed out our
suspected disappearance to his lawyer.
My heart stood in my mouth. Was 1 to be
forever disgTaced or made famous forever?
Mr. Grey said the lawyer, stepping
forward 4twhat does this mean?''
And when L saw the man start wildly
knew that was not forever disgraced.
Well" said the city editor jovially,
"what did they say?''
''They didn It say anything They didn't
see me-
$50 you didn't get the interview said
the city editor shortly.
mo" 1 replied meekly, "but I found
the missing man."
And now, such is the irony of fate, the
city editor, instead OF letting me rest ON
my laurels, is always exhorting me to live
up to the reputation I made in the Grey
case, when 1 found the missing man,
learned how overwork had worn out his
brain, and how in his half crazed condi-
ton he wandered away and returned to
his original occupation in life, to the hOr-
ror of his wife with the cameolike face If
only had never been so brilliant Elk
change.
IoI,r, pa1,1 .Iornas, Name