The Cairo bulletin., 1911-07-22


There was 4 ring at the telephone
Mrs. Martindale answered the callana
received an inquiry from her hus-
bands Office asking III he were nc
home. Mrs. Martindale replied thar
lie was not anu asked why the inquiry
was made The answer was that Il
gentleman who had an appointments
with him was waiting for him; that
Mr.. Martindale had gone out to lunch
and had not returned.
MIR. MartndaIe did not come home
to dinner Iiis wife telephoned 10 ais
club and 70 every other place where
he was llicly TO go without finding
any trace Of MIN. He did not come
home chat night The next morning a
newspaper contained an item stating
that we'll dressed man had been
seen at y clock the previous evening
to jump on ferryboat 1t was so
dark that those who had seen him
jump could give very little description
of his personal appearance.
Mrs Martindale was frantic. She
feared that this suicide was her has
band Unfortunately the body was
| not recovered A body changed be-
| you'd recognition was iished up weeks
| afterwaGl, Int there was no certainty
| that IT was ihe remains of Mr.. Mar
| tindale. After the police had searched
several months for the missing man
| without finding him his wife relnc-
| family came TO the conclusion that he
was the man who had jumped from
I the ferlyhoat Since his business and
| domestic affairs We're in the most SAT-
| isfactory condition 1t was supposed
| that liz had committed suicide upder
fit of temporary mental alteration.
A man ragged. unshaven, burrows In
| his face indicating suffering, appeared
| at the door Of 4 dwelling and rang the
| bell. A maid came to the door. and.
seeing one who bore the appearance III
d tramp and being alone In the house.
she wns about 20 shut the door III his
face when he asked IL Mrs. Marsindaie
was in.
NO, WAS Tue nEIeL reply.
"Where IL shrt''
"In the country"
ais MI Martindale IN the city,
"No. Mr. Martindale Is dead
"Mrs. Martindale hasn't married
again, has she?" the man asked
mo. What's that to your"
Without waiting for reply she shut
| the door. The man turned away. He
| was Oscar Martindale, the man who
had disappeared several years before.
He stood on his own doorstep for
awhile, looking ont on the passing
throng, apparently celebrating what
TO do next. Then, starting down the
street, he hailed trolley car and. rid
ing to the outskirts of the city, stop
ped at the gate of cemetery. Enter
Ing. he walked into the interior aud
stopped at d lot of which he was the
owner There was a central monu.
ment with the name Martindale ON il
in raised letters Underneath was 0s
car Martindale, with the date OF birth
But this shaft held Mr. Marundales
gaze only for second; then It turned
upon little headstone on which was
the name Edith. The returned man
gave q conclusive shudder. One Of lis
children had gone. his little daughter
Mr.. Marlindale walked back to the
city. He had expended his last nickel
Besides, he preferred to walk. Reach
Ing the business center, he turned into
bank and, going to the cashiers desk,
said.
How are you, Somers"
The cashier looked at the supposed
tramp and asked what he wanted.
Five hundred dollars"
Somers glared. For whose aecount!9
he asked presently
"Martindale. | am Oscar Martin.
dale"
The cashier peered into the mans
face for fully half minute; then,
arising and taking both Of Martin
dale's hands in his, exclaimed.
"For heavens sake, Oscar, have you
come to lite?'
Half an hour later the cashier sent
a telegram to Mrs. Martindale saying
that he had news Of her husband
Mrs Martindale replied that she would
be at home by the first train.
Mr.. Martindale left the bank with
a roll Of bills in his pocket, purchased
new apparel and. going to his house.
rang the bell When the maid opened
the door he simply said, Maggie, I'm
Mr. Martlndale," and walked upstairs.
An hour later. after having shaved aud
taken bath, he came down, and the
maid, who had been in doubt what to
do In the matter and was about to call
the police, recognized her master. He
Informed her that her mistress would
soon be at home and later that he
would SO out aud order something for
dinner.
AT 6 o'clock the table was set ana a
good dinner prepared. while Mr.. Mar
tindale awaited the return Of his fam
lily. Presently a carriage drove up 10
the house, and there was ring Mt the
bell. AS Maggie passed through the
hall to answer the summons her mas
ter directed her to ask her mistress to
step into the dining room.
Mrs. Martindale entered In q state
of excitement. followed by her chill
drerk