The Washington times., 1906-02-04

smoking and pUzzling over Il. It
was worth all the headlines the
newspapers had given Ii; there
was no loophoIe to the mystery
both sides of the Atlantic
knew S.lac j. Ford. lie had established
a business reputation i'm America that
had made him celebrity in England
from the day he stepped OF the liner.
once in London, his syndicates and
companies and consultations had
startled the slow-moying British mind.
The commercial sky of the United
Kingdom was overshadowed by him
and his schemes. The papers were
FUN OF praise and blame, of nufs and
denuuciatiOus. He was a millionaire
he was ou the verge of smash that
would paraIyze the markets Of The
world Tie was an abstainev. "a drunk
ard. Il gambler. most religious man.
lie was "a confirmed bachelor. a woman
hater, his engagement was 10 be- an
uOuuced shortly. So was the gossip
kept rolling with the limeIiEht always
centertd upon the SPOT where SiIls
d. Ford happened 10 be standing.
And now he had disappeared. van
isheG. eVaporuted.
on the night of December Is.
Thursday. he had left London for
Meudon hall. the fine old Hampshire
mansion that he had rented from Lord
Beverly, The two most trusted men
IN his Office accompanied him Friday
morning he had spent with them, but
at clock the pair had returned 20
London. lcaViuS their chief behind.
From 10 z he had been shut up with
his secretary. II was "a hard time for
every one, time vergius upon panic.
and ~ such times S-Ias J. Ford was
not an idle man.
At O'Clock he had diued. His one
recreation was music, and after the
meal he had played the organ in the
picture gallery FOR an hour. AT quar-
ter past II o'clock he retired 10 his
bedroom, dismissing Jackson. hls body
servant tor the night. Three quarters
OF an hour later. however. H1rburd. his
secretary, had been called 20 the pri-
Nate telephone. Tor Mr. Ford had
brought an extension wire from The
aeIGnDOrIug town OF Camd0n. It Was
London message. and SO urgeut that
he decided 10 wake Lis chief There
was no answer 10 his knock. ana on
entering the room he found that 1Ir.
Ford was not ia bed. He w4s sur
prised, put u no way suspicious. and
started 10 search the house He vs.
Joined by a footman, and, III little later,
by Jackson and the butler Asronish-
msnt changed 10 alarm. Other servas Is
were aroused 10 aid Iu the quest III
Helly, "a party provided with lanterns
from the ste bles, commenced TO ex-
anime the grounds.
Snow had fallen early in the day,
l-=.r b.
the entrance porch with d soft. white
blanket about an inch in thickness.
IL WIS the head groom who struck The
iEaiL Apparently, Mr.. Ford had walk
eu out OF the porch, and so over the
drive and across the lawns toward the
wall that bounded the public road.
This road, which led from AIeudon
village to the town of Camdou. crossed
the front of Mcudon hall III d distance
o. some quarter OF "a mile
There was no doubt as to the idon-
tity of the footUrints, for Suas Ford
affected "a broad, square-toed boot. cas-
lly recognizable from its unusual i'm
preston.
They tracked him by their lanterns
to The park wall, and there ali trace
OF him disappeared The wall was Of
rough stone. easily surmounJable by an
active man The snow that covered the
road outside had been churneI into
muddy paste by the traffic of the dav,
there were 20 further footprints OBJ
servable.
The party returned 10 the house in
great bewildeTmeut. The telephone to
London brought no explanation. and
the following morning AIr HarDord
caught the first train to town TO make
INQUIRIES. For private reasons his
friends did not desire publicity Tor the
ahe'r and ia was not until the late
afternoon, when all their investiga-
uons had proved fruitless. that they
communicated with Scotland Yard.
When the papers went To press the
whereabouts OF tho great Mr. Ford still
remained a mystery.
Ia keen curiosity I set off up the
stairs TO Inspector Grey's room. Per
haps the little detective had later news
10 give me.
found him standing with his back
30 The fire pufhng dI his cigarette with
"a plump soiemnity. \ bag. neatly
lay on ihe rug at his feet.
lie nodded a welcome. watching me
over his glasses.
-'tN Ne'H you. MI IiilltifSs ne
said And how do you explain it?"
"A love affair or temporary insan-
.tE, 1 suggested. vaguely.
Surely We can combine those solu-
lions nc smiled. Anything else?"
80. I came 10 ask your opinion"
MY mind is void OF theories. MIR.
'h!llips, and I SHAH endeavor 10 keen il
o for the present. If YOU wish TO
muse yourself by discussing possiblt-
les. / would suggest your consideration
I the reason why. if he wanted to dis
ppcor quietly. he should leave SO ob-
ious track through the snow of his
wa lawn. For myself. as j leave for
amdon via Waterloo station in twenty
nrea minutes, 1 shall hone for more
eante data before night"