Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-06-03
the demonstration reached IT. eli

| whose staring eyes showed no CLEAN
OF sanity. His head was in bandapes
| and he muttcred incohercnt phrases
| as he tossed in a fever OF dclirium.
Among those who greeted the re-
turned castaways at New Orleans
was Robert Van Horne, editor of
the Record, who arrived in New York
in time to take the special train
south. Mr.. Van Horne did not re-
turn to New York with the happy
throng. He brought with him three
or the most famous specialists In
the country, and soon stood at the
bedside of Walter B. Hestor. Mr..
Van Horne alone knew the recent
history of the man who now lowered
between life and death. He gave the
physicians the essential facts in the
case.
A year or more before Hestor had
been injured in China. While con
Quoting an expedition into the inte-
rior OF that country his party had
been ambuscadcd, and in the melee
which followed Hestor was knocked
| senselcss by a blow on the forehead.
delivered with great force by some
blunt instrument. The attacking
Iartars were driven off. The i'm
| mediate effects of the blow were
slight, but several months later Hes
tor had severe attack of acute
traumatic meningitis, from which he
] apparently fully recovered after n
long illness. Later he complained to
Mr.. Van Horne that his head troubled
/ him. He explained some strange
symptoms and was much worried.
Acting on Mr.. Van Horne's advice.
| iestor consulted a specialist in brain
diseases. lie was informed that in
all probability a eliot of blood from n
ruptured blood vessel had formed and
/ was pressing against the brain tissue.
| hestor agreed to submit to an oper-
| alton, but postponed it and went on
another cruise. He suffered no fur
Their attack, and the incident was
forgotten by Mr.. Van Horne. 1t was
wildly recalled when Chalmers wired
his suspicious
An examination at the hospital. dis
closed the fact that the Seymour bull
let had plowed IT'S course past the
, point where Hestor had sustained
Without going into details of SIN
gerry, 1t is sufficient to say that the
gun shot wound exposed and par
TALLY relieved the blood cIot; the
existence of which had been srs-
pected. IL was successfully removed
For month HcStor lowered on the
border line, and then slowly moved
away from the danger point Sidney
Hammond and Mr.. Van Horne alter
mated in remaining in New Orleans
until he was on the road to recovery.
Hcstor had no recollection of events
subsequent to the Chinese expedition.
In his deiirium he imagined himself
at the head of his men in that far
away Celestial empire. When he
awoke from this fantasy. clothed in
his right mind. he recognized Sidney
Hammond and greeted him with a
pleased but mystiticd smile
How came you here, dear old fe,-
low?' he asked as he reached out
wasted hand. What are YOU doing
in China? What is the matter with
me? All. | remember now! That
pig-tnilcd beggar hit me on the head.
But where did you come from. Sid
ncy?"
Sidney made n non-committal an
swcr and warned Icstor that he
must not talk or disturb himself i'm
any way until he regaincd his
strength. During the period of CON
valescence Hcstor's curiosity was ton
great to be denied and Sidney evolved
wonderful fabrication. which gave
rational cNplana ton of how Hestor
happened to be in New Orleans.
rather than in some city of the
fiowery kingdom. 1t was apparent
Hestor did not believe or understand
this statement; but like all invalids
he was compelled to accept with the
best possible grace what was offered
him.
The physicians in charge of the
case prepared statement i'm which
II was set forth that Mr.. Hcstor had
been suffering from cIearly-dc-
hned attack of amnesia, preceded by
period of mild dementia. 1t pos
sessed many remarkable features
but was by no means unprecedented.
DO you believe his recovery per-
manent one, doctor?" asked Sidney
dnNiously.
"Quien sabe?' replied DR.. Brown
There is no reason why it should
not be permanent one The cause
is removed. and Hcstor is now appar-
emily in full possession of his fac
u'ties. He is strong, healthy man.
and there is no faint OF insanity in
his family. The truth must be kept
from him until he has entirely re-
gained his physical strength. lie
should take a long ocean cruise. in
company with some one in whom he
has complete confidence. That means
you"
When these facts were explained
TO Mr.. Morton and his associates.
they were unanimous in decision
TO take no legal steps against Mr.
Hestor, or against Capt. Waters