The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-10
The Missing Man

in an astonishing manner, like succession
of low-voiced pistol shots. On the occa-
sion of Mrs Hamiltons visits the explosion
was frequent, though intermittent, as she
at once noticed. A man sat by the stove
holding her sons little boy, while she
hustled about frying doughnuts.
You jest walk right into the Settin room,
Mis- Hamilton. an I'll be in in jiffy."
Constance walked through, but not with
out seeing that the man was the same
she had seen in church. and she recognized
the fact with momentary tremor.
AS for the man himself he looked with
an eager regard that seemed to pierce the
door beyond which she had disappeared
The child set up disconnected roar, Whlch
recalled him to his task, for Mrs. Fry had
set little Johnny in his lap asking him to
mind him while she fried her doughnuts
The man resumed the jingling of his keys
and the child was quiet. Finally the hot
lard kettle was put away, and with capa-
BILE swoop of her arm, the boy transferred
from the mans arm to her own, and mo-
ment later Mrs. Fry appeared in the sit
ting room where her visitor was.
"A poor creetur as ever was she SAID
to Mrs. Hamilton, with backward sweep
TO her head, indicating the man in the room
she had left. What's he be n an gone an
done but git cold a-stayin' out nights, an
me that's got everything to do has got to
take care on i'm"
lis he sick?'
He amt able TO work He was took
with a faint spell this mornin', looked white
as a sheet an Dan told him he'd best lay
off for spell, He seems sorter feverish
this afternoon.
''Who is he?'
"Oh, he's one of the mill men that boards
here; ben here most three weeks.
What sort of a man is hep"
''Well, he amt quite so bright as some
men, mebbe but he seems dreadful good
hearted. He'll do anything | ask him, hold
Johnny by the hour, but if L didn't put him
in his arms straight he'd just quick
hold him upside down. He did once didn't
Johnny gave howl at the recollection.
Constance could not help a feeling OF
pity for a man sick and without a home,
compelled 10 care Tor a troublesome child,
and she asked, Does he like to hold him.?
Il never asked him." said Mrs. Fry with
an air of superlative contempt, no more
he asked me whether | like TO have MN
settin' round. I'm good to him. always
be to every that boards here
DO you think he cOiors his hair or wears
a wig?' asked Constance, with sudden rec
objection of her first agitation at seeing him
at church.
mo. indeed; he don't care enough for his
looks to color his hair, an most certain
he haint no wig OF, for | see him comb 1t
every day by the little glass in the kitchen
there"
Constance looked through the door and
saw a seven by nine mirror just opposite.
The man not in her range of vision,
but they had talked in low tones and no
doubt he had not overheard them. One
thing she need not fear. that ne would VEN
ture out for a day or two, or peep in at
her sitting room.
\ good-natured. harmless person could
do no hurt anyway. She would try to think
nothing about it. Doubtless he would him.
self turn to something else very soon. Mrs.
Fry seemed to think his intellect might be
impaired, but she could not think this eX-
actly, remembering the eager gaze he had
| fixed on her face at church. Slightly nom
plussed by this recollection. Mrs. Hamilton
| did not Immediately take her leave she
| at first intended, but, instead, asked Mrs.
| Fry if she knew the mans name.
| mo, l don't" said Mrs Fry, with puz-
| Zed air.
why. how is that? Did he give you
He said his name was Primus Edes. and
! | don't believe any man ever had a name
"Oh, that is not so very odd a name.
Primus Edes. l knew family once named
| Edes."
| Did you, now? But what's his clothes
marked III. ~ for il that's his name? Not
] as he's a man TO be suspicious of.
| Are his clothes marked II. A?'
| Yes. they be, what is marked. There 5
a handkerchief an a shirt
Are they nice?"
| Jest common"
| Yes, they might Dan thought he
| might "a snapped with some other man.
| They do sometimes, sech folks
| THAT may be the secret of it," said Mrs.
| Hamilton, rising To go. IF he should be
| sick let me know. and l will send over any
thing you may lack for his comfort"