The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-07-25
HE FOUND THE MAN.

/ In my early days I was b reporter Oh
The Clarion Call. Only dislike to OWL
! mysulf beaten and the occasional fascina
tion which compensated for the more fre
uuept discomfort kept me in the Office
But all this was before tho day was sem
to In Interview tas wife and daughter Of the
man who had just disturbed society BY
disappearing from it.
Mr.. Grey, 90 1t had been learned from
the notices concerning his, disappearance
had one evening after dinner gone out fol
a stroll around the block. He had nevel
come back. His family was Of course
Frustrated after the manner Of families or
such sad occasions. After giving hin
time to come back, sending to his clubs
his office and the houses Of his friends hiI
wife had finally told his lawyers, and sys
tematio search was begun. The family
had retired from public life and denied
| themselves to every one, consequently
my chances for an interview with Mra
Grey did not see hopeful, but the city ed
itors air of granting me the opportunity
had been longing for made me loath x
admit my fears
took the train for the Greys' -the1
lived q little way out Of town-and pre-
pared myself to meet the servants SCOTT
and the other attendant evils OF suoh al
assignment. The coach was an ordinar,
one, and there we're several laboring mer
| In 1t, evidently travelling to some suburb
where they were to work upon the roads
for they carried picka1es and shoVels.
There sat opposite me and slightly for
ward a peculiar type Of man to whom
found my gaze wandering every few min
utss. His iron gray hair was thick ant
very unevenly out. His face was covered
with stubbly growth of gray beard. H'
looked unwashed, unkempt and generally
unpleasant. His blue overalls were stain
ed with red clay and his red flannel shir'
opened at the front In a way that revealed
anything but beautiful neck, burned
and blistered But the mans twitchint
lips and cenvulsive movements Of the jaw
attracted my attention, and his deep ~
steely blue eyes that burned in cavernoul
sockets fascinated me. He did not talk x
the other men, but sat with his head sunl
upon his breast, only occasionally raising
/ 1t to cast look about him. He, with thu
other laborers, left the train at Forestville
where the Greys lived, and soon saw
them, under the direction Of foreman
assigned to make various road repairs.
OF course Mrs. Grey would not see me-
/ sat in the library while the servant tool
my card to her, for there were other caller
In the drawing room. Over the mante
hung a picture, presumably Mrs. Grey
done in oil. She was as beautiful as {
cameo and as hard. Opposite her was th'
portrait of clean shaven man, with int
iron gray hair brushed off his forehead-t
more plebeian cast Of countenance, bu
strong and interesting. The face seemet
familiar. stared at it until the servan
returned.
"Mrs Grey Is sorry, miss, but she oa1
see no one, and has nothing to say fo'
publication.
"Very WE'LL" said I. Then rose to go
"Is that Mr. GreyS" I asked, noddint
toward the picture.
"Yes, miss" was the reply, and sud
denly 1t flashed upon me where I had seer
those deep set, curiously shaped, keen blu
eyes. My heart leaped almost into m!
mouth. . I took one long look at the por
trait and left the house.
The msn were repairing the road, and
noticed one OF the workmen whose fac
! startled me. The resemblance to the por
trait had seen Of MIR. Grey was remarka
BILE. He worked with fierce delight Il
the severe labor. His face seemed NOR
mad than over, with the exultation Of mo
tion and strength deepening the gleam II
his eyes.
There was q telegraph office at the ens
Of the street. sent message to the oft!
editor. "Send q man to Forestville q
once" was my command. Then while
! paced the street and walked about thu
square I reflected upon the welcome
would receive If I had made mistake
Every minute I became mo q and mor'
convinced that I had made the most colOs
sal blunder on record. By the time MIR
Ellington Ellsworth, the only man who
happened to be available when my tele
, gram was received, had arrived I wa,
nearly hysterical. I told Mr.. Ellsworth
my theory, and he was properly skeptical
He discouraged me thoroughly in sbou,
two minutes, but I suddenly rallied.
"Well," I remarked, taking command
IT want you to keep that man in, sight
shall 60 to town and get his lawyer. Bint
out what train they 60 in on, and I'll
meet you"
Mr.. Ellsworth didn't wish to act upor
that suggestion, but he finally consented
to do 20. went in, summoned MIR
Grey's lawyer and with him met the
workingmen's train. Mr.. Ellsworth, look
ing bored and unhappy, got out and point
ed out oar suspected "disappearance" tx
his lawyer. My heart stood In my mouth
Was to be forever disgraoed or made IA
nous forever9
''Mr. Grey" said the lawyer, stepping
forward, what does this mean9"
And when ss1' tho man start wildly
knew that I was not forever disgraoed.
"Well," said the city editor jovinlly
"what did they say9"
"Ehey didn't say anything. They didn'
see me"
$50 you didn't get the interviewi" sai'
! the city editor shortly.
"No," replied meekly, "but I fount
the missing man."
And now, such Is the irony Of fate, th
city editor, instead of letting me rest OF
my laurels, is always exhorting me to liv
up to the reputation I made in the Gre!
case, when I found the missing man
learned how overwork had worn out hi
brain and how In his half orased oondi
ton he wandered away and returned h
his original occupation in life, to the hor
ror Of bis wife with the cameolike face.
only had never been 50 brillianti-Ex
change.