The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-11
By MARY R. p. HATCH
The Missing Man
Copyright by Lee & Shepard
Dealing with Startling Phase OF
H,pn InAu and Double Personality

them hidden in her hand went down into
the sitting room, as she thought, unoh-
served; but Mrs. Fry had seen the act as
she CHANGED TO glance back, and wondered.
The ways of gentlefolks she had long CIV
en- up as past finding out. There was
difference more Intangible than real, she
thought for she knew perfectly that Con-
stance was aware of her opening the trunk,
though she would not look into it herself
Could she be infatuated with the boarder
to the extent of wishing to posses a few
strands of his hair? Well, If she it
was too bad To care for a man like that
Even If her husband had deserted her and
she chose to marry again some time she
hoped it would be some one her equal. As
she looked at Constance with her stately,
highbred carriage and beautiful, clear-cut
features, she could only wonder at the
closed hand which she knew held the
threads of hair.
Constance saw the last troubled glance
at her closed hand and guessed at the
cause. She might as well explain at all
events, even ii Mrs. Fry had not seen her
take the hair. She accordingly held them up
before Mrs. Fry, whose face frightened
at once.
Il mean to send them to some person
who can tell me whether they are colored
or not" said Constance, quietly.
"Oh. that was it,
Yes. There are people who can tell
truly. You and l can only guess"
But If they are colored, what them"
Il don't know" said Constance, thought
fully, and she went home with a grave look
on her face.
her husband was there in hiding, so near
| her and under such strange circumstances
No. Nothing could make her believe it.
The man might be found to have colored
| his hair, he might look like her husband,
| there might be a more subtle resemblance
between them than the external one, but
| she would then be conscious of a differ
| ence indescribable, intangible, which even
| a complete resemblance could not blot out.
| What this mysterious something was she
could not explain any more than the other
limo inf ~
| 1t was absurd to think for one moment
| that this man could be her husband She
knew that. and she wished to be assured
1 that there existed incontrovertible marks
| of difference which nothing could efface
/ A leopard does not change his spots an
! Ethiopian his skin, nor a man the color
! of his hair unless he dyes il, she reasoned
| If Primus EdeS really had dark brown
| hair he could not by any possibility be her
| husband, nor would he look so very much
| like him. Assured of this the strange fas.
| cination would disappear, and with il this
| haunting dread come to mar the calm be.
lief which had been growing that her hus-
| band was dead. martyr to his duty full.
| filled to an unappreciative public.
Mrs. Hamilton's first act after returning
home and removing her wraps was TO write
| hair, neatly gummed to paper
| THE hair" she wrote. was combed from
| the head of person resembling. my nus
band in some respects Do not mistake me
| / do not believe the man to be Mr. Hamil
| ton, but L wish to know that he is not
| Please submit the hair to a specialist in
| such matters, If such one can be found
and learn whether ii has ever been dyed
| Swan was deeply mystifed by a letter
implying so much but showing so littl,
upon the surface, and he promised himsel
| a look at the mysterious person whethel
| his hair was dyed or not; for Mrs. Ham
| iltons attitude in the matter puzzled hin
| not little Meanwhile he took measure.
| to discover whether the hair sent haS
| been colored
| He knew of no specialist in such matters
| but he felt convinced that a practiced deal
er in human hair might give him points o
elucidation. Accordingly he went TO TIL
large establishment of Springer & Hollis
CHANGED he fortunate enough to Sc
Mr.. Hollis and state his errand TO him.
There is one person IN this building oil
whose Judgment you may rely Ambrose
tell Mr.. Hawkes. to step this way
In a moment a quiet gentlemanly indi
vidual made his way toward them, and Nh
Hollis showed him the strands of hair, afte
introducing the detective and stating hi
| errand.
| Mr.. Hawkes. took it and disappeared wit
ii for few moments. When he handed
| back to Swan the detective fancied il [
be slightly wet.
''Well?" said he interrogatively.
| 1T has never been colored. 1t is the nat
ural shade.
Are you sure?
| Perfectly sure.
You may count on Mr.. Hawkes. opinio
as reliable said Mr.. Hollis. us IL wha
| you expected to learn?'
| Hardly. / suspect the one who sent
to me thought II might be colored, reptile
| Swan.
! The detective answered Mrs. Hamilton