Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1920 — THE MAN WHO WASN'T HIMSELF [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE MAN WHO WASN'T HIMSELF

By ROBERT AMES BENNET

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SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I.—Alighting irom a train at Denver a well-dressed traveler i.i familiarly accosted by a man about his own age. The traveler ignores the advance. A few minutes later he is greeted as •‘Will” by an elderly lady and gentleman. Who stop their auto to speak. He imagines It a case of mistaken identity and announces himself as “Richard Clinton,” on his way to the coast. The couple appear greatly surprised, and learning he Is to be in town until midnight, the lady, Introducing herself as Mrs. Kirkland, and her husband as Doctor Kirkland, invites him to dinner, explaining the action by his truly remarkable resemblance to a friend of theirs. He accepts. At the Kirkland home he meets a young lady who greets him as her fiance. She is Ellen Kirkland, and plainly is greatly hurt by his assertion that he is “Richard Clinton. CHAPTER ll.— At dinner "Clinton" learns that his host is a medical specialist and that he is believed to be Will Lowrie, a young man who had been suffering from a nervous breakdown and had gone east for medical treatment. Lowrie had had in his possession bonds of the Value of 1100,000, belonging to the bank where he was employed, which have disappeared and of which he has no recollection. With Dr. Kirkland "Clinton” goes to the Lowrie home, the doctor being satisfied that Amy Lowrie, Will's sister, will convince "Clinton” he is really Lowrie, suffering from loss of memory. CHAPTER IV. Thq Bear. The muffled ring of the doorbell stirred Amy to agile activity. She bent down to thrust her fingertips into the side of one tiny slipper. "Must be doctor!” she exclaimed. “Where in the world did that — Oh, there it is!” She straightened up, rosy cheeked, to flourish the key of the front door in Clinton’s face. “Own tip! You’d never have looked for it there —now would you?” “Magic!” he declared. “You’ll not pretend you really had that huge thing in one of those slippers!” Her face clouded. “Oh, Will, for you to make such a compligient as ithat! It shows you can’t remember I’m only your sister.” “Miss Lowrie,” he replied, between amusement and exasperation, “If It were not for you, I w-ould go at once. This continual Insistence that I am not—” “But doctor —he’ll soon cure you!” she cried in joyful relief, and she darted ' into the hall, calling, “Walt, Tillie, I have the key. I’ll let him in.” The lines of Clinton’s firm mouth tightened. He confronted Doctor Kirkland, who came hastening in from the hall with one big plump hand on Amy’s shoulder. The physician waved his other hand around the room and ordered genially: “Sit down. We’ll talk this over like sensible people.” “I agreed to remain until you came, Doctor Kirkland,” said Clinton, stiffening. “He was going to run off and leave us!” announced Mrs. Kirkland. “Leave? —tonight?” queried her husband. He eyed the would-be runaway attentively. “It was my understanding that you agreed to remain in Denver until —” “Until I had sent on for proofs to convince you of my identity,” broke In Clinton. “When I agreed to that I did not foresee how exasperating this absurd mistake would become.”. “Exasperating?” “Yes. Can none of you imagine how It seems to me? I come to Denver an absolute stranger to you all—” “06, Will!” sighed Ellen. Amy, suddenly full of concern, began stroking his forehead. . “You see I” he cried. “To sit here and let her —and I no more her brother than Mr. Bemm 1” “No, no,” differed Bemm. “Miss Amy never offered to be a sister to me, I’m glad to say.” In spite of the girl’s soothing fingers Clinton’s forehead gathered in a frown. “This is no joke,” he said. “It has gone far enough already. Every one of you seems so deluded that the only thing for me to do is to go on to California and not come back here until I have received proofs that must convince you.” “You are sure that you can furnish proofs?” asked Doctor Kirkland. “Positive.” The physician gravely shook his head. “Complete case of dissociation,” he observed. “Perfect instance of secondary personality. My dear boy, In the circumstances I cannot expect you to believe me. We must all seem, as you think, absolute strangers to you. Yet may I request iou to listen seriously to what I have to say?” Clinton looked at his watch, glanced around at the tense faces of Bemm and the ladles, and reluctantly acquiesced : “Very well, if you do not take too long, and if Miss Lowrie will kindly cease to—will take another seat.” “O-ah 1” murmured Amy, drawing away fron him, deeply hurt. “Can’t you see?” he burst out. “To let you—most despicable of me!” s “But —but to think that y-you—!” sobbed the girl. “My dear boy,” said Doctor Kirkland, “try to be reasonable. As a mere question of probability, here are

