Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-12-27

weren't we the Courtneys OF Courtney,
Castle, and weren't we going back to
live in the state, as the Royal blood
SHOULD? And then he took to the whisky
and called 1t Moselle, and I was glad
enough to get him to bed. It's break
ing my heart he is, and he that clever
and bright when the evil spirit isn't on
him."
I tried to comfort her as we'll as
could, and this comforting led to some
tender passages. and I walked home
dreaming dreams that were so pleas
ant that had forgotten all about Ma
guire and his curious pranks until I
met Graves at the gate.
May speak to you, sir, for few
minutes?" said he.
Yes, Graves. What's the matter?"
It's about Mr.. Mcguire, SIR" he said.
"a letter game for him this afternoon.
1 could see from the envelope that.it
was from the publisher. Mr.. Mcguire
he's told the missis and me about his
writing, and so took it to him at
once. Here's a letter for you, SIR I
says. For me?' says he, then shall
find out my name at last. Mcguire,
says he, reading the address, James
M. Mcguire, Esq, the Dell, Enfield.
Here, my good man, this isn't for me-
and then he asked me to tell him ex-
actly how he'd come here. Did he
walk. or did they bring him in a car
riage? he wanted to know. looked at
him close then, sir; and do you know"
and here his voice dropped to whis-
per, II believe-I believe"
I knew what he was going to say. I
felt a shudder run through me, and I
stood there shivering, in the warm, soft
air.
II believe he's mad, sir; I've been
with patients before!'
The matter was clear to me now as
the daylight. The terrible trouble
through which he had passed had been
too much for my friends reason, and
now his mental balance was upset.
He was, in fact, a lunatic, victim of
the accused society, or whatever it
might be-in even worse plight than
the man I had seen lying stark in our
house in London, victim in more des-
perate case than my friend Travers.
No actor, were he ever so cunning, could
convulsed him on the previous day.
possible consequences to his friend in
such terms as he did had he not had
keen appreciation of that friends dan
ger.
What further blight was this dia-
bolical conspiracy to bring upon my
life? Would it separate me from Nora?
Should I lose her?
1t was at dinner time that Mcguire
was generally most brilliant, and told
Graves to see that nothing was want
ing in the way Of dishes or table dec
orations to make the meal as enticing
as possible. If my friends mind were
unhinged, it might only be tenn
porary matter, and the impression pro-
duced by familiar objects might at
last Danish his weakness, and in that
case I should need all the help could
get from the pleasantest possible sur
roundings to assist me in combating
the shock and consequent depression
that must ensue.
Put when dinner came on there was
no change in his symptoms and long
before the meal was over it was borne
in upon me with irresistible force that
he was, indeed, mad, and, as far as his
identity was concerned, James Muir
tagh Mcguire might as well have been
in his grave. He was most cheerful
and amusing, but his jests cut me to
the heart.
II must have a name of some sort"
he said, land you will have to adver-
tise me in the papers. Something like
this will do: Come astray, middle
aged gentleman, answering to no name.
ditrht Cfri1
some, with a wart in the middle of his
back, and a hunger and thirst that
meat and drink can hardly satisfy. If
not claimed in so many days, will be
sold to defray expenses That would
make startling advertisement and
you might show me, at so much per
head, and by that means I might pay
for lodgings"
''Well," said. I, by way of humoring
him, 'as neither of us know your name,
and as we can't go on calling you Mr..
Nobody, how do you like the sound Of
Mcguire? Suppose we say that you are
Mr.. James Mcguire until you get over
your extraordinary lapse of memory?
There's box of yours Up stairs. We
might go through it together to-mor-
row, and perhaps we could come across
something that would establish your
identity. I ought to tell you that I
have noticed the initials, j. M. NJ. on
your collars and some handkerchiefs
up stairs. Well, now, for the present,
shall your name be Maguire?"
Anything you like said he. "And'
now, sir, have serious question to
ask. Hoy did I come here?"
For the life of me, I can't tell you,"
I said; and then, inventing a story on
the spur, of the moment. went on:
Eve have been expecting friend of
mine for some days. He is most err
ratio fellow. however, and comes and
goes when he pleases; and so, sup
pose found the room occupied, and con-
cluded you were he. How you got in
is complete mystery to me, and it is
plain that something must have hap
pened to upset your mental balance
temporarily; and the best way for you
to come to yourself is to worry no more
about the matter. You can take UP
your quarters here until things get
straight, and If you feel inclined to be
grateful, please signify the same by
making yourself at home"