Evening journal., 1911-08-12
A Disappearance, Ruth B. 3y syvsr.pe.

There was a ring at the telephone
Mrs Martindale answered the call and
received an inquiry from her hus-
bands Office asking if he we're at
home. Mrs. 1lartindale replied that
be was not and asked why the inquiry
was made The answer was that
gentleman who had an appointment
with him was waiting for him; that
Mr. Martindale had gone out 10 lunch
and had not returned.
N Mr Martindale did not come home
10 dinner His wife telephoned to hia
,club and TO every other place where
he was likely TO 80 without finding
any trace Of him. He did not come
home that night. The next morning
newspaper contained an item stating
that well dressed man had been
seen at 8 o'clock the previous evening
to jump of a 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 hus-
band. Unfortunately the body was
not recovered A body changed be
yond recognition was fshed up weeks
afterward, but there was no certainty
that it was the remains OF Mr.. Mar
tindale. After the police had searched
several months for the missing man
without finding him his wife reluc-
tantiy came to the conclusion that he
was the man who had jumped from
the ferryboat. Since his business and
domestic affairs were in the most sat
isfactory condition it was supposed
that he had committed suicide under
fit Of temporary mental alteration.
4 man ragged, unshaven, burrows in
his face indicating suffering, appeared
at the door Of dwelling and rang the
bell. A maid came to the door, and,
seeing one who bore the appearance Of
tramp and being alone in the house,
she was about to shut the door in his
face when he asked If Mrs. Martindale
was in.
NO" was the brief reply.
Where is sheF'
I'm the country"
as Mr. Martindale in the cityr
eNo. Mr. Martindale is dead"
sNfrs. Msrtindale hasn't married
again, has sheg' the man asked.
''No. What's that TO you"
Without waiting for a 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 out ON the passing
throng, apparently celebrating what
to do next Then. starting down the
street. he hailed a trolley car and. rid
ing to the outskirts Of the city, stop
ped at the gate of a cemetery. Enter
ing. he walked into the interior and
4 stopped at a lot Of which he was the
owner. There was a central monu-
\ ment with the name Martindale on II
4 raised letters. Underneath was Os-
EAR Martindale. with the date OF birth.
But this shaft held Mr.. Martindales
s gaze only for a second; then It turned
4 upon a little headstone on which was
3 the name Edith. The returned man
gave a convulsive shudder. One of his
Il children had gone. his little daughter
Mr. Martindale walked back to the
81 city. he had expended his last nickel
II Besides. he preferred to walk. Reach
8 Ing the business center. he turned into
4 bank AID. going TO the cashiers desk
81 said:
n "How are you, Somersy'
81 The cashier looked at the supposed
n ramp and asked what he wanted.
"Five hundred dollars"
a Somers glared. ''For whose accountg
"a ne asked presently
N ''Martindale. am Oscar Martin
NJ iale7
81 The cashier peered into the mans
s soce for fully half q minute; then