The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-09

twas q relief to get away
from the house, and took Don
ME-, half way to Muir Woods.
When we got back 1t was late
nearly 6 o'clock. The house was
deserted. The CRATE fire had
gone out. There was no sign OF
preparation for dinner.
81 decided that Mildred was
down at Mrs Coady's and had
forgotten the time. would go
ahead and prepare the evening
meal and have it ready for her
when she. came in. No thought
Of tragedy entered my head.
Tt was not until after shutdown
that I became concerned. took
Donnie in my arms and went
down to Mrs. Coady's. No, Mil
dred had not been there. That.
Mustered me. Where could she
be? On my way back to the
house I turned off and went to
see Ralph Penny, a young writer,
who occupied q PENTHOUSE in the
woods about 100 yards from
where we lived, and whom had
noted was very observing. We
had enjoyed his company several
times as our dinner guests and he
was very fond of Donnies
Yes, he had seen Mildred that
afternoon about o'clock going
down the trail toward the village.
He had imagined she was bound
for the city for she had peen
carrying small handbag and
seemed hurried.
Mystified, / returned to the
house. The meal I had prepared
was cold I fastened Donnie in
his high chair and sat down. 1t
had grown almost dark-where
could Mildred be? Penny had said
she was carrying a hand bag
when he saw her. Perhaps she
had suddenly decided on a trip
TO Alameda to see our friend.
Doctor Lawrence. Thehe was no
one else in California, save our
Immediate neighbors, whom she
: knew. She had steadfastly de-
clined to meet my city and other
distant friends.
1 had told Mildred how Doctor
Lawrence had helped me revise
the manuscript for my first book,
and she had made an exception
IN her favor
Yes, that must be it-she had
gone to Alameda. Probably she
had left note for me. / hunted.
/ explored the upstairs rooms
also. There was no note, but
discovered that her handbag and
fei1ed articles were gone. ran
down and called up Doctor Law.
renee. No, Mildred had not been
there. Yes, she would call me up
at once should she learn any
thing.
Alarmed
AT last became thoroughly
alarmed. Mildred had been act
ing queerly for some time. Per-
haps my drinking and neglect had
unsettled her mind. Perhaps she
had wandered off deranged.s She
might not have gone to San Fran
cisco at all: she might be out in
the hills-lost.
I grabbed Donnie and ran down
TO Mrs. Coady's, where I left him.
went down the steep trail to
town like jackrabbit. The sta
ton agent knew me. / asked II
my wife had bought ticket for
San Francisco that day. He did
not recall having seen her. l in
quired at the drug ore and at
the grocery where she was known.
No one had seen her that day. I
went back to the station dis
traught, undecided what to do.
An idea Of giving an alarm and
having searching parties started
out was in my mind. A lone
woman was walking back and
forth on the station platform.
didn't know her. but she looked
sensible. Something impelled me
to speak to her. AT first she was
frfgid, but soon became sympa-
tlnetic. I explained my predica-
ment TO her and asked her advice.
She told me her name and where
she lived.
eve noticed you," she said,
s.though / don't know that I've
ever seen your wife No, don't
arouse the village. Don't do any,
thing. You might embarrass her
terribly. If / were you I'd go
back home and wait. From what
you've told me judge she must
be exasperated with you. She's
probably gone off alone to think
IL over. Don't worry. She'll come
back. II she doesn't, call me up
tomorrow. Perhaps can help
you"