Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1920 — THE MAN WHO WASNT HIMSELF [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE MAN WHO WASNT HIMSELF

By ROBERT AMES BENNET

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J SYNOPSIS. r CHAPTER I.—Alighting iroin a train at Denver a well-dressed traveler in 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 ns 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 Clm ton.” CHAPTER H. —At dinner "Clinton" learns that his host is a medical specialist and that he'ls believed to be Will Dowrle, a young man who had been Buffering from a nervous breakdown and had Ene east for medical treatment. Lowrie d had in his possession bonds of the Value of SIOO,OOO, 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 Bister, will convince “Clinton” he is really lowrie, suffering from loss of memory. CHAPTER lll.—Amy declares at once tie is her brother, and insists on treating him as such, to his great embarrassment CHAPTER IV.—Doctor Kirkland arranges to send a telegram to the sanitarium where Lowrie is undergoing treatment inquiring as to his whereabouts. CHAPTER V.—Ellen and Amy try in vain to convince “Clinton” he Is Will Lowrie, brother of one and the fiance of the other. He visits the bank with Doctor Kirkland and cashes a draft. Bemm tells the president of the bank he is sure “Clinton" is Will Lowrie and agrees to find out the whereabouts of the missing bonda , CHAPTER Vl.—With Bemm "Clinton” Visits the athletic club and there Bemm 'discovers that a birthmark, familiar to Lowrie’s friends, has disappeared from , "Clinton’s" arm. Bemm is somewhat disconcerted but unconvinced. That evening an answer to Doctor Kirkland’s telegram arrives, with the information that the superintendent of the sanitarium is away, and the matter is left thus. CHAPTER Vll.—Bemm is very much in Arye with Amy Lowrie. Her brother has JjJacou raged the intimacy, and Bemm f chinks he can prove to Amy that her brother has made away with the bonds and is in danger of prosecution, from Which only Bemm can save him. CHAPTER Vlll.—That evening Amy Visits her "brother” in his room, in sisterly playfulness insisting he brush her hair. She tells him part of Bemm s conversation and Jie 18 indignant. To convince her he Is not her brother he shows her his arm, from which the birthmark Is gone. Amy, believing at last, hastens from the room In maidenly shame, and “Clinton" at once leaves the house. CHAPTER IX. —“Clinton," about to leave town, Is arrested, and Doctor Kirkland and the ladles visit him at the police jitatlon. The doctor arranges for his reCHAPTER X.—At the Kirkland residence, where the party goes, Bemm, still certain “Clinton” is his former acquaintance, Lowrie, makes a proposition to him to return the bonds, promising immunity from prosecution in return for his inducing Amy to accept him as her fiance. "Clinton” throws him out of the house. Doctor Kirkland makes up his mind to ■Eave the young man remain in his sanitarium for observation and probable cure. CHAPTER Xl.—Arriving at the sanitarium “Clinton” finds he is practically a prisoner. In hot indignation he denounces the doctor, and Ellen gives him back his ring, declaring their engagement at an end. “Clinton" assures Amy he will really go insane if confined for any length oi 'time, and she shows him how he can 'escape that night, promising to have an auto across the road to take him to her house. CHAPTER XII. — “Clinton" escapes from the sanitarium, as arranged, meets and they drive home safely. At the house he endeavors to make Amy see, once for aU, that he is really "Richard Clinton,” declaring his affection for her as a lover. The girl realizes that her 'fondness for him is mord than sisterly, 'and almost convinced, leaves him and takes refuge with Tillie.

