The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-09-28
HE FOUND THE MAN.

Sss
to interview ths wife and daughter Of tho
man who had just disturbed society by
disappearing from it.
Mr.. Groy, 80 1t had been learned from
The notices concerning his disappearance,
had ono evening after dinner gone out for
n stroll around the block. He had mover
come back. His family was Of course
FRUSTRATED after the manner.of families on
such sad occasions. After giving him
time to come book, sending to his clubs,
his Office and the houses Of his friends hin
wife had finally told his lawyers, and sys.
tematio search was begun. The family
had retired from public life and denied
themselves to every ono, consequently
my chances for an interview with Mr..
Grey did not SOC hopeful, but the city ed
itor's air Of granting me the opportunity
l had been longing for made me loath 10
admit my fears.
took the train for the Greys' -thug
lived q little way out Of towl1-and pre-
pared myself to meet the servants soorn
and the other attendant evils Of suoh an
assignment. The coach was an ordinary
one, and there were several lalooring men
LII III, 0NIOSuUlJ UldNOllbB " coiho oupe@o
where they were to work upon ther roads,
for they carried pickaxes 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 ous. His face was covered
with q stubbly growth Of gray beard. he
looked unwashed. unkempt and generally
unpleasant. His blue overalls were stain
ed with red clay and his red flannel shirt
opened at tho front In a way that revealed
anything but q beautiful neck, burned
and blistered. But the mans twitching
lips and convulsive movements of the jaws
attracted my attention, and his deep See,
steely blue eyes that burned in cavernous
sockets fascinated mo. He did not talk to
the other men, but sat with his head sunk
upon his breast, only occasionally raising
It to cast q look about him. He, with the
other lalorers, left the train ct Forestville,
where the Greys lived, and I 1901 saw
| them, under the direction OF q foreman,
assigned to make various road repairs.
OF course Mrs. Grey would not see me-
I 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 a
cameo and as hard. Opposite her was the
portrait Of O clean shaven man, with fine
Iron gray hair brushed of his forehead--a
more plebeian cast Of countenanoe, but
strong and interesting. The face seemed
familiar. stared at 1t until the servant
returned.
"Mrs. Grey is sorry, miss, but she can
zee no one, and has nothing to say for
publication"
every WE'LL" said I. Then I rose to 60.
''Is that Mr.. Greyf" I asked, nodding
toward the picture.
"Yes, MISS" was the reply, and sud-
denly 1t flashed upon me where I had seen
those deep set, curlously shaped. keen blue
eyes. My heart leaped almost into my
mouth. I took n 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 per.
trait I had seen Of Mr.. Grey was remarka.
BILE. He worked with q fierce delight In
The severe labor. His face seemed more
mad than ever, with the exultation Of mo.
ton and strength deepening the CLEAN In
his eyes.
There wa . telegraph Office at the end
Of the street. + sent a message to tho city
editor. "Send q man to Forestville at
once" was my command. Then while /
paced the street and walked about the
square I reflected upon the welcome I
would receive II I had made q mistake.
E-z, .~;,-Ao 7 Hooo,nn n % md mora
convinced that / had made tho most oolos'
sal blunder on record. BY the time Mr..
Ellington Ellsworth, the only MAI who
happened to be available when my tele.
gram was recel 7ed, had arrived I was
nearly hysterical. I told Mr.. Ellsworth
my theory, and he was properly skeptioal.
He discouraged me thoroughly in about
two minutes, but I suddenly rallied.
"Well," 1 remarked, taking command,
II want you to keep that man In sight
shall 60 to town and get his lawyer. Find
out what train they 60 in on, and III
meet you"
Mr.. Ellsworth didn't Wish to act upon
| that suggestion, but he finally consented
to do 80. I went in, summoned Mr..
| Grey's lawyer and with him met the
WO"EhluRlu6u D tEdlus ILL.,. Alio"Olu1J Aooh
ing bored and unhappy, got out and point.
cd out our suspected "disappearance' to
his lawyer. My heart stood in my mouth.
| Was I to be forever disgraced or made IA
nous forever
"Mr. Grey" said the lawyer, stepping
| forward, what does this mean2"
And when I saw the man start wildly ]
| knew that I was not forever disgraoed.
"Well," said the city editor tovially,
what did they ssyi"
"They didn't say anything. They didn't
see me-"
$50 you didn't get the interview" said
the city editor shortly.
"No," I replied meokly, "but l found
the missing man."
And now, such IL tie irony Of fate, the
CITY editor, instead Of letting me rest on
my laurels, ia always exhorting 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 hi
brain and how In his half orazed condi'
ton he wandered away and returned te
his original occupation In life, to the hor
ror Of bis wife with the cameolike faoe. u
only l had never been 60 brilliAnbl-Nx
change.