THE MYSTERY MAN

Recently one of my neighbors sent out an email to all of us living on this hillside, which is 11 residents, about a tall man wearing a hood walking along Wildflower Lane and not waving or showing any sign of recognition.   On the subject line of the email it was titled, 'Mystery Man'.  Soon afterward there was an exchange of emails speculating on where this person was going, including myself thinking he might be camped out on a 10 acre home site that has not been developed yet.  Another neighbor thought he might be squatting in the old cabin on my lower 10 acres.   The next day I checked out the cabin and found no evidence of anybody squatting there.   One afternoon last week, as I was driving back home, there was a tall man walking up Wildflower Lane just above my driveway.   He never looked back to see me and I assumed he had some kind of listening devise plugged into his ears.  I can't remember if he was wearing a hood.   One neighbor to my east is a tall man and occasionally walks the road, but does not wear a hood and usually waves as I have driven by him.   It could have been him.  My neighbor below me said he should check in their unused horse barn to see if that is where he might be,  Other neighbors report seeing no such person.   This mountain side covers much area, including large acreages to the west with old roads no longer used for vehicle traffic since they have become grown over with vegetation and could be inviting to a vagrant to set up a camp.   With the increasing homeless situation some of these people might be seeking refuge in the rural areas of the county.   On some of my drives into town I have noticed some people with backs on them walking along highway 138 going toward Sutherlin and some were wearing a hood.   Now the common question when neighbors pass each other or meet up at the mail boxes is:  "have you seen The Mystery Man?"