The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-04-27
JOHN SAUNDERS HIATUS
By DAVID A. CURTIS

tanned at table by the motherless girl,
who had found time to go into society
and study law at the same time that she
presided over her fathers household.
All through the dinner Mr.. Fairlegh
could see that his daughters keen scru-
tiny Of their guest continued, but sup.
posing that she was studying the client
rather than the man he was in nowise
surprised.
After the dessert he passed his guest q
cigar and said: my daughter is indul-
gent enough to sit with me while l
smoke, so she will certainly not object
to our enjoying cigars while we discuss
your case. More than that, she is now
silent partner in my law firm, and II
you like will join in our consultation"
Saunders looked astonishcd, but said
promptly: 81 can certainly be only
pleased to be advised by two good coun-
sellers instead Of one. Has Miss Fair
leigh, then, read my story?"
II have" she said as promptly, land,
what is more to the purpose, think
understand it better than you do. Let
me ask you question, though, before
say what think. Have you worn that
ring long, Mr.. Saundersg'
Mr.. Fairlegh stared, and Saunders
looked at his left hand in great astonish-
ment at the question. YES" he said,
81 have worn it since was a boy. It
has never been off my finger since my
mother gave it to me before she died.
In fact l could not get it off now, for, as
you see, it is considerably smaller than
my finger"
"Well, what on earth"-began Mr..
Fairlegh, but Julia stopped him.
''Never mind now, papa. You know
very well that did not ask such ques-
ton as that ont of idle curiosity. You
will see presently what meant"
Still more surpri~ed the two men
looked at her as she went on talking.
She was flushed with excitement, but
her perfect steadiness of tone showed
that she had arranged her thoughts in
order as methodically as her father could
have done.
"ln the first place" she said, "are you
positive that you never saw Mrs. Greg
ory oftener than You say in your story?'
~ am" replied Saunders, unless
saw her during the month Of which
remember nothing. That of course
cannot say"
Secondly" she continued, ''are you
convinced that during that month your
memory Of daily facts was suspended.
In other words, did you remember moth
ing whatever. or did you only forget that
part of your life which preceded the first
shockY'
"That is very puzzling to me-" said
Saunders. "It seemsimpossible that per-
son co1id go on from day to day remem-
bering nothing whatever, and of course
do not now remember whether had
any memory at that time. But from the
testimony Of those who were about me
during that month / am forced to be-
heve that had none, or rather that it
was almost il not entirely dormant"
sand thirdly" said the young lady,
whose excitement seemed to grow greater
and greater as she went on, 'sare you
convinced that you went to the bank on
Friday, October thirty, and again on
Monday, November two, and drew out
your hundred thousand dollars?"
Il am afraid there is no doubt that
did, said Saunders sadly. "The positive
testimony of Mr.. Fotherirgay and of
Mr.. Witherwax is not to be impugned
lightly. and when 1t is backed up by the
evidence of their books and of my own
signature cannot doubt that did"
"Are you positive that the signature
was your ownf"
"Icannot deny it," said Saunders hest
tatingly.
eff You had seen that signature under
other circumstances, say attached to
some paper concerning which you had
no information whatever, would you
have recognized it as your own?'
mo, don't think l would, though
the writing was certainly very similar
to mine"
"Those are the weak points in your
story" exclaimed Julia. Now let us
put them together and see what to think
Of them. In the first place, assuming
that your memory was paralyzed or
dormant during that month, and the
evidence seems clear on that point. how
could you have remembered who your
bankers were or that you had fortune
In their care? And. more than that, how
could You have remembered on Monday
that you had made an engagement on
the previous FridayY'
Saunders was electrified. How on
earth is 1t that never thought of thatY'
he almost shouted. what do you think.
then? That some one impersonated mey'
81 certainly do. And l think that
somebody ia the man Mrs. Gregory
knew. | think she mistook you for him.
And think that he is the man the DO
lice really suspect Of her murder, and
that they are making the same mistake
that she made"
''Can this be trueT exclaimed Saun-
ders breathlessly. turning to Mr.. Fair
leigh as he spoke.
at certainly seems possible" said Mr..
Fairlegh, speaking very coldly, "but,
after all, the explanation seems almost
rs improbable as the original story. To
suhstantiate it 1t would be necessary not
only to find your double, but to show
that he had very accurate knowledge
Of your affairs. Have you ever seen
anybody who could pass himself off for
you? And do you suppose he could
forge your name SUCCESSFULLY"
mo, can't say that ever saw any
body that looked particularly like me-"
admitted Saunders. considerably cast
down.
II am afraid your explanation viii re-
quire considerable bolsrering, my DEAR"
said the lawyer.
Don't you put any confidence, then,
L.. = Ia IL u