The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-22
HE FOUND THE MAN.

In my carly days was reporter On
The Clarion Call. Only dislike to own
myself beaten and the occasional fascina-
ton which compensated for the moro ire
quent discomfort kept me In tho Office.
But MI this vas before tho day was sont
to Interview the wife and daughter OF tho
man who had Just disturbed society By
disappearing from It.
Mr.. Grey, SO IL had been learned from
the notices concerning his disappearance,
Ind ono evening after dinner gone out for
O stroll around tho block. He had never
come back. His family was of course
prostratcd after the manner Of families on
such sad occasions. After giving him
time to como back, sending to his clubs,
his oilicc and the houses Of his friends his
tematic search was begun. Tho family
had retired from public life and denied
themselves to every one, consequently
my chances for an interview with Mira
Grey did not SEQ hopeful, but tho city Cd
itor's air Of granting mo tho opportunity
had been longing for made mo loath 10
admit my fears.
took the train for tho Grcys' -they
lived little way out Of town-and pro
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 1t, evidently travelling to some suburb
where they were to work upon the roads
for they carried pickaXes and shovela.
There sat opposite mo and slightly for
ward a peculiar type OF man to whom
found my gazo wandering every few min.
utcs. His iron gray hair was thick and
very uneyenly 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 rcd clay and his red flannel shirt
opened ut the front in n way that revealed
anything but beautiful neck, burned
and blistcrcd But tho mans twitching
lips and convulsive movements Of the jaws
attracted my attention, and his doep %,
steely blue eyes that burned In cavernous
sockets fascinated me. He did not talk 20
tho other men, but sat with his head sunk
upon his breast, only occasionally raising
! 1t to cast O look about him. He, with tho
other laborers, left the train at Forestville,
where the Greys lived, and soon saw
them, under tho direction Of o foreman,
assigned to mako various road rcpairA
OF course Mrs. Grey would not 500 me-
! I sat in tho library while the servant took
my card to her, for there were other callers
In the drawing room. Over the mantel
hung a picture, presumably Mrs. Grey,
2 l. III CLA loo n a n
cameo and as hard. Opposite har was tho
| portrait Of clean shayen mau, with fne
! iron gray hair brushed of his forehead-a
moro plcbeian cast Of countenance, but
strong and interesting. Tho face seemed
familiar. stared at IL until the servant
returned.
"Mrs. Grey Is sorry, miss, but she oan
SEQ no one, and hes nothing to say Tor
publication. ''.
"Very well," said I. Then I rose TO 60
"Is that Mr.. Grey" asked, nodding
toward the picture.
"Ycs, miss" was the reply, and sud-
denly 1t flashed upon me where had seen
those deep set, curiously shaped. keen blue
eyes. Ny heart leaped almost into my
mouth. took one long look at tho por-
trait and loft the house.
The men were repairing the road, and
noticed one Of tho workmen whose faoe
! startled me. Tho resemblance to the por-
trait had seen Of Mr.. Grey was remarka-
bic. Ho worked with q fierce delight In
the severe labor. His face seemed moro
mad than ever, with tho exultation Of mo-
ton and strength deepening tho gleam tn
his eyes
There was telegraph Office at tho end
of the street sent q message to tho city
editor. "Seud q man to Fofestyilie GO
Ones" was my command. Then while
paced the street and walked about the
square I reflected upon the welcome
would receive il I had made mistake.
Every minute l became mo o and moro
convinced that I had made the most coloe.
sal blunder on record. BY the time MI.
Ellington Ellsworth. the only man who
happened to be available when my tcle-
gram was received, had arrived was
nearly hysterical told Mr.. Ellsworth
my theory, and no was properly skeptical.
Ho discouraged mo thoroughly In about
two minutes, but suddenly rallied.
"Well," l remarked. taking command.
II want you to keep that man In sight I
shall 90 to town and get his lawyer. Find
out what train they 60 In on. and Ill
meet you"
MIR. Ellsworth didn't wish to act upon
that suggestion, but no finally consented
to do SO. / went in, summoned Mr..
Grey's lawyer aud with him met the
workingmen's q train. Mr.. Ellsworth, look
ing bored and unhappy, got out and point
ed out our suspected ''disaprearance' 20
his lawyer. My heart stood In my mouth.
Was TO be forever disgraced or made IN
nous forever?
"Mr. Grey" said the lawyer, stepping
forward. what does this mean?
And when ! sow the man start wildly l
knew that was not forever disgraced.
"well," said the city editor 3ovtally,
"what did they sayg"
"Thcy didn't say anything. They d'dns
SEQ nc" =.
$50 you didn't get the interview" saAd
the city editor shortly.
NO" replied mcekly. "but found
tho missing man"
And now, such Is tho irony Of fate, tho
city editor, instead Of letting mo rest on
nv laurels, is always exhorting me to live
up 70 tho reputation / made In tho Grey
case, when found tho missing man.
learned how overwork had worn out DIS
brain and how In his half crazed condi'
ton he wandered away and returned TO
his original occupation in life. TO the hor.
ror of his wife with tho cameolike faeo. IL
only l had never been so brillianel-E1-
change.
He Preferred Death.