Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-04-20
VANISHING WAINWRIGHTS.

Henry Disbro was a busy man and sell
dom had time to look in upon his ten.
ants, and he had a prejudice against
agents. So he usually chose Sunday
afternoon, when he was out driving with
his wife and babies, to stop at the gates
Of his several cottages and make casual
inquiries. He always found the Vain.
wrights enjoying themselves, in spite Of
the fact that the garden was unweeded,
the porch unswept and the windows con-
spicuously dusty.
REALLY, a charming fdmily," was his
conclusion.
81 call them downright shiftless," said
his wife,
One Sunday, after the wainwrights
had been in their house over three
months, Henry Disbro, out for an early
constitutional, passed the cottage and
took note of the fact that there were no
signs of life about 1t. But he supposed
that the Wainwrights had gone for a
picnic, or possibly had not yet arisen.
But, driving by Il week later, he noticed
that the place looked deserted. He
knocked at the door, but no one answer
ed. He tried the lock, but It held fast.
Inquiries made at the neighbors revealed
the fact that the house had worn this
Perhaps they are sick" suggested Mr..
Disbro vaguely. The woman he was
talking to seemed to have no ideas on the
subject and TO be measurably Indifferent
as to whether they weree or not Her
son, however, consented to go over with
Mr. Disbro and make an investigation.
I've bin sayin to ma off an on for two
weeks said he, that il was mighty
queer we didn't see hide nor hair of them
folks. Mayhap they've bin murdered,
says |. Then don't you 20 near says
she"
These remarks caused Mr.. Disbro to
suffer from acute apprehension. He had
a dread Of beholding some sickening
sight as he forced the door and entered
the front room.
There was a bed there which had pre-
sumably been occupied by the lank and
red haired Olive, as pair OF corsets and
gingham petticoat lay on it. 1t was
In disorder, having been left as its occu.
pant vacated II. A pair Of girls shoes
stood beneath it. Mr.. Disbro pointed al
these in a significant manner.
Olive Wainwright was not likely 10
have two pairs OF Shoes" said he. The
young man with him shook his head
luRubrously.
Don't you think I'd better go home
for MAJ he asked. Mr.. Disbro shook
his head and went courageously on to
the next room. Here stood the breakfast
table set the victuals on il and untouch.
ed, the full coffeepot still on the stove.
the water pail full to the brim.
Tit must-must have happened In
the early morning." he said, mastering
courage TO 60 on. The other mans teeth
were chattering. and he nodded his reply
There was only one more room, and this
was a large sleeping apartment off the
kitchen. Here the bed was unmade, too,
and here also were shoes-two pairs.
I'VE must search in the cellar" said
Mr.. Disbro, but he went there alone, for
his companion, murmuring something
about ma made bolt for the door and
was seen no more.
The Wainwrghts had been possessed
of many barrels of old dishes, carpets
pamphlets and clothes which they had
never disturbed themselves to unpack,
and, with beating heart and chilled fin.
gers. Henry Disbro unpacked each OF
these, fearing at each moment to encoun.
ter some awful thing. But his search was
fruitless, and he visited the barn and
woodshed without success. In sore per.
plexity he returned to town and told the
police. But the police did not seem to
be much interested. 1t was midsummer,
and they were not looking for sensations.
Two months went by. No word came
OF the vanished family. And then q
man came along who wanted to rent the
cottage, so, with feelings akin TO sorrow,
Henry Disbro saw personally to the re-
moval of the Wainwright furniture,
which, for want OF a better solution, be
stored in his barn.
at would have been easier to have
given the old stuff away" he said to his
wife, but ii may be that we shall yet
find some clew to the Wainwrights by
keeping it. Anyway, it was impressed
upon me almost as a sacred duty that
ought TO care for it,"
Three months later an angry man en-.
tered Mr. Disbros office. 1t was Mr..
Wainwright in state of the most un
questionable yigor.
You're a thief" he shouted-"a thief,
and | am prepared to prove it! You
puFloincd my furniture, and I've seen il
this day with my own eyes concealed in
your barn"
There was no placating him. The
ready return of his furniture did not com.
fort him. He asked a round sum for the
wear anu tear 10 winch IL nAO Deen SUB
jected, and he wanted monetary redress
for being expelled from his own house
without his consent or knowledge.
But what was l to think?" inquired
Henry Disbro remembering his uncanny
search for the bodies of the vanished
Wainwrights.
What business had you to enter my
house at all?" retorted Mr.. Wainwright.
"When l saw the breakfast uneaten
and the beds unmade, / was convinced
that evil had overtaken you"
We've no call to eat our breakfast I'M
less we please" was the response. my
wife's brother, he came along in a cover.
ed wagon mighty early, just at sun up
and said he was going camping, so we
went as we was, taking a few clothes
and after we had camped a spell we al
lowed to go over into Clinton county and
see the old folks. We come home wher
we got ready and expected to find ev
erything ready to set up housekeeping on
the minute. Instead OF that we find om
belongings stolen and another man occu
pying our house"
"But your rent was not paid" protest
ed Disbro mildly, obliged to offer some
defense that would appeal to his inquis
itor.
II didn't refuse to pay It," he said. 81
wasn't asked for it, was I? I'll sue fol
damages; that's what I'll do"
And he did-and won. The court cAus
ed Henry Disbro of the tender heart &c
pay the costs and cents fine-Chicagt