The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-25

haps there may be something in it. Then,
again, / have seen it stated somewhere
that sort of sympathetic current some
tiMes passes between the severed arm
and stump, so that when one is affected
the other is likewise affected. Indeed,
you may be correct in your theory: it
appears plausible enough; yet 1t seems
to me that If the arm, is moved and guild
ed simply by the power of habit, or by
some law Of association, or by both, it
would be an easy matter for you to re-
strain its movements at will; or have you
become so deficient in will power, because
of your affliction, that you are unable to
control its actions?"
"On guard 1 am master of it's action
he answered. 1T is only when l am TAX
en- unawares, or when my mind is deep
ly engaged, that it is able to perform it's
ldcvlish work. In fact it's movements are
so unexpected, and at times of charac-
ter so startling, that it has frequently
accomplished lis purpose before / have
had time to recover fully from the shock
AS illustration of this l might, besides
referring to the game of cards which
have already mentioned, relate the fol-
lowing incident: One afternoon / went
to the quartermaster's office in Berlin to
confer with Lieut.. Bloom of that depart
n.ent. The lieutenant was absent, but
vas expected to return at any moment.
Laying before me at a desk at which
sat waiting for the lieutenant was
checkbook and at its side an open official
document, signed by the quartermaster
general. Without moments warning,
and before l could make the least effort
t. Illustrate the act, the fingers of the
uncanny arm seized convenient pen,
| filed out a check and signed to it the
signature of the quartermaster general.
/ It seemed to me just then that L had
reached the climax of my distress. The
enormity of the offense, together with the
audacity of the act, paralyzed me, and
before l could recover sufficient presence
of mind TO destroy the fraudulent piece
of paper, the lieutenant entered and I
iorsmmed it hurriedly into my waistcoat
pocket.
Il was no longer in a humor for bust
ness. Pleading sudden illness eX-
cuse to retire, l quit the office in a
lwretched frame of mind AS j proceeded
along the street, intent on reaching my
/ hotel as soon as possible, ] saw a COM
rade who had served with me in Africa
and whom j had not seen for two years
enter a bank / followed him into the
building, hoping that pleasant chat with
the old campaigner would have a sooth-
Ling effect upon my nerves. He was
standing with his back to me conversing
with a gentleman. l paused near the
counter waiting till he was disengaged
Then, all of a sudden, the treacherous
fingers, taking advantage of the disturbed
condition of my mind, drew the forged
check from my waistcoat pocket and, be-
fore could prevent the deed, passed it
Through the window into the hands of the
paying teller, who, without once doubt
ling the genuneness of the signature, i'm
meGiately proceeded to cash 1t. Scarcely
had the Worthless check crossed the
counter when 1 was sorely tempted to cry
out: Stop! 1t is forgery? But in an
instant it flashed upon me that public ex-
posture and disgrace would surely follow
such act, and my lips remained scaled.
1 accepted the money with trembling fin
gers, and, forgetting all about my former
companion-in-a arms, fled like a pursued
thief from the building, never once let
ting up until / stood in the presence OF
General Won Steinruck, the person whose
name l had forged to the check. On my
knees and with eyes swimming in tears
confessed all. The kind-hearted Gener-
al, already acquainted with my peculiar
case, not only granted his pardon, but
also assured that the unfortunate af-
fair should never be divulged.
1.-The strain, however, was too much for
my nerves, and brain fever followed
When l recovered / was granted fur
Tough for six months, and this is why
am in Paris today. But he added, look
ing at his watch, eff We continue this
dreary conversation much longer yor
will suffer with indigestion. Come; it is
my hour for dining, and you must jor
me-"
Then, without waiting for reply, HI
, tc ok my ARM and led me into the cafe
where we dined together.
, We met the next time at the World:
! Columbian Fair. He was no longer tbs
, pale, dejected-looking man that he wa!
when / dned with him in Paris. He had
. recovered his former health and buoy
ancy of spirits, and seemed to be not g
, day older than he looked when l saw hin
first in Germany. But / was not sur
Iprsed at his altered condition, for ! saw
that an empty sleeve was dangling at his
right shoulder. Snyder's arm had disap
: peared, and that fact of itself, explained
: all.
He greeted me with a healthy laugh
and introduced his companion, a tai
military-looking young man like himself
! Placing his hand upon my shoulder, h
> said to his friend: This gentleman is al
old acquaintance of mine, whom l highly
, esteem; yet, incredible as it may seem, W,
have met but three times in life. It i:
an interesting story, and some day l vii
relate it to you over a glass of father
! land beer" Then, turning to me, h
! continued: Il am delighted to see YOU
once more. Not to have met you in YOU
; own country would have been great dis
appointment. You have improved il
health. Indeed, 1 am happy to say, tina
you are looking remarkably WELL
' Permit to return the compliment"
answered. You, too, have changed
5 greatly, and that for the better. Not ev
2 cry man. j can tell you, is blessed will
4 the privilege of having his. health restore'
I at will.''
''Eh. then you have observed that it i
t no longer there?'' he said, struggling hi
2 armless shoulder and laughing. Il fan
{ c:ed you had either forgotten about tn
arm, or lost all interest in it. Yes,
] screwed what little courage / had left t
K the sticking place and let the doctors To-
: it eff. The wretched health which accom-
panied the arm, oblgingly took its de
parture when the arm did, and today
an as sound a man as when you saw m
: first. You must come to my hotel and
n will tell you all about it. The finale wa
9 a fitting climax to the ygrewsome histor
n of Snyders diabolcal arm"
v On the following evening ] sat in tn
: lieutenant's room at the Palmer Hous
f impatiently waiting for him to begin hi
$ story. 1t seemed as If he would neve
!, finish talking about what he had seen i
: America, where to him everything wa
n wonderfully new and surprising. His las
remark about Snyder's arm had fired m