CHAPTER XIII. Bemm Declares Himself. " At dawn Tillie, half waking, felt something warm against her bony shoulder. She gave It a shove and met •with a soft resistance that caused her to screw her head about in affright. On the pillow beside her lay the tearstained face of her beloved little mistress. “Land sakes I” she exclaimed. “Whatever in the world — I” The big brown eye? opened wide In a startled gaze. Still dazed from slumber, the girl clutched her companion’s arm. “Tillie! don’t leave me—don’t leave me alone 1” “I won’t, dearie; course not. There, there, it’s all right—only a bad,dream. Lie still and go to sleep again,” crooned the old woman as she had soothed the girl when a young child. She muttered aside: “Such goings on! I never did!” Amy rose on her elbow and stared at the window. “Why, it’s daylight already. You’ll be getting up.” “It’s time. But just you Ue still, dearie.” •‘I don’t want to. TH get up and help you. I’m —I’m lonely.” “Lonely?" “And —frightened.” “Frightened? Land sakes! What makes you frightened?” “Because he — It’s a secret. Promise you’ll never, never tell until I say you may.” “All right.” “Lean closer, so I can whisper it in your ear. He’s home!” “Huh?” : “Don’t be, a.dummy!, Will is home.”

“They let nun out, Hid tneyT’ “No. That’s the secret. I went for him in the coupe after you were sound asleep.” “My! my! You went after him —all alone?” Amy blushed and hurriedly explained: “He told me he would go raving crazy if they kept him shut up; so what else could I do? We had it all arranged. As soon as the moon went down, he climbed from his window and I brought him home.” “Poor Mr. Will! Of course, if he would have gone crazy, you done just right, dearie.” “I’m so glad you think so, because you must help me keep him hid. else they’ll come and take him back there, or maybe to jail.” Tillie cogitated, and replied: “There’s that place in the attic where you and him used to play robbers’ cave.” “Just the thing. We’ll fix it up at once. Maybe, though, they’ll only ask If he is here. Go and see If he — No, keep away, so if they come you can tell them you haven’t seen anything of him.” After breakfast Amy found courage to creep upstairs to listen at Clinton’s door. Hearing nothing, she slipped under the door a note asking him to remain in his room and raise his rear shade if unable to reach Tillie in the kitchen by means of the speaking tube. She returned downstairs to help Tillie “do up” the morning’s work, but soon cajoled her out Into the garden. Hardly were they out of the house when the telephone rang. The call not being answered, the ring was repeated, not once, but fully half a dozen times, at frequent intervals. Blissfully Ignorant of the impatient calls, Amy, with hands safeguarded from thorns by leather gauntlet gloves, was training the rose-laden vines over the lattice of her summer house. Tillie supported the stepladder and handed up ties of soft twine. After a time the telephone renewed its impatient summons. The gardeners worked on, oblivious. Presently the telephone was re-enforced by the sharper ring of the doorbell. The result was the same. Three times the bells rang, more or less in unison. Still no response: still Amy remained Intent on her thorny blossomy task, with only an occasional glance upward at the rear window of her brother’s bedroom. The doorbell ceased ringing. A few moment later two persons, a keen-eyed, suspicious young man and an agitated young lady, came hurrying out of the pergola into the garden. “There she is!” exclaimed the young lady. She waved her hand and called: “O-ho 1 Amy 1” Amy twisted about so suddenly that she almost fell -off the ladder. “Goodness!” she whispered. “It’s Ellen and Charlie!” “Pooh ! Don’t fret. We’ll fool them easy,” reassured Tillie. The girl promptly recovered her balance and her aplomb, and called banteringly: “Oh, is it really you? You must be going for a foothill motor drive to be out at this unearthly hour. It almost tumbled me over to see you.” “Then you Jiaven’t heard, dear!” exclaimed Ellen. “Your brother has escaped from the sanitarium,” Bemm bluntly stated the news. v Amy throw up her hands In realistic stage consternation. “Escaped? Will escaped? Oh! oh! Has he gone daft again? How? Where did he go? When was it? Oh, dear!. Wandering about, in his condition!” “Hasn’t he come home?” • “Home!” scoffed Tillie. “Don’t you know anything about crazy folks? Don’t you know they always try to get away from their relations? Didn’t he want to run away from home the very first night he came?” “Indeed, yes,” agreed Ellen. “You remember he even knocked you down, he was so violent.” Bemm’s face darkened. “He’s a bit too violent The next time we’ll put him where he can’t get out” « «we?’ ’’ queried Amy. “His—er —friends,” Bemm hastened to explain. “He’ll be apt to do himself harm, y’ know, if he’s allowed to run loose.” ~ “Before he is cured,” added Ellen. Amy raised her flushed face. That most eminent of scientists —Charles Darwin—-observed that the expressional after-effects of spasms of fear, anger and mirth are remarkably similar. There were tears in Amy’s reddened eyes as she looked up past Bemm’s fashionable straw. Suddenly her half compressed eyelids widened —she flung up her hand and made a quick downward gesture. Bemm spun about and stared up at the rear window of Clinton’s bedroom. The shade was down, but the morning light rippled on its watered surface as

