The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-02

his home in Hartford. This was the
most astounding mystery of ALL With
In half miles distance in a populous
country town this man disappeared as
II the road had swallowed him and
closed again. 1t was marvellous, in
credible and remained so even after the
best efforts Of the county police to
solve the mystery had exhausted them
selves. After this the town began to
acquire bad name, and one or two
families moved away. Yet no one was
found who was willing to admit that
these various persons had been the VIC
TINS Of foul play till month later an
other case came to light Of a young
man who had left the village for the
hillside station and had never arrived
at that or any other destination so
far as could be learned. AS he was
distant relative Of a wealthy cattle
owner in Iowa, who came on post
haste to inquire into his nephew's fate,
the excitement ran high, and through
his efforts and that of Mr.. Trohm the
services of our Office were called into
play. But the result has been nil. We
have found neither the bodies of these
men nor any clew to their fate
I could not help casting an envious
glance at the pocket where I felt sure
that the map I had asked for lay.
"Yet you have been there?" L sug-
gested.
He nodded.
"Wonderful!'' I exclaimed. and you
came upon no suspicious house, no
suspicious person."
The finger with which he was rub
bling his eyeglasses went round and
round the rims with slower and slow
er and still more thoughtful motion.
Every town has it's suspicious look
ing houses" he slowly remarked, and,
as for persons, the most honest often
wear a lowering look in which an I'M
bridled imagination can see guilt. 1
never trust in appearances of that
kind
What else can you trust in" said,
where all is imprenetrable as in this
case?"
His finger, going slower and slower,
suddenly stopped.
I'm my knowledge of persons said
he, knowledge of their fears, their
hopes and their individual concerns. If
l were twenty years younger"-here he
stole a glance at me in the mirror
which made me bride; did he think
was only twenty years younger than
himself?-"I would" he went on,
make myself SO acquainted with ev-
cry man, woman and child there
Here he drew himself up with a jerk.
"But the day for that is passed" said
all lOO Olu anu lOO CIlppiSQ "
succeed in that undertaking. Having
been there once, 1 am marked man.
My walk alone betrayS me. He whose
good fortune it will be to get at the
bottom of these peoples hearts must
awaken no suspicious as to his con-
nection with the police. Indeed, 1 do
not think that any man can succeed
in doing this now"
I started. This was a frank show
facr Of n hnr of IN
was a woman's aid he was after, then.
l laughed as l thought of it. 1 had
not thought him either so presumptu-
Gus or so appreciative of talents of a
character SO directly in line with his
own.
Don't you agree with me, MADAME"
/ did agree with him, but / had
character Of great dignity to main
tain so 1 only looked at him with an
air of marked severity.
II do not know of any woman who
would undertake such a task" 1 OBJ
served.
MOP" He smiled with that air of
forbearance which is so exasperatins
to me. well, perhaps there isn't any
such woman to be found. 1t would
take one of very uncommon character
iStics, 1 own"
"Pish!' I cried, Not so very!'
indeed, ln1nK you nave not 1ully
taken in the CASE he urged in quiet
superiority. 1.-THE people there are Of
the higher order of country folk. Many
of them are of extreme refinement One
family"-I thought his tone changed
the least in the world here-"is poor
enough and elegant enough to interest
even such a woman as yourself
"Indeed!' I answered, with just a
touch Of my fathers hauteur to hide
the stir Of curiosity his words naturally
evoked.
at is in some such home" he went
on with an ease that should have
warned me that he had started on
this pursuit with a quiet determina-
ton to win, that the clew will be
found to the mystery we are consider
ing. Yes, you may we'll look startled,
but that conclusion is the one thing l
brought away with me from x, let