The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-02-17
AN IMAGINATIVE MAN.

WITH UHe Uduh uoIOS Pi'oi I" '
ly clearing.
Not for a moment did the idea of fel-
ony on his part enter the minds OF those
who knew him. The only hypothesis
was that a crime of violence had been
committed. The sum in his possession
fell little short of 100000.
The bank directors, like the police
themselves, were convinced that he had
been followed, robbed and his body prob
ABLY thrown into the Thames. From
certain clues it even appeared that the
plot had been long matured by a GER
tain gang of professionals.
Only one man in London shrugged his
shoulders on reading of these proceed
ings-namely, Pritchard himself.
At the point where the acutest OF the
Scotland Yard staff had lost all trace OF
him he had simply boarded bus In the
crowd, and within an hour stood before
an empty house in one of the less fire.
quented parts of Chelsea.
The preceding evening he had called
on the house agent for the key, so he
let himself in unobserved. In one of the
back rooms he found the artisans over
all trousers, the jacket. 'kerchief and
cap. placed there by him in readiness
the dav before. In the darkness of the
room he put these On. Then he calmly
left the house. He passed the night
peacefully abed in a worllingman's club.
In the morning he made the notes
into package, which he carefully sealed,
and with this he called on solicitor
''In this package" said he. 81 have
certain valuable papers which | must
leave in safekeeping. | am on the eve
of distant voyage, and am ignorant
of when I may return. I wish to de-
post them with you. There is no OBJ
stacle. 1 believe, to leaving them in your
hands?''
Not the least. I will give you re-
ceipt?"
"The fact is I am alone in the world,
without friends or relations. The jour
ney of which [ speak is certainly-haz-
ardous. My receipt would run a hun
bred risks of being lost or destroyed.
Could you not keep the receipt in your
safe, SO that on my return it would be
enough to give my name either to you
or to your successor 2"
''It is unusual"
"Write the conditions on the receipt.
After ALL the risk is mine"
Gas you will Kindly give me your
name"
Without hesitation he replied:
''Harvey-Andrew Harvey"
He had thought the thing out coolly.
MY Imprisonment over, 1 reclaim my
parcel Four or five years in goal and
| shall be rich. That, at least, is better
than to cast accounts all ones life. I'll
lake house in the country. Thence
forward my name will be Harvey. An
drew Harvey I will live as a country
gentleman, and, am confident, without
any pangs of conscience"
He waited another twenty-four hours
to make sure that the numbers of the
notes were unknown, treasured on which
point, he deliberately gave himself up.
On his examination, neither the police
superintendent nor the judge in court
could draw from him a word of the
100000 He confined himself to saying:
81 know nothing more about it. |
fell asleep on a bench in the park. l
was robbed in my turn
At last came the day of liberation.
They gave him his pay-some ten shil-
lings his ticket for London. He
was free.
How often he had dreamed of this
hour! On his arrival he would instantly
make for the solicitors. In his head he
saw the scene which would ensue.
He would be shown into the large,
solemn chamber.
.'Your wish, sir ?"
"I come to claim deposit 1 left in
your hands some five years since"
deposit? I'm what name, please?"
1.-THE name was"
He sat up with Jerk and muttered to
himself:
''This won't do. Not remember the
name 1 gave!"
He lay back in his corner, and, a feel
ing of weakness stealing over him, said
to himself:
Come, be calm! The name vast
vast commenced with-what letter p
For whole hour as the train dashed
along he ransacked his memory, trying
to find a clue, hint. Every second it
seemed on the point of forming in the
air before his eyes, on the tip of his
tongue At first he was only tantalized,
then irritated, distressed. His nerves
were racked; the pain was almost physi-
CAL Waves of heat flooded up from his
body to his head. His muscles con-
tracted; he could not sit still. His hands
trembed. He bit his dry lips. He felt
on the point of weeping. And the more
he churned his memory the more sure
ly the name escaped him.
The train arrived at Paddington. He
sprang to the platform and started to
walk.
81 have lost it, must think no more
about it. 1t will come of ITSELF
But it is impossible thus to Danish an
obsession.
Night fell: the pavements were de-
serted Worn out with fatigue, he went
to lodging house and threw himself,
clothed, ON his bed. He continued to
search his memory. At dawn, exhaust
ed, he fell asleep. When he awoke it
was broad daylight. He stretched him
self with lazy satisfaction, and sudden
ly the obsession resumed it's sway over
him.
The name What was it? What was
it?
A new sentiment broke in upon him
fear. Fear lest the name had escaped
him-for ever. He rose, went out
walked for hours, prowling in the neigh
borhood of the solicitors. For the second
time night fell. He twisted his fingers
into his hair, grooming:
''1his will drive me madl"
He saw it all so plainly He had G10,-
900 i banknotes- 100000, dishonesty
come by, it is true, but his own-yet
quite beyond his reach! For these he
had served FIVE years, and the reward