--Elwyn C. Bellford, a prominent lawyer, is
mysteriously missing from his home since three days ago, and all
efforts to locate him have been in vain. Mr. Bellford is a well-known
citizen of the highest standing, and has enjoyed a large and
lucrative law practice. He is married and owns a fine home and the
most extensive private library in the State. On the day of his
disappearance, he drew quite a large sum of money from his bank. No
one can be found who saw him after he left the bank. Mr. Bellford
was a man of singularly quiet and domestic tastes, and seemed to
find his happiness in his home and profession. If any clue at all
exists to his strange disappearance, it may be found in the fact
that for some months he has been deeply absorbed in an important
law case in connection with the Q. Y. and Z. Railroad Company. It
is feared that overwork may have affected his mind. Every effort
is being made to discover the whereabouts of the missing man."
"It seems to me you are not altogether uncynical, Mr. Bolder," I said,
after I had read the despatch. "This has the sound, to me, of a genuine
case. Why should this man, prosperous, happily married, and respected,
choose suddenly to abandon everything? I know that these lapses of
memory do occur, and that men do find themselves adrift without a name,
a history or a home.
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