ILLINOIS: The Wilderness

Joseph Rogon, 61, was different from the fuddled old drifters who vanish nightly into the cold stone wildernesses of Chicago. He paid his rent, had a wife, three sons, and a button for 35 years' faithful service to the International Harvester Co. A Polish immigrant, he spoke little English. But he had never gotten lost before.

The night of Feb. 7 he disappeared. His wife and two sons sought him frantically, checked police stations, hospitals, the morgue. There was no word. Finally, they gave up looking.

In April, the third son, John, returned from the Army. The settled hopelessness in his home...

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