Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-27

thoughts, dressed and went down into the
Office. I aeked the clerk IL he had seen me
enter, but he had not. had evidently got
early to my room. There was some oonsoia-
ton In that.
ssOh, how wretched I was. Ny head
aehed, my heart ached. I would drink no
more; never. The night finally passed. AZ
ter breakfast, with saddened countenance, /
hastened to the real estate Office OF -
whom you know. remembered he had giy-
On me an option on some acre property In
the city, and that option expired the day be-
the chief object of my coming to Chicago, I
was exceedingly mortified that should have
let the day 60 by. It was valuable tract
and worth every cent was asked for It.
"Now note what follows. Incredible a 1t
may seem, I swear that I shall relate 1t 90 1t
occurred, and that every word of 1t is true.
Entering the brokers' Office. after tho
greetings of the day, said somewhat timid-
y: 'Mr. -, If you have not changed your
mind about that tract, am prepared to buy
it this morning.
"The broker stared at me in astonishment
for moment and then said, laughingly:
"tOh, see; you will have your joke
"'Jokel' replied. Why, I was never
more serious in my life. tell you wish to
buy that tract of land
"'The land is sold-sold yesterday said
the broker, with smile. .-.. .5,ss
"tThat is too bad, exclaimed, bitterly.
Who bought it, I have set my heart on
getting 1t. Now don't you think you might
induce him to part with it.'
"T doubt 1t exceedingly. In fact he told
me that no bought to hold for q couple OF
years, believing it would double in value.
az am greatly disappointed-more 80 than
can express in mere Words I said. But
will you tell me the name of the purchasers
He may be prevailed upon to part with It,
"'Are you really in earnestf' asked the
broker, who seemed to be completely mysti-
fed. DO you mean to say that you have no
recollection Of entering my Office yesterday
afternoon and buying that tractF
"'I entered your officel I bought the
landl It's impossible'
Not only not impossible, but a veritable
fact. suppose you know your signatureP
$50 speaking, he opened his safe and took
out document. 1t was the contract for the
property in question, and to it was appended
my check for five Thousand dollars. had
actually filed out the check myself. Ny
handwriting was as free from shakiness %
though I had never taken o drink in my life.
It passed belief that could have entered the
Office and bought ninety Thousand dollars
worth Of land, and that when I was abso-
luteiy out Of my reason. could not poasi-
bly, recall anything connected with 1t. !
again grew alarmed. # I could uncon-
scious1y make such good Investment !
might have done* something foolish on q
larger scale.
81 inquired the time when I entered his
Office and when I left there. His answer
showed that I had gone there direct after
leaving my friend. But what did do af-
terwardi would find out at any cost.
"I asked him if he did not perceive by my
hat nd ho 1onnhad
"'You were as sober then as you are now.
You don't get drunk he added. Now I
como to think Of 1t, you did speak sone-
what slowly, but that ascribed to the Inn
portance of the Transaction
'''Do you tell me that my manner was in
no sense stranger Did not reel or staggerT
assure you saw nothing strange 1
would have sworn you were perfectly sober,
and it demands your most positive assurance
to the contrary to make me believe it, said
he, Il most assuredly would have postponed
the transaction had I thought you were
drunk
''Leaving him, went back to the hotel
and found the clerk who was on duty when
entered the hotel. He knew the precise
| time entered, and it was clear that had
| gone from the broker direct there. He waf
| incredulous when told him had no rscol.
| lection of seeing him, or in fact of entering
him several questions in the most coherent
| manuer, and that when asked for my room
key told him l was going to my room t.
| take q nap, and that if any one called to tel
him that would see him.
| 81 was once upon jury at the trial of I
man for an atr0cious murder. On the gal
| lows he protested that, while he must believe
| he committed the crime, since the witnesses
| confirmed it, yet, in the face OF death and tn
the consciousness that in a few moments he
must be in the presence of his maker, he
| protested he knew nothing whatever of the
occurrence. The murdered man was his
friend, and instead of doing him an injury
he would have done him any favor he conlc
| ask. The criminal had not sought executive
| clamancy; he refused to have his case ap
| pealed. He told his lawyers fatty that hav
| ing killed his friend he would pay the pen
atty; that it was just and right. As say
| he died protesting that he knew nothing ol
| the crime. I sneered at his statement.
| could not believe 1t possible, and congratu
lated myself that had been q member ol
the jury whose verdict had rid the world oi
q monster.
| "It is different now. In my own expert
ence have walked about, have purchased g
valuable tract of land, found my way to my
hotel, undressed and retired, and all of thiI
| when was in such condition of mind thai
no impression is left OF the occurrences.
have the most positive proof of the facts.
could not doubt them. The experience is {
strange one, and do not blame any one fo
not believing 1t. know that until 1t CAM
to me no one conld have persuaded me Of itf
possibility. Some German philosopher
| speak of an alter ego-the other self. Twen
ty centuries ago people held to a demoniaca
possession of men. I don't know how t.
explain the phenomenon. It ia q ghastly
hideous fact, and one that terrorizes mi
when I think of 1t. might have been rur
over, knocked down, robbed, or I might hav'
imbued my hand in the blood of fellow
man. And this is why refused to join in
drink. Never again will I tempt fate il
that way"