Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-07
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Other Man.

denly a numbness crept over him. He
fought against it. but was soon help
less. and it was half an hour before it
passed off.
Then he stood up and walked about
to find himself ''the other man." In
other words, his identity was gone
He could not remember his name. his
town or anything connected with his
past. He could not tell what city he
was in. 1t has been assorted by med
zeal men that had he made his cOndi-
ton known and had prompt treatment
he would have been himself again aft
er n couple of days. but he became ter
ribly frightened over the situation and
started off on Il run. BY and by he
found himself in the country. He did
not stop at any house or question any
wayfarer, but toward night he fell in
with a quartet of tramps. The fell
lows must have observed his mental
condition, for they led him into field
and assaulted and robbed him. They
even stripped him of his clothes and
threw him the rags of one to cover his
walked on to the first house and start
ed TO tell his strange story. 1t was
not to be expected that any one would
credit it. In fact, it was calculated to
arouse suspicion. He was detained at
the house, and constable was sent
for, and later on he found himself in
Jail as vaGabond and one who was
up to some game. When arTaigned be-
fore Il justice of the peace. he told his
story and was given Il sentence of
three months in the county Jail.
1t was three weeks after DawsOn's
disappearance that his employers be-
gan ito search for him. He was easily
traced to Chicago, and his name was
found on u hotel register. and his trunk
was there, but the police could find no
further trace. After several weeks it
was returned as case of murder and
robbery or an accidental death by fall
ing off a wharf. The case was referred
to in so many newspapers and an ad-
vertisement was kept running so long
that if Dawson was alive it seemed
that he must have been found. Soon
after he found himself in Jail he sought
to interest the jailer in his case. The
man had never heard of such thing,
and he simply laughed ut the idea.
Finally he was discharged.
Dawson took to the road as Il tramp
because he had no other recourse. He
worked and begged and Travelled, and
six months went 10y. BY that time he
was in Iowa. and his mind was almost
made up that he had been n tramp for
years and years. He could recall how
the strange feeling came over him as
he sat in public park. and yet he was
half convinced that it was all Il dream.
One day. as he was plodding along the
highway. lie was overtaken by coun-
try doctor driving a gig. The doctor
was n good hearted man named An
drews and always had Il dime for a
hardup man. 1t so happened that he
wanted a man to assist him in tearing
down an old barn, and he offered the
work to Dawson. 1t was accepted,
and the other man" had been hard at
work for three days when something
happened. The doctor overheard him
quoting Shakespeare to himself and at
once became interested. 1t did not
take him long TO find out that he had
an educated tramp in his employ, and,
encouraged by his kind words, Dawson
told him his strange story. The doc
tor had read it in the papers, and ne
knew that such things had been and
could be. One. of the remarkable fea-
lures in Dawson'S case was that his
mind had only been dulled to certain
things. His memory was gone as to
his identity and how he had lived his
years, but he could read, write, cast up
figures and was otherwise in touch
with the world. There was nothing
new to astonish him. Again. he had
suffered no sickness and had no mental
worry, and nothing had come as a
shock He was never in better health
or spirits than when the feeling began
to creep over him.
Andrews was of course, interested in
the case from 4 medical point of view.
lie hunted up back numbers of the
and proved the mans iden-
tity. Dawson's home, education and
visit to Chicago were all given, and he
received the information with much
He could not remember to
have ever heard of the name of the
town where he had lived for years, Of
the people he had worked for or of
any journey to Chicago. In this situa-
be best to stay with DR.. Andrews for
awhile and hope that his memory
would return. Six weeks had passed
when he was sent to the village in the
gig to make some purchases. Upon
his return the doctor met him Mt the
gate. and Dawson accosted him with:
my dear sir, find myself in an en-
barrassing position. Will you kindly
tell me If the owner of this rig lives
Yves: it is mine" answered the doc
tor, seeing at glance that memory
had returned to his patient.
"And how did l come by it
q loaned it tC YOU"
"But II don't understand. When
did leave Chicago: How do I hap
pen to have these clothes on? Why
did borrow your horse and gig"
NTamOrv had returned TO the man as