five or .us believing that you are yourself —that is, Will Lowrie; while you alone —” “But I know that I am not he; I know I am Richard Clinton.” “You mean you believe you know. You are not conscious of being other than what and who you think you are. May I ask if you have ever studied abnormal psychology?” “Not studied; though I have some Mea —” “Some? Good! If you have even the slightest idea of psychopathology you will know that anyone subject to amnesia, that is to say, loss of memory—” “My memory, sir, is excellent.” “Oh, Will,” reproached Ellen. “You say that when you do not even —” “Leave him to me, daughter,” interposed the physician, and he fixed hli shrewd gaze on Clinton’s angry face. “My dear boy, in many cases of amnesia the patient not only forgets his past life but also forgets that he has forgotten. This amounts to dissociation of the personality.” “This medical jargon, sir, is, to say the least —” “One moment, please. Have’you recently met with a shock, such as that of a railway collision?” “I was in a motoring accident. But that was more than a year ago.” “Over a year ago,” echoed Amy. “What a —fabrication I” “Please do not Interrupt,” admonished Doctor Kirkland. He nodded gravely to Clinton. “More than a year ago, you say? Was it a severe accident?” “Only to the car. I was merely stunned.” “Knocked unconscious! H’m 1 That and the preceding psychopathic conditions —quite in line with the other cases reported.” “Doctor Kirkland,” impatiently retorted Clinton, “certain as I am of my present sanity, much more of this solemn twaddle will drive me mad.” “No, you need have no fear of that. Only you must be calm and reasonable. You will understand how conditions such as yours develop If you will kindly permit me to explain about the peculiarities of amnesia—the peculiar results of the loss of the time mem-

ory, combined with the frequently associated phenomena resultant in dissociation, hallucinations —•” “All of you are subject to hallucinations when you mistake me for that Will Lowrie!” hotly declared Clinton. “Now, now, my dear boy; be calm,” soothed the physician. “This excitability—" Clinton sprang up, his blue eyes flashing with anger. “Enough, sir 1 I shall at once return to the station. As I have agreed to send on for proofs of my Identity I shall do so. They will be mailed direct to you. In the meantime you can telegraph to your missing friend or to those who have charge of him. But I will stay here no longer.” The cold anger and determination of the young man’s tone struck speechless even the physician and the debonair Bemm. Ellen looked helplessly from her father to her equally mute mother. The hush that had fallen upon them was broken by the quiet voice of Amy, asking in a matter-of-fact tone: “When did jk>u say your train leaves?” “Shortly before midnight,” answered Clinton, frowning at Bemm. “It’s pretty late in the day to get a berth,” remarked the girl. “But if they’re all taken I suppose you can sleep in the smoking room.” .

“1 have a stateroom engaged through to the coast,” explained Clinton, his voice softening, though he continued to frown at Bemm. Amy smiled across at Ellen, and answered artlessly: “Of course, you old stupid. But I shall need the stateroom ; so unless you have luck —” “Really, Miss Low-rie, I fall to understand—” “Didn’t I call you an old stupid? You say you won't stay. Well, then, I am going along with you.” “But —but, Miss Lowrie, I cannot —” “Perhaps you ‘can’t. I can,” smilingly declared the girl. Clinton turned appealingly to Dr. Kirkland. “This is—lt cannot be permitted! Surely you’ll not allow her! Send for her mother!” “There Isn’t time,” said the girl. “Anyway mamma never would forgive me If I let you go off alone.” “Good heavens! You really mean “Of course. You simply must have someone to take care of you till you come to your senses.” He wiped the perspiration from his forehead. “If only I could make you realize — To let you go would be impossible. I must stay.” “Stay? You mean stay here and rob me of my trip?" pouted the girl. “Very sensibly 1” exclaimed Mrs. Kirkland. “Unless you drive me mad!” qualified Clinton. “I shall stay in Denver, but on condition that Doctor Kirkland shall at once telegraph to inquire about Mr. Lowrie.” “The telegram shall be sent tonight,” said Doctor Kirkland. “No doubt we shall hear from the sanitarium some time tomorrow.” “Very well. I suppose I can keep sane that long. Muy I ask you to send telegrams for me to — No, that will not be necessary. The answer to your telegram will prove that I cannot be Mr. Lowrie.” “Mr. Lowrie!” chuckled Bemm. Clinton flushed and almost snatched but a wallet, which he opened so hurriedly that the contents fell from it. Among them was a bank draft and a yard-long railroad ticket. As he caught these from his lap to hand to Doctor Kirkland Bemm stooped to pick up the baggage check that had fallen on the floor. With them lay a numbered brass piece such as is given out as a receipt at checking counters. When Bemm handed Clinton the paper baggage check the metal check was not with them nor was It on the rug. The owner did not notice its absence. He was pointing to the name on the ticket and draft. “There is clear proof of my identity,” he said. “Stupid of me not to have thought of it before. Draft drawn in my favor; my signature on the ticket.” Bemm glanced at the signature and said a trifle sharply: “That’s not your writing.”. “You mean it is not Will Lowrie's,” corrected Clinton. “It Is my name, ‘Richard Clinton,’ and my signature.” “One of the results of dissociation is a change of handwriting,” observed Doctor Kirkland in his most cocksure tone. “There Is the bank draft,” argued Clinton. “It is drawn on San Fraicisco. I shall cash it tomort-ow.” Bemm shot a quick glance at the physician and lightly remarked: “You’ll need to be identified. I’ll be glad to introduce you to your bank.” “Mine?” “Your other self’s bank,” chuckled Bemm. , “As Will Lowrie, you know, you were confidential agent and broker of the Fourth National,” explained Doctor Kirkland. “Charlie and I have our accounts there, so it will be less awkward for you to present your draft where he and I can explain the situation.” “Explain I 6 muttered Clinton. “Well, I suppose I must make the best of it. Now if you’ll kindly give me your offce card and the address of the bank and direct me to the nearest hotel.” “Listen to him!” cried Amy. “Hotel ! —when he’s at home! That comes of traveling for months.” “Miss Lowrie,” he gravely replied, “your mother is away. I can no more stay here than I could have agreed to your traveling alone with me.” “Isn’t he the silliest!” “I mean it.” “Mamma, what if Amy should ask us to stay tonight?” suggested Ellen. Clinton looked about him with the alarm of the bird under the descending net of the fowler. “Mrs. Kirkland, I must beg you—” he protested. The lady smiled reassuringly. “Ellen has solved the difficulty. We may call it a house party, and you a guest as well as she and I.” "Leaving me out of it,” complained Bemm. “Why shouldn’t he put up at my lodgings for the night?” “Just the thing,” agreed Clinton. “Very good of you, Mr. Bemm. It will —will save Miss Lowrie the trouble of—” “Botheration 1” exclaimed Amy. “If Charlie takes you away he need never •how his face here again. Besides he’s not going to, because you’re going to stay hpme.” “That settles it,” declared Doctor Kirkland. “When Toodlums puts her foot down— Come, Charlie. Good night, my dear. Girls, don’t let him escape you.” “Don’t worry,” replied Amy. “Ellen and I shall treat him so nice that he won’t want to leave.” *Td be glad to stay even if you beat me,” suggested Bemm. “That would make it quite a house party,” observed Ellen with a wistful glance at Clinton. Amy laughed outright. “She and Charlie are going into horticulture. They think two peaches will make two pairs, if provided with the correct accessories.” -

