The mirror., 1922-07-13
"REMINISCENCES
Continued from page l.

knocked at the battered door. A faint
stir inside. Then childish voice fraught
with anticipation, ooh! Mama, maybe it's
Daddy" The quiet, resigned, motherly
reply: "Be quiet dear, Mother will see"
The door opened slightly, disclosing
wan tired face. A shade of disappoint-
ment momentarily gave expression. Then
the query in a cordial refined voice:
"Whom did you wish to see?"
"Isadore Fitzpatrick, (fctitious) is my
name Madame, and called in regard to
your advertisement in the -- week
ly. Perhaps l can be of some assistance"
Again disappointment mantled the tired
face, followed by doubt, suspicion and
fear, but quickly gave way to an innate
sense of hospitality, meagre as she had to
offer, one could see.
"Won't you come in?" nodded assent
and followed her into shabby, poorly
furnished parlor, that was scrupulously
clean, however.
By this time, as the reader will no doubt
surmise, had formed quickly in my mind
method of procedure, enhanced, or rather
strengthened by what impressed me. The
lady's outward veneer of culture and
pride confirmed my suspicious of her re-
luctance to talk, unless convinced was an
ally, and any intimation of newspaper
publicity would be disastrous. The pow
erty and frugal state of the home were
registered on my mind at glance, mean
ing color and atmosphere. Now for the
facts. The initiative was mine.
"Now, Mrs. Whoosit," l began, irrel-
vanity, but consolingly, qve are experienced
in matters of this kind and understand the
case thoroughly. So many occurrences of a
similar nature come to our attention. ETC.,
etc."
"But," she began, "Who are -"
Ignoring the interruption, l continued,
"No doubt your husband became irrespon-
sible on account of his worries, and in a
weak moment strayed away unaccountably,
but stranger things have happened
once knew of a wealthy physician who
suffered lapse of memory due to over
work, and as consequence lost his own
identity for several weeks, in the mean
time, going away in just the same manner
as your husband, but, fortunately, he re-
covered as I intimated in few weeks
time, although several hundred miles away
from his own home. 1t was simply mat
ter of communication for his speedy re-
turn, which was accomplished. Was -"
"As 1" she again interrupted "st -"
C - your husband ever in the army?"
l insisted, paying no attention to the
second interruption.
eyes," she replied, "but l don't - >"
"Now please madam" I cut her off
again, (score, number one husband in the
army once), "don't concern yourself or
worry any further. The people l repre-
sent are doing wonderful work, etc., etc.
Needless, dear reader, to carry the dia-
logue any further. You see the manner in
which the facts are secured. Looks and
sounds brutal, and is l concede to GER
tain extent, but consider; the whole story
was brought out bit by bit in this manner.
You will probably wonder how chanced
to ask if the lady's husband was ever in
the army. Merely chance shot to be
sure, but why would the lady insert an
ad in an Army organ unless the husband
at some time was connected with it? 1t
developed that he enlisted again, (having
served one enlistment previous to his mar
riage) served in the Great War, back
early and honorably discharged, but
negligent of his wife and fam
lily. AS result of my story, he recognized
the inevitable, in far distant state, and
returned voluntarily to make amends for
his disgraceful conduct. He was saved