Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-31
A RAMBLE -A
- IN APHASIA
By O. HENRY
By O. H E n r Y

ly missing from his home since three
days ago, and all efforts to locate him
have been in vain. Mr. Bellford is a
we'll known citizen of the highest
standing and has enjoyed large and
lucrative law practice. He is married
and owns a fine home and the most
extensive private library in the state.
On the day Of his disappearance he
drew quite a large sum of money
from his bank. No one can be found
who saw him after he left the bank.
Mr.. Bedford was a man Of singularly
quiet and domestic tastes and seemed
TO find his happiness in his home and
profession. If any clew at all exists
to his strange disappearance 1t may
be found in the fact that for some
months he has been deeply absorbed
in an important law case in connec,
ton with the Q. Y. and Il. railroad
company 1t is feared that over
work may have affected his mind.
Every effort is being made to discover
the whereabouts of the missing man.
'It seems to me you are not alto
gether unCynical, Mr.. Bolder," [ said,
after I had read the dispatch. This
has the sound, to me, of genuine
case Why should this man, prosper
Gus, happily married and respected,
choose suddenly to abandon every
thing? I know that these lapses of
memory do occur and that men do
find themselves adrift without a
name, history, or home.
20, CANNON and jalap.' said Mr.
Bolder It's larks they're after.
There's too much education nova
days. Men know about aphasia and
they use it for an excuse. The wo-
men are wise. too. When It's an over
they look you in the eye, as scientific
as YOU please. and say: He hypno-
tiZed me-"
Thus Mr.. Bolder diverted, but did
not aid. me with his comments and
philosophy.
We arrived in New York about 10
at night. l rode in cab to hotel
and 1 wrote my name Edward PINK
hammer" in the register AS L dld
so felt pervade me a splendid, wild,
intoxicating buoyancy-a sense OF un,
possibilities. I was just born into the
world. The old fetters-whatever
they had been-were stricken from
my hands and feet. The future lay
before me a clear road such as an
infant enters. and l could set out
upon il equipped with a mans learn
ing and experience.
I thought the hotel clerk looked at
me five seconds too long. 1 had no
baggage.
MY trunk has somehow failed to ar
rive" I drew out a roll of money.
"Ah." said he, showing an auri-
ferrous tooth, I'VE have quite a num-
Der of the western delegates stopping
here" He struck bell for the boy.
I endeavored to give color to my
role.
There is an important movement
on foot among us weSterners, l said.
lin regard to a recommendation 10
the convention that the bottles the tar
trate OF antmony and potash and the
tarlrate of sodium and potash be kept
in a contiguous position on the shelf.
gentleman to three-fourteen,"
said the clerk. hastily. l was whisked
away TO my room.
The next day l bought a trunk and
rlothing and began to live the life
Of Edward Pinkhammer. l did not
tax my brain with endeavors to solve
problems of the past.
It was a piquant and sparkling cup
that the great island city held up to
my lips. / drank of it gratefully
The keys of Manhattan belong to him
who is able to bear them. You must
be either the city's guest or its vic
tim.
The following few days were as gold
and silver Edward Pinkhammer,
yet counting back to his birth by
hours only. knew the rare joy OF hav-
ing come upon so diverting a world
full-hedged and unrestrained. l sat
entranced on the magic carpets pro-
vided in theatres and roof gardens,
that transported one into strange and
delightful lands full of frolicsome
music. pretty girls, and grotesque,
drolly extravagant parodies upon
human kind. l went here and there
at my own dear will, bound by no
limits of space. time. or compartment.
I dined in weird cabarets. at weirder
tables d'hote to the sound of Hunga-
rian music and the wild shouts of
mercurial artists and sculptors. Or,
again. where the night life quivers in
the electric glare like a kinetoscopic
picture. and the millinery Of the world,
and its jewels. and the ones whom
they adorn. and the men who make
all three possible are met for good
cheer and the spectacular effect.
And among all these scenes that l
have mentioned. I learned one thing
that I never knew before. And that
is that the key to liberty is not in the
hands of license. but convention holds
it, Comfy has q tollgate at which
YOU must pay. or you may not enter
the land of freedom. In all the gilt
ter. the seeming disorder the parade,
the abandon. 1 saw this law, unob-
trusive. yet like iron, prevail. There
fore, in Manhattan you must obey
these unwritten laws. and then you
will be freest of the free. If you de-
cline to be bound by them, you put on
shackles.
Sometimes. as my mood urged me,
I would seek the stately. softly MUIR
muring palm rooms. redolent with
highborn life and delicate restraint,
in which to dine. Again, l would go
down to the waterways in steamers
packed with voCiferOus. bedecked. un-
checked love making clerks and shop
girls to their crude pleasures on the
island shores And there was al
ways BrOadway-glistening opulent,
willy. varying. desirable Broadway
growing upon one like an opium
habit.
One afternoon as I entered my no
tel stout man with big nose and
black mustache blocked my way in
the corridor. When I would have
passed around him. he greeted me
with offensive familiarity.
Hello. Bellford!" he cried loudly
What the deuce are you doing in
| New York? Didn't know anything
could drag you away from that book
den of yours. Is Mrs. r. along. or is
this a little business run alone, eh?-
You have made mistake. sir
said cOldly. releasing my hand from
his grasp. MY name is Pinkhammer
You will excuse me-
The man dropped to one side, ap-
parently astonished. AS l walked tol
the clerks desk l heard him call to|
bellboy and say something about
tala nh HANKS
You will give me my bill" 1 said
to the clerk, "and have my baggage
brought down in half an hour l do
not care to remain where l am an
moved by confidence men,"
I moved that afternoon to another
hotel. 4 sedate, Old-fashiOned one on
Hover Fifth avenue.
There was q restaurant little way
| off broadway where one could be
served almost al fresco in a tropic ar
| ray of screening fora. Quiet ana
| luxury and 4 perfect service made 1t
an ideal place in which to take iunch-
| con or rcfrcShment. One afternoon
| was there picking my way To table
among the ferns when | felt my