The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-10-17
DEAR MARE HOME.
Lake Crystal Girl Takes a
Flyer to the Cities.
Parents Believed Her Dead--Is Locat-
ed Through Letter From Lady
in st. Paul.

Mary Stroberg. the fourteen year old
lass who disappeared from Lake Crys-
tai more than two weeks ago, has been
recovered by her parents, the young
lady having been returned to her
home last night. The st. Paul Globe
of Sunday publishes story of the
run away:
"While detective agencies in all sec
tions of the country were searching
for fourteen-year- Mary Stroberg,
and her heart broken parents at Lake
Crystal, Mimi, were mourning her
for dead, the child was living life Of
happiness, surrounded by every COM
fort at the home of Mrs. j. Warren
Thurston, 252 West Central avenue.
For two weeks she has enjoyed the
luxuries of the Thurston home, dur
ing which time she has posed as a
deserted orphan, with no one In the
great wide world to care for her. She
aroused the motherly sympathy Of
Mrs. Thurston and was taken into the
family circle with open arms.
But Mary Stroberg's butterfly exis-
tence came to an end yesterday, when
her fairy tale and romance of her pitt
full loneliness was proved untrue by
the appearance of the girls father.
The story of Mary Stroberg's depart
ure from her home is at the least
unique. And her methods used to
obtain a new home in large city
would credit one more advanced in
years and experienced in the ways of
the world.
Two weeks ago Friday Mary dis
appeared from her home at Lake Clys-
tai. Not the slightest clue to her
whereabouts was obtainable. 1t was
the greatest mystery that Southern
Minnesota had known in years. Not
only did it battle the police depart
ments of the small cities, but the
large detective agencies all over the
country were unable to give salts
factory solution of the case.
While the girls parents were suffer-
ing mental agony she was supremely
happy at her newlyfound home with
the Thurstons. There she received
tine kindly sympathy of Mrs. Thurston
and the other members of the family.
tAnd it was all 30 queer, . said
that motherly woman last night.
"Marie says it's little romance, but
1 suppose it was only one of those
funny incidents which everyone meets
during life.
"Two weeks ago, continued Mrs
Thurston. 81 was returning from a
visit in Southern Minnesota, when 1
met the girl. She was alone on the
train.
"We were not more than five miles
from Lake Crystal when she came to
my seat and asked if she might sit be-
side me. Bless her, the little creature
was crying as if her heart would
breax. 1 put my arms about her and
inquired the cause of her grief
"Iu was a long time before she
could stop her tears, but finally she
said man had told her was going
to st. Paul and to ride with me. Bat
why cry3' asked. There was another
shower of salt tears, and then finally
found, by repeated questioning, that
the child was an orphan. At least
that's what she told me, and she was
SO earnest that / did not disbelieve it
for moment.
"And what are you going to do in
ST. Paul?" I asked. Work in hotel
or restaurant, she promptly replied.
But she was so young, only fourteen,
that thought it a pity to throw her
upon the world.
$50, after thinking it over, 1 decid-
ed to bring her to my home, and
when I proposed it to her little Mary's
eyes frightened and she almost de-
voured me with caresses. Then she
told me that her name was Mary OFT,
and that she had worked for short
time in hotel at Lake Crystal. She
also informed me that her faher was,
when alive, cigar manufacturer.
After the girl had been at Mrs
Thurston's a week that lady wrote a
letter to Lake Crystal inquiring
about tie little girl 1t was through
the letter that the father located his
daughter The girl prior to running
away from home. was employed in
~; or IoHa Crvoto1