The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-27
The M MELESS MAN.

What name?. asked Mr.. Barnes.
None" was the reply
You mean" said the detective. that
the man did not give you his name He
must have one. of course. Show him in .
minute later the stranger entered,
and. bowling courteously began the con-
versation at once.
Mr.. Barnes. the famous detective, 1
believe said he.
my anne is Barnes" replied the de-
tective. May have the pleasure of
knowing yours?"
II sincerely hope So" continued the
stranger. THE fact is, 1 suppose have
forgotten it,
Forgotten your name?" Mr.. Barnes
scented an interesting case and became
doubly attentive.
Yes, said the visitor. THAT is pre-
cisely my singular predicament 1 seem
TO have lost my identity. That is the
object of my call. 1 wish you to dis
cover who / am. AS / am evidently a
full-grown man I can certainly claim
that 1 have a past history. but to me
that past is entirely a blank 1 awoke
this morning in this condition, yet APP
parently in possession of all my facul-
ties. SO much so that / at once saw the
advisability of consulting a first-class
detective. and. upon inquiry, l was di-
rected to you
Your case Is most interesting. from
my point of view. mean. To you, of
course, it must seem unfortunate Yet
u is not unparalleled, There have been
many such cases recorded, and for your
temporary relief 1 may say that sooner
or later complete restoration of memory
usually occurs But now let us try to
unravel your mystery as soon as posi-
BILE that you may suffer as little incon-
venience as there need be. 1 would like
TO ask you a -few questions"
AS many as you like, and 1 will do
my best to answer"
do you think that you are a New
Yorker"
Il have not the least idea whether
am or not"
You say you were advised to consult
Pme. BY whom
The clerk at the Waldorf Hotel, where
/ slept last night
Then. of course, he gave you my adj
dress. Did you find it necessary to ask
him how to find my offices?"
We'll. no. I did not. That seems
strange, does 1t not? I certainly had no
difficulty in coming here. / suppose that
must be significant fact, Mr.. Barnes?'
1T tends to show that you have been
familiar with New York, but we must
still find out whether you live here or
not. How did you register at the hotel?"
M. ]. G. Remington, city"
You are sure that Remington is mot
your name?"
Quite sure. After breakfast this
morning was passing through the lob
by when the clerk called me twice by
that name. Finally one of the hall boys
touched me on the shoulder and ex-
planned that j was wanted at the desk.
! was very much confused to find my
self called Mr.. Remington a name
which certainly is not my own. Before
1 fully realized my position I said to
tngton? and he replied: Because you
registered under that name / tried to
pass 1t off. but am sure that the clerk
looks upon me as suspicious charac-
ter
What baggage have you with you at
the hotel?"
None. Not even satchel."
May there not be something in your
pockets that would help us: letters, for
examole?"
II am sorry to say that 1 have made
search In that direction, but found
nothing Luckily did have a pocket
book, though"
Much money in it?"
In the neighborhood of $500"
Mr.. Barnes turned to his table and
made few notes on a pad Of paper.
While so engaged his visitor took out a
me gold watch, and, after a glance at
the face was about to- return it to his
pocket when Mr.. Barnes wheeled around
In his chair and said:
That is handsome watch you have
,ttrtr
rather interested in old watches"
The stranger seemed confused for an
instant and quickly put up his watch,
saving:
1t. Merely an old family relic value
IT more for that than anything else
But about my case. Mr.. Barnes, how
long do you think it will take to re-
store my identity to me? 1t is rather
awkward to go about under a false
name
Il should think So" said the detec-
tive Il will do my best for you, but
you have s.ven nue. absolutely no clew
to work upon, so that Il is impossible
70 say what my success will be. Still
think forty-eight hours should suffice.
AT least In that time / ought to make
some discoveries for you. Suppose you
call again on the day after tomorrow
at noon precisely. Will that suit your"
Very well indeed. If you can tell me
who am at that time I shall be more
tndli convinced tnat you are great
detective, as j have been told"
He arose and prepared to go, and
upon the instant Mr. Barnes touched n
button under his table with his foot
which caused a bell to ring in distant
part of the building, no sound of which
penetrated the private office. Thus any
one could visit Mr.. Barnes in his den
ard might leave unsuspicious of the
fact that spy would be awaiting him
out in the street who would shadow him
persistently day and night until recalled
by his chief After giving the signal
MIR. Barnes held his strange visitor in
conversation a few minutes longer to
allow his spy opportunity to get to his
post
How will you pass the time away,
Mr.. Remington" said he. I'VE may'as
we'll call you by that name until find
your true one"
Yes. I suppose so. AS to what shall
do during the next forty-eight hours,
why. think I may as well devote N.Y.
self to seeing the sights. 1t is remark
ably pleasant day for a stroll, and 1
think will visit your beautiful Central
Park"
"A capita. idea. BY ali means would
advise occupation of that kind. 1t would
be best not to do any business until
your memory is restored to you"