Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1920 — THE MAN WHO WASNT HIMSELF [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE MAN WHO WASNT HIMSELF

By ROBERT AMES BENNET

25Y W.&.CWAPMAJV.

SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I.— Alighting rrom a train at Denver a well-dressed traveler 1b 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 Clmton.” CHAPTER 11. —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 Kne 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 bemg satisfied that Amy Lowrie, Will’s sister, will convince "Clinton” he is really Lowrie, suffering from loss of memory. CHAPTER lll.—Amy declares at once he 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 telle the president of the bank he is sure “Clinton" is Will Lowrie and agrees to find •ut 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 arm. Bemm is somewhat disconcerted but unconvinced. That evening an answer to Doctor Kirkland’s telegram arrives, with the Information that the suof the sanitarium is away, land Is left thus. CHOKER Vll.—Bemm is very much in love with Amy Lowrie. Her brother baa discouraged the Intimacy, and Bemm thinks he can prove to Amy that her brother has made away with the bonda an<? is In danger of prosecution, from Bemm can save him. JBR Vlll.—That evening Amy visit* u*r "brother” In his room, in sisterly playfulness Insisting he brush her hair. She tells him part of Bemm’s conversation and he is 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 station. The doctor arranges for his release. CHAPTER 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. Sector Kirkland makes up, his mind to tve the young man remain in his sanitarium for observation and probable cura 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 of '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 Amy, ahd they drive home safely. At the house he endeavors to make Amy see, once for all, that he is really “Richard Clinton,” declaring his affection for her as a lover. The girl realizes that her fondness for him is more than sisterly, and almost convinced, leaves him and takes refuge with Tillie. % CHAPTER XIII.—In the morning Ellen and Bemm arrive with the announcement of “Clinton’s” escape, Bemm practically accusing Amy of complicity in the matter. Circumstances indicating that the fugitive is in the house, he proceeds to make a search, but is Interrupted by a message from police headquarters that Lowrie has been seen in Clty Hall park.

CHAPTER XIV. ’' Appearances Often Deceive. f When Clinton wakened 'from his heavy sleep he perceived Amy’s note on the floor. Going to the speaking tube he called for Tillie. There was no response. He started toward the rear Window, but on the way noticed his pajamas, and went back to dress. Again he started toward the rear window, and again changed his purpose. In the far corner, before the rosecovered summer-house, was a group of people. One of them was looking up at him. It was Amy, and she was gesturing to him. She did not wish him to be seen. The man was tuxnj Ing— — —w-to/ jK: ; 5 , For several moments he stood at the window, his forehead gathered in a troubled frown. Behind him sounded a shuffling footstep. He started nervously and spuhjabout Old Tillie stood In the the room, her finger on her lips. } “What! It’s you!” he exclaimed. 8“How the devil —” I !” she warned. “Miss Ellen’s She’d run and tell herpS'nrst thing. You just missed being dabbed by Mr. Bemm—only they phoned him to go out and get you at City Park.” “To go out for me? Who phoned?”

“The p’leece. They seen yob o’Ut at City Park and —” "Saw me?” “Yes; that’s what they phoned Miss Amy. If it hadn’t been for their making Mr. Bemm light out that way, he’d sure have got you. He’s a ‘tectlve,” “Detective? —that sissy? No.” “Fact. Y’ought’ve heard Miss Amy toast him over the coals. My, but wasn’t he mad! He’ll come back madder from that wild goose chase. That’s why I’ve come up to make your bed and clean up and tell you to get up into your old robbers’ cave iFhe comes back. I’ll let you know when. ’Stead of making the bed, guess I’ll take the bedding down to air.” As he turned beside the door of the bathroom passage he caught a side glimpse of some one moving on the far side of the room. He faced angrily toward the new Intruder —and saw his owm Image In the big cheval glass on the opposite wall. “Jove!” he muttered. “This won’t do. Must pull myself together.” He went across to the mirror and stared fixedly at his frowning image. "Buck up, you idiot!" he advised himself. “Let yourself be hypnotized by that rot about double personality, did you? .. . That’s it, grin! It’s time that you were grinning at your ut—” The word broke off in the midst. He glared into the mirror, the smile frozen on his lips. At the left side of the image of his face was the image of another face, smaller and less distinct —another image, yet his own face! His eyes dilated with terror. He stood glaring at the second image, petrified with horror, powerless to move. It was his own face. . . . There were differences —no mustache, the color almost white, the outline more thin; yet it was his face as It might be after an illness. It could not be a double reflection in the glass, for It lacked the mustache —also the expression was absolutely different. Unlike the Immobile terror of his first image, the ghostly second face was twitching with active fear. The mouth gaped open. “Insane!” he gasped. “I —am going:—insane!” He tottered to the rear window, opened the shade and sash with shaking, fumbling hands, and crouched against the sill in the midst of the instreaming light and air. Downstairs Amy and- Ellen were weeping in each other’s arms, reconciled companions in misery. The doorbell rang sharply. The weepers flew apart. “S-some one’s c-come!” sobbed Ellen. “My eh-eyes!” Amy, regardless of her tear-wet face, flew in through to the front hall. But already the door, unlocked by Bemm, was opening to admit Dr. Kirkland. Mrs. Kirkland came In after her husband as Amy rushed to meet them with well-feigned eagerness. “Doctor!” cried the girl. “You’ve come to tell us he has been found I” “Sorry, Sweetheart —not yet. But

