The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-04-20

"Wtu Don really let me hetp your
These statements, together with a
technical one from DIR. Hatherton, which
! need not inclose, contain all the
knowledge that | have of what | did
during that month which was totally
lost out Of my life. The doctor ex-
plains in scientific terms that which he
does not himself pretend to understand,
befoggiug himself and trying to befog
me after the manner OF medical men.
| All he can tell, and that he declares
positively, is exactly what is indicated
by all the other witnesses who have
written out their statements. IL is SIM
ply that the blow on my head when
fell from my horse stunned me and left
me in condition in which all my fac
mites were unimpaired save that of
memory, or rather casualty, as the
phrsnologists used to call it. That re-
manned absolutely or almost absolutely
dormant and inactive. SD that | had no
memory of anything whatever until
| was struck again by the swinging door
almost precisely on the same spot. did
| not seem to remember anything that
had happened before that month, and
after ! received the second blow re-
membered nothing that had happened
| dnring that month. In other words,
ceased to be man on October nineteen
and became an automaton. On Novem-
| Der twenty-one became human being
again. with no memory of having been
an automaton.
| Tim 70 xr.i,ot 4 AL
fortune was formerly the only one that
bothered me. Now | am confronted
with a far more serious problem. What
under heaven may have done in the
course Of that month that made Mrs.
Gregory speak to me in the extraordinary
way that she did was never able to i'm.
agine. Neither had ever considered it
Of great importance that should know,
But in the light of what the inspector
said to me it seems to me most extreme
ly important. Evidently he knows some
thing of my past which do not know.
must have been thrown in contact with
this lady in some way. entirely incom-
prehensible to me, during that month.
The statement of the hotel detective
would seem TO dispose of this, since he
says that he lost sight Of me only on the
two days on which SO mysteriously dis.
posed of my money, but am not dis
posed to believe HIN fully. When I
asked him for his statement very in.
cautiously specified the two days men.
toned. telling him | was anxious 10
know all did on those days especially.
believe that If had specified any other
days he would have acknowledged that
he did not know what | did on those
days. In other words, do not believe
that he watched me as closely as he de-
clares he did.
What, then, may | not have done I'M
consciously? What fatal web of circum-
stantial evidence may not be woven
around me? do not know, and con-
fess that ! am very anxious about it,
having, as ! said, always looked upon
evidence of that kind with horror that
now seems to have partaken of the ma
ture Of premonition.
should explain right here that when
1 discovered the loss of my fortune !
took pains to obliterate my former self.
had a repugnance that was perhaps
morbid to being the hero Of a sensation,
and therefore drew out of the bank all
that had left, which was small bal
ance of less than thousand dollars, and
leaving the Castle hotel dropped my
name. taking that of John Saunders. |
engaged modest lodgings and cast about
for something TO do. Without great
difficulty secured position as re-
porter and have continued in the bust
ness ever since.
This is all Of my story. have writ
ten 1t out very carefully in preference
to seeking you for personal interview,
for | am afraid to move in any direction
lest unwittingly should strengthen this
awful suspicion which rests upon me.
1t is u nightmare. My reasoning powers
seem to be paralyzed. and am in abject
terror. have sat in my room now for
two days. and send this to you by the
hand of a faithful servant of the house
whom can trust. II you care to take
me as q client and advise me in the mat
ter, do so. will be entirely guided by
your advice. II you do not, please re-
turn the papers.
1t was very late when Mr.. Fairlegh
finished reading his clients story. and
laying it aside he lighted fresh cigar
and sat for some time gazing into the
fire and studying the case.
Presently there came the sound of
voices and footsteps in the hall, and he
knew that his daughter Julia had re-
turned from the opera. In another mo
ment she entered the room, and the low
ing glance her father gave her was full
of pride and admiration.
The girl justified it. She was about
twenty -one, and certain womanly dig
nifty added distinct charm TO her maid
emily beauty. The most striking charac-
teristic Of her appearance, however, was
intellectually. Her forehead was dis.
figured with frizzes. after the fashion OF
the day. but her eyes and the general
cast of her countenance showed the bril-
liant, refined. scholarly nature Of The
fin de steele young woman.
Julia" said Mr.. Fairlegh after some
commonplace talk, ''you have otter
, asked me to let you help me in the con
duct OF some case In which You coulS