Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-10-10


:an imagine the joy of the greeting
between the lost ones and those they
loved. Great crowds surrounded the
hotel. and would not be satisfied I'M
til the principals appeared on the
the balcony. The mayor made a
speech and introduced each man In
turn. Sidney Hammond received an
ovation rs he stepped forward; one
sleeve of his coat hung vacant ut
his side. Nor was the greeting to
Bernard Seymour less cordial. There
were repeated calls for Miss Car
mody, and when that young lady
appeared on the arm of her father,
the demonstration reached its cli-
max.
In remote part of the city, white
ROBBED nurses lowered over a man
whose staring eyes showed no CLEAN
of sanity. His head was in bandages
and he muttered incohercnt phrases
as he tossed in fever OF delirium.
Among those who greeted the re-
turned castaways Mt 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
of 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
which followed Hestor was knocked
senseless by blow on the forehead,
delivered with great force by some
blunt instrument. The attacking
Tartars We're driven off. The i'm
mediate effects of the blow were
slight, but several months later Hes
tor had n severe attack Of acute
traumatic meningitis, from which he
apparently, fully recovered after a
long illness. Later he complained to
Mr.. Van Horne that his head troubled
him. lie explained some strange
symptoms and was much worried.
Acting on Mr.. Nnn Horne's advice.
Hestor consulted a specialist in brain
diseases. He was Informed that in
all probability clot 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 SUI
gerry, it is sufficient to say that the
gun shot wound exposed and par
TALLY relieved the blood clot; the
existence of which had been sus-
pected. 1t was successfully removed
For a month Hestor 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 delirium he imagined himself
at the head of his men in that far
away Celestial empire. When he
awokc from this fantasy, clothed il
his right mind, he recognized Sidney
Hammond and greeted him with
pleased but mystified smile.
How came you here, dear old fell
lowe" he asked as he reached out
wasted hand. what are you doing
in China? What is the matter with
Il
me? All. l remember now! Thai
pig-tailed beggar hit me on the head
But where did you come from, Sid
ney?"
Sidney made non-committal an
swer and warned Hcstor that h'
must not talk or disturb himself il
any way until he regained hi'
strength. During the period OF con
valescence Hestor's curiosity was too
great to be denied, and Sidney evolved
wonderful fabrication. which gave
,, rational explanation of how Hestol
happened to be in New Orleans
rather than in some city of thu
fiowery kingdom. 1t was apparen
Hestor did not believe or understand
this statement; but like all invalids