Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-11-07
THE MAN FROM
NOWHERE - -
BY M. QUAD.
Copyright, 1901, BY c. B. Lewis.

/ had arrived in Philadelphia from
small town in the state of New Hamp-
shire to see a man with whom / had
been ia correspondence about a bust
ness affair. As he was stopping at the
Bingham House l went directly there
from the depot, and as l expected TO
remain at least overnight l went to
the office TO register. / started to write
my name, but as the pen touched the
page my identity went from ne as
quick as the snap Of your finger. There
was no shock, no sudden giving away,
but could not for the life of me recall
my own name.
Anything wrong?" asked the clerk
as he looked at me with a smile.
only that | have forgotten my
name" replied. with a silly laugh.
We'll. most any name will do so that
you don't forget to pay your bill"
sat down in the office and tried to
recall my name. but to my horror
found that / had also forgotten the
name Of the town came from and the
name Of all my friends. | could not
tell who came to see or the name of
the city | was in. | suppose | must
have looked pale and scared, for the
clerk came out to me and said:
lit is one of the cases we read of
now and then. The sense of memory is
dead for the moment. I'll send you up
to a room 10 lie down for an hour. and
you'll probably come out all right.
Where did you come fromY
Il can't remember"
"You know you are in Philadelphia.
don't youf'
Ne"
You must have come here on some
sort Of business. Can't you recall what
ii was:"
4 cannot Philadelphia, Philadel-
pha, Is it n large or a small town.
and what state is it lng'
You 20 and lie down and fall asleep
II you can. The more you puzzle over
Il The worse you viii get mixed up"
| went TO a room and tumbled on to
the bed, but there was no such thing
as falling asleep. | was nervous and
frightened. and things became more
confused instead Of clearer. looked
for letters or cards. but found none.
had a satchel with me. but neither that
nor my linen was marked. Before
went back down stairs | realized that
! had been bl9tted off the face of the
earth. You may fail 10 appreciate the
situation. but | can assure you that Ii
was worse than II a doctor had told
me | was n luuatic. II was as If some
one had died and | had been suddenly
called on 20 take his place without
knowing anything about him. | hadn't
lost my reason, and ! could see. hear
taste. smell aud feel. | could also re-
member rs far back as walking into
the hotel BEYOND that all was dark
ness. When l went down 10 the clerk
he saw that | was stll troubled. He
must have been good natured man.
for he left his duties to say TO me:
"Stn cropping, Ell? Well don't get
Hurried Go out on the street and see
II the sight OF some particular object
won't bring il all back"
As a matter Of fact had been in
Philadelphia a dozen times, and there
was no sight | had not seen twice over.
but when ! stepped out on the street
things were as strange 10 me as II
had been SET down III Picking read
the signs on the street corners. on the
cars aud over the doors. but they re-
called nothing. wandered up to
Nanamakcr's. around the city hail and
over 10 the Chestnut street depot, but
j was rs II had never seen them be-
fore. \ sort OF panic seized me | be-
came afraid OF myself and broke into
a run and gave no heed 10 the pedes-
TRANS. As a consequence / was ar
rested - 4 patrolmau and taken to the
police station.
The charge against me was disorder
~ conduct and | was locked up for the
night. and it was owing To the police
surgeon that I was set nj liberty hy the
judge next morning The surgeon came
down TO the cells 10 see man who
was III. and l stated my case to him.
lie came back nj a later hour aud
talked with ME for a long time
fh.nk be was perfectly satisfied that
was off In some manner hut the case
was beyond him and not in his PROV
iuce. lie spoke to the judge I'm my
favor. however. and after warning I
was set at liberty. I had So I'll money
aud was free 10 go where | willed. but
where should ] gof one place was
tile same as another 10 me. as ] had
~ name and no business. | finally de-
cided TO 80 back 90 the clerk Of the
hotel and &c; his advice.
Don't Try To rush things" he said
in i kindly way. "Hang around tile
office for a day or two. and perhaps
you'll ste some face youll remember"
Tor three long days l scanned tile
face of every man who entered The
hotel. but ali We're strangers. Then the
clerk called in a reporter. who talked
Is NE for an hour. The result was