Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-03-09
"Wiu you really Let me help vouF"

"Wtu you really let me help Jour
These statements, together with q
technical ono from DIR. Hatherton, which
i 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,
befogging 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. 1t is sir1-
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
phrenologistj used to call it, That re-
manned absolutely or almost absolutely
dormant and inactive, SO 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 l re-
membered nothing that had happened
during 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.
The question as to what did with my
fortune was formerly the only one that
bothered me. Now l am confronted
with 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 ii
of great Importance that l 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 will
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 hG
says that he lost sight Of me only on the
two days on which l so mysteriously dis
posed of my money, but / am not dis
posed to believe him fully. When
asked him for his statement very in
cautiously specified the two days men
toned, telling him / was anxious u
know all did ON those days especially
believe that if had specified any othe
days he would have acknowledged the
he did not know what did on thos
days. In other words, do not believ,
that he watched me as closely as he de
clares he did.
What, then, may not have done un
consciously! What fatal web of circum
stantial evidence may not be wovel
around me? do NOT know, and l con
fess that l am very anxious about il
having, as | said, always looked upo
evidence of that kind with horror tina
now seems to have partaken of the ns
ture Of q premonition.
should explain right here that whe
discovered the loss of my fortune
took pains to obliterate my former sell
I had a repugnance that was perhaI
morbid to being the hero of a sensation
and therefore drew out of the bank a
that had left, which was small ba
ance of less than thousand dollars, an
leaving the Castle hotel l dropped IN
name taking that of John Saunders.
engaged modest lodgings and cast abor
for something to do. Without gres
difficulty secured a position as r.
porter and have continued in the bus
ness ever since.
This is all of my story. I have wri
ten it out very carefully in preferent
to seeking you for a personal interview
for am afraid to move in any directic
lest unwittingly Ishould strengthen tn
awful suspicion which rests upon m
It is nightmare. reasoning powe
seem to be paralyzed, and I am in able
terror. have sat in my room now Fl
two days, and | send this to you by ii
hand of faithful servant of the hou
whom can trust. If you care to tai
me as o client and advise me in the ma
ter, do SO. | Twill be entirely guided
your advice. Ii you do not, please 1
turn the papers.
It was very late when Mr.. Fairles
finished reading his clients story, al
laying it aside he lighted fresh Gig
and sat for some time gazing into Il
fire and stuGying the case.
Presently there came the sound
voices and footsteps in the hall, and
knew that his daughter Julia had !
turned from the opera. In another m
ment she entered the room, and the 10
ing glance her father gave her was fl
Of pride and admiration.
The girl justified it. She was abo
twenty-one, and certain womanly d
nifty added distinct charm to her ma
enly beauty. The most striking char;
teristic Of her appearance, however, W
intellectually. Her forehead was d
figured with frizzes, after the fashion
the day, but her eyes and the gene
cast Of her countenance showed the bi
liant, refined, scholarly nature of
fin de steele young woman.
"Jnlia," said Mr.. Fairlegh after sol
commonplace talk, i'you have oft
asked me to let you help me in the &
duct Of some case in which you col
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