Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe/Chapter 68

The January 7, 1931 issue of The Valdosta Gazette reads, "Local Man Feared Dead." The search for Frank has ended. The police have searched as far as Tennessee and Georgia, but have found no sign of Frank. Smoote tells the reporter he has searched everywhere and Frank seems to have vanished.

Analysis
Smoote gives up his search easily. Although he is sure he knows what happened to Frank, he doesn't share his suspicions, which is most likely to help protect Idgie & Ruth from being prersecuted. With the investigation brought to an end and the readers is given hope that Idgie and Ruth are safe from prosecution. However, the question of wheather Idgie was envolved in Frank's dissapearance is still unanswered.