he has been seen. We went out to City Park and —” “We traced him to an Inbound car,” broke In Mrs. Kirkland.“We thought — n * " —Thought Jie might have come home,” her husband completed the sentence. “You’re sure, he hasn’t, my dear?” breathlessly questioned the lady. “Will—home?*?- exclaimed Amy. “Why, Ellen and I have been right in by the telephone ever since Charlie

rushed out to go to City Park — No, no. not upstairs! She’s back here. —Come into the library. You both look hot. I’ll have Tillie bring lemonade.” r Amy, who was nearest the parlor, heard a step behind her and glanced over her hhoulder. "Oh!" she cried. "Why did you come down? — Goodness! you’re pale!— that look! — You’re 111 I" "Will!” screamed Ellen. Amy was recoiling, but the other girl advanced toward the dazed young man in the doorway, her arms imploringly outstretched. “Dearest! forgive me—please, please forgive me! I was cruel, but I did not realize — Forgive me and give me your ring again, dearest!” “My God!” groaned the young man. He put his hand to his. head. "Is it all coming back again? That halluclnav tion upstairs—now this!” “His —his voice too!” gasped Amy. “It is because he is—is insane?” “Nonsense!” boomed Dr. Kirkland. “He looks rational —only dazed. He has shaved.” “Ah! thpt is It!” agreed Mrs. Kirkland. “That accounts so “That and the terrible strain of the night—and this change of clothes which he managed to get hold of," confirmed her husband. “My dear boy, why do you look at us that way? Have no fear. I admit my mistake. You need not return to the sanitarium. Had 1 known how it would affect you—” The young man’s face relaxed a Une. “Not return, doctor? You really think It unnecessary?” “Quite! quite! Never fear. You shall stay quietly at home. If I have to mortgage my house to secure your ball.” 1 / “My ball?” ejaculated the young man. “Surely the bank has not charged me with —” “Huye you forgotten that already?” pitifully broke in Ellen. “Dearest, can it be you have forgotten me too?” “Forget you, darling?” he protested “Never!” Shaking off his enervating daze, he sprang to her with ardent eagerness and caught her to him In an impassioned embrace. "Ellen! darling Ellen!” he cried. “To have you again after all these months! You are no hallucination —you are real! I feel your arms about, my neck; your heart beats against mine!” “Will, Will! my WillI” she ecstatically babbled. “You, yourself—yourself! You’ve came back to me, your own real self I" “To be sure —to be sure,” affirmed her father. “This complete change of expression, manner, intonation —absolute proof of full restoration to his true personality.” “O-o-o-oh! Is that it?” sighed Amy, but she continued to gaze at her restored brother with brows peaked and a troubled look in her brown eyes. She burst into tears and ran to fling herself on the shoulder generously left free for her by Ellen. He met her with an affectionate kiss. “There! This is better, isn’t it?” he asked, squeezing her with the arm that was not about Ellen and patting her vigorously on the back. “Y-yes,” she penitently agreed. “Of course you and Ellen — I’d never have believed I could be such a s-self-Ish ptgl” (TO BE CONTINUED.)

The Image of Another Face