Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-11-09
HE FOUND THE MAN.

In my early days I was reporter on
The Clarion Call. Only dislike to own
myself beaten and the occasional fascina-
ton which compensated for the more fire.
quent discomfort kept me in tho office.
But all this was before the day was sent
to interview the wife and daughter Of the
man who had just disturbed society by
disappearing from it.
Mr.. Grey, SO 1t had been learned from
the notices concerning his disappearance,
had one evening after dinner gone out for
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-
tematic 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 see hopeful, but the city ed
itor's air of granting me the opportunity
had been longing for made me loath to
admit my fears.
took the train for the Greys' they
lived little way out of town-and pre-
pared myself to meet the servants scorn
and the other attendant evils of such an
assignment 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 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 stubbly growth of gray beard. He
looked unwashed, unkempt and generally
unpleasant. His blue overalls were stain
ed 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
attracted 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 look about him. He, with the
other laborers left the train at Forestville,
where the Greys lived, and I soon saw
them, under the direction of foreman,
assigned to make various road repairs.
OF course Mrs. Grey would not see me.
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 picture, presumably Mrs. Grey,
done in oil. She was as beautiful as o
cameo and as hard. Opposite her was the
portrait of clean shaver man, with fine
iron gray hair brushed off his forehead-a
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
publication.
every well, said l. Then rose to CO.
SIS that Mr.. Grey?' asked, nodding
toward the picture.
"Yes, miss was the reply, and sud-
denly it flashed upon me where had seen
those deep set, curiously shaped, keen blue
eyes. My heart leaped almost into my
mouth. 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. Tho resemblance to the por-
trait had seen of Mr.. Grey was remarka-
BILE He worked with 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 a telegraph office at the end
of the street. sent message to the city
editor. "Send man to Forestvilie at
once" was my command. Then while I
paced the street and walked about the
square 1 reflected upon the welcome
would receive If 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
nearly hysterical. / told Mr.. Ellsworth
my theory, and he was properly skeptical.
He discouraged me thoroughly in about
two minutes. but suddenly ralliad.