Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-10-28
y transferred to Kings College

At the hospital, despite the remedies
applied and the care bestowed upon
him, Billy showed no signs Of return
ing consciousness for upwards Of thir-
ty hours. Then, at length, science tri-
umphed over DEATH and he stared va
cantly around him. AS one result OF
the terrible shock, he had received the
parnlytlc distortion Of the lower jaw
and the ceasclcss blinking of the eyes
had almost disappeared. Electricity,
rs is we'll known, acts directly upon the
nervous system; and tho accident had
wrought n marked improvement In his
appearance.
Come that's better. my man." re-
marked the house surgeon, with true
professional satisfaction that his eff
forts had not been wasted. 1--WE will
pull you through this time, never fear.
Tell me. What IL your name? Where
do you livc?'
II don't KNOW" was the fccbly-ut-
tered reply.
The doctor raised one of his patients
cyclids and looked puzzled. mo symp-
toms of brain-paralysis here" he NUT
tered. Merely temporary lapse of
memory, due to the shock, take 1t.
every we'll, my man. Drink up this
sleeping draught. and don't trouble to
think yet awhile"
Bill obeyed, and was soon buried In
profound slumbcr.
Hell be right enough by morning."
said the doctor to his assistant. do
not let him sleep later than 6 o'clock"
A house surgeons order Is a rigid
law in n hospital ward. At the hour
named Billy was aroused with some
difficulty.
"Wcl?" qucricd the assistant. lis
your brain clear now:"
"Yes," he replied. MY brain Is.
think, clear enough. but should like
to sleep n little longer"
You're not to-" was the curt rcjoin-
der. Can you guess where you arc?"
The patient glanced around him. I'm
sick ward. l suppose" he made an
Swcr.
"Quitc right" aSscntcd his interro-
gator apnr0vingly. "Now, l want to
know your name and where you live.
You met With an accident. tampcring
with Il current wire and We wish to
inform your friends OF your whcrca-
bouts
''My Nance" repeated the patient, In
evident surprise. "Why-ErncSt Nor
ton OF course. Mr.. friend. DIR. Somcr-
Vile might have told you that, since
stayed with him last night In Twick-
cnhan. Why did he send me here? l
suppose mus, have had Il lit Of some
sort. for | remember nothing after he
tried to hypnutizc me. Where Is he:'
The assistant stared ut him for few
moments in SpccchleSs Amusement.
Like other newspaper readers. he was
familiar with the facts OF the senSa-
tlonal Somcrville trial.
''Grcnt heavens, man" he exclaimed.
recovering his voice. DO you know
what you are Saying:
"Of course l do" was the reply. Il
ask YOU again, where Is DIR. Somer-
villc:"
"llc is lying at the present moment
in uorScmonger Lane Gnol. under SCH
,cncc OF death for the murder Of this
same Ernest Norton whom you assert
yourself to be-" cried the assistant. in
great agitation. Mad or sane, the po-
lice must ut once be made acquainted
With your astounding statement. But.
tell me: ii YOU are really Ernest Nor
ton. and not Il deluded lunatic. why
have you kept silent all these months:'
"MonthS:" re-echoed the sick man.
'Nou must be mad YOURSELF. -. But
what is this?. \ beard?. .....
Long. struggling hair! For PHYS sake,
bring me Il mirror!'
The mirror was brought and held be-
fore the sick mans face.
"HeavenS" he moaned. IAN really
mad? l'know l am Ernest Nor
ton. and yet am altered past recogni-
ton. $50. Surely, am either mad or
dreaming"
"Dreaming you certainly are not"
was the rrjoinder. and the responsible
| ity OF treating you as mad is too heavy
for my shoulders. But. great heaven.
now remember that the execution is
fixed to take place this morning! Here :
| Parker. Ashworth, Hold this patient
ant hurled away to telephone to Scot
land yard.
Weak as he was, the sick man was
quickly overpowered by the two stall
wart warlSmen. despite his desperate
efforts to rush off to the rescue OF his
friend. In vain he stormed and prayed.
urging that the appearance Of him. Err
nest Norton. in the flesh. at Horsemon-
ger Lane Gaol. would be the most GER
tain means Of arresting the execution.
Parker and Ashworrh We're obdurate.
| The assistant surgeon. they ayerred.
| knew what he was about. and their
knew what he was about. an dtheir
duty was TO obey his orders.
so you had best keep quiet" re
marked Parker. drily. If you don't
want TO be strapped down"
BY o'clock the hospital ward had
assumed the appearance Of police
court. \ very few inquiries had suf-
feed to satisfy the first hastily sum
moned inspector that there was at
least possibility the sick mans as
ser,ion might be true, and the splendid
ly-orSanizer machinery Of the depart
uent did the rest. Some delay arose
owing TO the difficulty OF procuring a
magistrate At SO early an hour: but
that. too had been overcome. and the
sick mans dispositions We're taken with
unprecedented dispatch.
Josiah Skinner. rs having been main
~ identified with the case. had been III
stantly summoned. and. upon learning
the nature OF the extraordinary bust
ness on hand. had sped OF to fetch the
only witness he knew OF who could
verify OF disprove the sick Ean's
claim to be Ernest Norton. Craver
street is not far from Kings ColleS'
hospital
..nrxSS as oui.JSlv 1S Won can - he