The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-12-28
HE FOUND THE MAN.


quept discomfort kept mo in the Office.
But all this was before tho day was sent
to in :erview tns wife and daughter Of the
man who had just disturbed society BY
disappearing from 1t.
Mr.. Grey, 80 1t had been learned from
The notices concerning his disappearance,
had ono evening after dinner gone out for
stcoll around the block. He had never
oone back. His family was Of course
prostrated after the manner Of families on
such sad occasions. After giving him
time to come back, sending to his clubs,
bis office and tho houses Of his friends his
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
itor's air Of granting me the opportunity
l had been longing for made me loath to
admit my fears.
I took the train for tho Greys' they
lived little way out Of town-and pre-
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 laborlng Inen
In it, evidently travelling to some suburb
where they were to work upon the roads,
for they carried picknzes and shovels.
There sat opposite me and slightly for
ward a peculiar type of man to whom
found my gaze wandering every few min.
utes. His iron gray hair was thick and
very unevenly cus. His face was covered
with stubbly growth Of gray beard. He
looked unwashed, unkempt and generally
unpleasant. His blue oreralls were stain.
cd with red clay and his red flannel shirt
opened at the front In way that revealed
anything but beautiful neck, burned
and blistered. But the mans twitching
lips and convulsive movements OF the 1aws
attracted my attention, and his deep oct,
steely blue eyes that burned In caVerncu1
sockets fascinated me. He did not talk to
the other men, but stst with his head sunk
upon his breast, only occasionally raising
1t to cast q look about hl.3 He, with the
other laborers, left the train It Vorestville
where the Greys lived, ana soon saw
them, under the direction of q foreman,
assigned to make various road repairs.
vi COur60 hIb. 0IOy UouAa aSS oo0 AAo
sat in the 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,
done in OIL She was as beautiful as q
cameo and as hard. Opposite har was the
portrait of clean shaven man, with fine
iron gray hair brushed of his forebead-a
more plebeian cast Of countenance, but
strong and interesting. The face seemed
familiar. stared at it until the servant
returned.
"Mrs. Grey is sorry, miss, but she can
zee no one, and has nothing to say foa
publication.
every well," said I. Then rose to go
ISIS that Mr.. Greyf" I asked, noddins
toward the picture.
"Yes, miss" was the reply, and sud-
denly it flashed upon me where I had seen
those deep set, curiously shaped, keen blue
eyes. My heart leaped almost into my
mouth. took one long look at the por'
trait and left the house.
The men were repairing the road, and
noticed one Of the workmen whose face
startled me. The resemblance to. the por.
trait had oeen Of MIR. Grey was remarka.
BILE. He worked with fierce delight In
she severe labor. His face seemed more
mad than ever, with the exultation OF mo-
ton and strength deepening the gleam In
bis eyes.
There was q telegraph Office at tho end
Of the street. sent q message to the city
editor. "Send man to Forestville at
once" was my command. Then while
paced the street and walked about the
square I reflected upon the welcome
would receive II had made mistake
Every minute became mo Q and more
convinced that had made the most colos'
sal blunder on record. By the time Mr..
Ellington Ellsworth, the only man who
happened to be available when my tele-
gram was receI 7ed. had arrived I was
nearly hystericaL I told Mr. Ellsworth
my theory, and he was properly skeptical
He discouraged me thoroughly In about
two minutes, but suddenly ralliod.
"Well," I remarked, taking command.
II want you to keep that man in sight ]
shall go to town and get his lawyer. Find
out what train they go in on, and III
meet you"
Mr.. Ellsworth didn't wish to sot upon
that suggestion, but he finally consented
to do 80. went in, summoned Mr.
Grey's lawyer and with him met the
workingmen' train. Mr.. Ellsworth, look
Ing bored and unhappy, got out and point
ed out our suspected disappearance" to
his lawyer. My heart stood in my mouth.
Was to be forever disgraced or made ia.
NOUS forever
"Mr. Grey" said the lawyer, stepping
forward, what does this meanr
And when I saw the man start wildly ]
knew that I was not forever disgraoed-
"well," said the city editor jovially,
"what did they say?"
"They didn't cay anything. They didn't
SEQ me-"
$50 you didn't get the interviews" said
the city editor shortly.
"No," I replied meekly, "bus I found
the missing man."
And now, such is the Irony Of fate, tbs
oity editor, instead Of letting me rest on
my laurels, Is always exhortinR me to live
up to the reputation I made In the Grey
case, when I found the missing man,
learned how overwork had worn out his
brain and how in his half orazed oondi-
tion he wandered away and returned 10
bis original occupation in life, to the hor-
TOR of his wife with the cameolike face. Il
only had never been 30 brilliantt-EX.
change.
He Preferred Death.
Baron de Malorsie, O German who had
,aryad IN Mer,cn with Maxirnilian told to