Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-03-20

- NAAAa kAaAfA NA-s+A-NNH-
months replied the boy, land never
aw you or heard of you ir nv lite. You
ave got into the wrong shop. but YOU
Won't get out until a policeman comes"
so saving he retreated through the door
way, and the key being on the outside.
rs is the custom in city offices. he locked
he door and started for a guardian of
the peace.
Mr.. Farney gasped. what in the
world has happened to me3" he NUT .
tered. I'm not asleep. this is the office
I've worked in for ten wears. Those are
he identical papers left on my desk last
evening when went home. There hangs
my new coat as put it on the nail not
an hour ago. can't understand it at
all He took out his purse and counted
his money; it was just the amount he
had supposed. He looked at the alma
nae on he wall. it bore the correct date;
in fact everything seemed all right.
We'll, if this isn't extraordinary. I'm a
lunatic! First the janitor. then the
postman, and lastly the office boy. Each
one claims to have been here for months,
and vet how is that possible when have
been here years myself?' Troubled with
these thoughts Mr.. Fdrnry walked
around the office until he arrived before
a looking glass. He examined his APP
pearance carefully and it seemed to him
that his hair was rather thinner than he
had supposed, and also he seemed stout
er; but he dismissed these ideas as being
a freak of an excited Imagination. He
was much too worried to work so he
paced the floor in 4 fever of excitement.
Even the arrival of the boy with police
man he would have welcomed as a relief
to this dreadful feeling of bewildermcnt.
At length the key turned in the lock, and
the door opening there entered the part
ncrs of the firm, Mcssrs Oolong &, Pekoe,
accompanied by a third gentleman who
regarded Mr.. Farney i'll Curiously scru.
timing manner.
Good morning, said Mr.. Pekoe, "how
do You do Farney?"
In the name OF heaven" burst out the
poor man, tell me what has happened
| acknowledge sleeping tor half an hour
but since then everything seems strange
You yourself, sir, and Mr.. Oolong look
older than you lid yesterday, the post
man does not know me and the offic,
boy taking me for tibet has gone for q
policeman, and | seem to have changed
myself; am | mad, or bewitched, OF
! how"
Your half hours sleep" replied Mr.
Oolong, LASTED three years and half
in fact your hard work brought on brair
fever, and you have been out of your
head since, but now am glad to say you
seem quite restored. Ny friend here DR.
Causton, will explain the rest of the mat
ter to you"
This is the office" shouted a shril
voice outside. and the door was hunl
violently open, admitting the boy and {
policeman. Il found him here. sir" be
gan the youth to Mr.. Pekoe, and
went -
"Well go again" interrupted his EN-
ployer, "and stay away half an hour L
is all right, officer. thank YOU. we shall
not require you at present. Now, doctor
if you please, relieve Mr.. Farney's anx
ietv."
well, you see" said the doctor" II an
a specialist on nervous diseases, and hav
had some remarkable cases in the cours
of my experience, but must confess yo,
puzzled me until a few days ago. 1t thel
occurred to me that | might put int,
practice an idea generally ridiculed in tn
medical profession, but never tested $
far as could learn. That experiment
rejoice to say is apparently a compet
success. The idea was this: The patien
should be placed in precisely the sam
circumstances and surroundings that h
occupied at the time OF his derangcmen
the greatest care being taken as to d,
tail. To this state of things he shoul
awaken naturally, and it was hoped tina
the force of association would have II
desired effect. Consequently the otflt
was arranged last evening by Mr.. PekC
every particular corresponding to its az
pearance three and half years ago.
mild opiate was administered to you an
early this morning you were convene
hither in private carriage. The schen1
!, worked to perfection, you are stron
sane man, and | am more than ever
professional success. We misjudged I'll
strength of the opiatc, however, and S
the postman and the others whom W
had not considered arrived before us an
, thus caused you so much bewildermer
and trouble"
Mr.. Farney sat as il petrifed, his ey,
closed. and his face white as death F
= nally he staggered to his feet and in pair
full accents said hoarsely and brokenl,
For the love of God, 49, tell me, - IN
: wife and children, -- where
"You will find them at your home" sal
,, Mr.. Oolong very gently, my partn,
here has looked after them. The doctc
:, will go ahead with the good news ar
= you can follow in an hour or so; no
come into my private room"
When Mr.. Farney rcappeared in IL
outer office he beckoned to the ros
: checked boy. who by this time had r
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