The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-15
LOST MANS LAME.
BY ANNA KATHERINE GREEN
[Copyrir"' 1905. by Irving Bach eller.]

iown some fifteen miles from HARTFORD
and nv errand there can be best eX-
planned by the following letter received
at police headquarters in the latter
town:
Gentlemen: Three men have disap-
ipeared lately In our parts. TWO or them
were strangers, and one a well-knowh'
half-wtted peddler, accustomed Tor sew
eral years to wander from house 10 mousse
in this vicinity. AS this district Is a iohely
one and not in immediate connection with
any railroad, the matter has not attracted
much attention outside of this place. but
mere there Is much excitement. and II
YOU think 1t worth while to send us de-
tectiye. shall be glad to give him such
details rs may further his investigations.
Obediently yours, opadiah irohi,'
The last charge which my superior
had given me was to move wariiy IN
this affair. therefore concealed my
identity and entered the tavern IN
Gushing with a surveyors instruments
in my hand.
NV first talk was with mine host,
klnd-faced, jovial man, whose look IN
spired confidence both in his honesty
and discretion. The topic which l nat
,,rally chose was Mr.. Trohm. was ne
accessible fIlstIl diiu N'S ~
have any property to sell suitapie lor
large manufacturing plant? MIR. SIM
mons (for that was my good hosts
name) opened his eyes in amazement
"Well. no." said he; 'he isn't. ANA
then he explained to me that Mr.. Trohm
owned no land save that on when MS
house was built, and that, for one VINO
had neither wife nor child, he loved MS
home and clung to the few acres sur
rounding it with q pertinacity more
marked than was shown by anyone else
in the community.
"Never mind" said I, II am going TO
see him. Perhaps he can point out 10
me some available property in the VI
cinity."
perhaps" rejoined the other. And
not being of a suspicious temperament,
the good man went on talking about
Mr.. Trohm till had learned enough to
be satisfied that should have no trou-
BILE in approaching this gentleman, as
he was one of the most genial and
hospitable Of men. Though he Keeps
no servant he makes everybody well
come" was Mr.. Simmons assurance,
"and for a bachelor, makes them
mighty comfortable. too"
AS all this showed certain amount
OF esteem for the man, I felt my conf
dence in him increasing, and prepared
at once to visit him. But when asked
the landlord where Mr.. Trohm lived
and IL 1t was within walking distance,
a very decided change passed over the
good mans face.
do you want to go there now?' he
asked. "If SO l will see If l can find
one of my men ito accompany you.'
'But Is that necessary? Cannot find
the house alone?'
"Why, yes" he answered, cheerfully,
but still with vague tone Of alarm in
his voice; "but it's out of the way IKE,
and 1 have known fellows, no bigger
than you, don't like the woods"
20, it's in the woods?"
Eyes, that is, the road winds through
the woods, and it is little dismal, you
know. But Mr.. Trohm's place is very
pleasant, very pleasant, indeed. Only
l wouldn't go any further than his
front gate. If I were you. The road is
a hong one and-well, you had better
come back the way you CO."
This was all very suggestive to my
curiosity and highly provocative of
number of questions, but l was deter
mined ITO get my first information from
Mr.. Trohm, and so passed the matter
off as a kindly hint, which I secretly
did not mean to take.
The landlord seemed satisfied with
my manner. and seeing did not want
n companion, did not urge his offer
further. I accordingly started out
alone, after receiving minute directions
as to the course should take.
Gushing has but one street, but half
way down this, road branches off in
a wide curve, and on this road Mr..
Trohm lived. The trees which were
sparse near the village increased in
number rapidly as advanced, and by
the time had gone quarter of a mile,
I found myself in a veritable wood.
Not a cheerful one either. There was
marsh under foot and withered boughs
overhead, producing an effect that was
anything but cheerful, although the
sun shone brightly and the air was
balny. ! was therefore both surprised
and grattfied to see the chimneys Of a
bright and most attractive-looking old
house rise suddenly before me, with a
charm about its trim doorstep and
flower-bordered walks that is only to
be found in very old places that have
been appreciatively cared for. A fence
painted white enclosed lawn like vel
vet, and the house ITSELF shining with
a fresh coat of yellow paint. bore signs
of comfort in its white-curtained win
dows not usually to be found in the
solitary dwelling Of bachelor Would
the man correspond to his home? AS
If In answer to this inward query, the
door before me swung open and I saw
In the gap thus made the tall and smil-
ing figure of a man, older than I had
anticipated, but with full as much dig.
nifty as his letter had led me to expect.
Has Providence been SO good as to
bring me a guest this fine morning?"
was his amiable greeting. 'T am sure
Ii you have come to relieve me of a
rather tedious half hour, you are very
welcome. But is, It Obadiah Trohm Won
have come to see?'
1T is," I returned, bowling with all
therespect his appearance called forth.
And IL need any introduction myself.
let this letter answer for me-" And
handed him the epistle signed by his
own name which he had sent to the
office in Hartford.
The smile with which he had regard
ed me from the first, changed from the
mere conventional expression to one of
heartfelt satisfaction.
II am glad to see you," he gravely
remarked, his eye wandering from my
face to the beauties of the garden be-
side u.s. "Will you come in or will you
sit down llere?" he asked, pointing to
two seats on each side of the porch, on
which we stood. "You will find either
place equally secure from interruption.