“Is there a man in town more correct than yours most devotedly?” queried Bemm. “The only gentlemen invited to this house party are brothers,” bantered the little hostess. “Do join us !” “Thanks, no! Good evening, everybody. Meet you at the bank, Will,” Bemm covered retreat. “I’m coining, doctor. Leave the door open.” Even Clinton smiled , at the precipitate flight of the young elegants “Trust Tillie to have his room all ready,” said Amy. “I'll put him to bed right awny. Come, brotherkins, else the sandman will catch you. It’s time you toddled off to slumberland.’’ Clinton looked to Mrs. Kirkland for succor. The lady smiled and graciously wished him, “Pleasant dreams!” “Good night!” murmured Ellen. She impulsively rose and started toward him, only to stop in sudden remembrance und stand blushing between dismay and half-hearted expectancy. “Good night! — excuse me — good night!” he stammered, and lie hurried out past Amy into the hall. She darted after him, but did not overtake him until he paused in the upper hall before the door of a deliciously dainty pink and ivory boudoir. She placed a caressing hand on his shoulder when, at the sight of the feminine furnishings of the room, he would have stepped back. “Aren't you going to tell me how much prettier it is than it was?” she reproached. “You forget this Is the first time I ever — It is very pretty, though. Ear too exquisite for a man.” “Horrors!” she cried. “You must be half asleep. Go on to your own room.” He looked at the closed doors of the other rooms as If in doubt. She cut short his hesitation by leading him to the end of the hall and into a large, simply furnished bedroom. “Didn't I tell you?” she said. “Tillie has everything neat as a pin.” She darted ahead into a closet und capie out with an armful of garments. “Yes, Tillie has hung up your lounging robe and pajamas. Here they are. You'll want a good hot bath after your trip; and there’s Ellen and her mamma — so I’ll not stop to talk. Good night.” “Good night,” he replied, trying to avoid her affectionate gaze. “We must not keep them waiting,” she said, upturning her Cupid's bow lips to him. To have altogether refused that invitation would have been an impossibility. He caught her small head between his hands and bent down to kiss her forehead. “Little sister —little sister!” he half whispered. “Now go, please go!” “Will!” she ecstatically gasped. “You do—do remember me!” “No, it’s not that,” he hastened to curb her joy. “please go at once.” She went out dejected. He bolted the door and looked about the room with an abstracted gaze. The almost ascetic simplicity of the decorations and furniture gave marked prominence to the two large photographs on the dresser. The young man went across to study the faces that the photographer had represented with unusual fidelity. Though so dissimilar they were alike in being lovely. He smiled whimsically and murmured : “Two darlings—my fiancee and my little-7-slster 1” (TO BE CONTINUED.)

"I Shall at Once Return to the Station.”