If ft were shaking. Bemm confronted Amy. “Your brother Is In his room,” he charged. “Really?” she rejoined with heavy sarcastn. “You don’t say!” “He raised his shade. You waved him to pull it down," shrewdly thrust Beinm. “How clever!” parried the girl. “One might take you for a Sherlock Holmes.” The random shot hit Bemm so unexpectedly that he was disconcerted. “Miss Lowrie 1” be snapped In angry protest. “Why, what— Oh I beg your pardon, Charlie!” she replied, her look expressive only of Innocent contrition. “Raffles was a gentleman burglar, wasn’t he? And I meant a gentleman detective.” “Detective?” exclaimed Ellen. Under her shocked gaze Bemm flushed a brick red. Tillie had unobtrusively started up the garden toward the kitchen'door. Amy renewed hes attack. “Oh, not a common, low, ordinary detective, Ellen ” she protested. “No one could dream of Charlie being that—could they? But a Sherlock Holmes or a Glbberer—that famous French detective, you know —that’s altogether different, isn’t it? So romantic!” Unable longer to endure the grilling, Bemm turned to retreat. Tillie’s head appeared above the blossoming shrubs: It moved toward the kitchen porch with marked rapidity. He looked about at Amy with a glance of resentment and suspicion and started up the garden on a run. Th» girl smothered a cry of dismay and darted after him. She was only a few steps in the rear when he overtook Tillie. ♦ “Stop!” he ordered the hurrying woman. “What are you going to do?” She halted and faced him squarely, her arms akimbo. Her tone was tart: “I ain’t wdrklng for you. Mind your own business.” “I shall,” retorted Bemm, and he showed her a silver-plated officer's star. Tillie’s mouth closed with obstinate firmness. Amy hastened to interpose. “There’s the phone ringing! Maybe It’s news of Will!” She went past Bemm. He started to follow her, but paused to grasp Tillie’s wrist. “Come along,” he ordered. “Why, Charlie!” remonstrated Ellen, who had hastened up the garden after Amy. “I’ll have no tricks,” he rejoined. Ellen gave him a disdainful glance. But he had turned to overtake Amy, holding fast to Tillie. The girl went direct to the telephone, without making any attempt to elude him. She had the receiver at her ear when, still dragging the reluctant Tillie, he overtook her. “S-ssh!” she whispered. "It’s that nice police official at the hall. They ve seen Will out near City park, and—" “What!” cried Bemm incredulously. “Yes —here, take the phone. He’s asking for you. He heard your voice.” “Stand where I can watch you—both of you,” peremptorily commanded Bemm as he took the telephone. “Hello! hello! This is Mr. Bemm.” The receiver buzzed with a vehement reply that brought a flood of scarlet into the face of the listener. He slammed the receiver on the hook, snatched up his hat and ran out through the front ball, without stopping to take leave of the ladies. “Mercy!” exclaimed Ellen. “Has everybody gone mad?” “I guess he’s hopping mad,” observed Tillie. “My! Listen to the door slam! He’s madder’n a wet hen.” Amy looked significantly at Tillie and remarked: “You haven’t done the upstairs work.”

(TO BE CONTINUED.)