The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-29


 
 a short physical examination, and | when I ring the bell one of you may come in. Are you a newspaper man. MT. Knoxw
 "An attorney" said.
 'Press man, lawyer or doctor" Bur- l ton broke in, i've all fatten on the other fellows troubles, don't weT l s.We don't fatten very much,'' cor rected we live'' l The doctor blinked behind his glass l es.
 CT never saw. a lawyer yet who would admit he was making money" he said.
 The physical examination was very l brief. When was. called in Wardrop was standing at the window looking down into the street below, and the doctor was writing at his desk. Be hind Wardrop's back he gave me the 1 slip he had written.
 'Test is for association of ideas. Watch length of time between word I give and his reply. often get hold of facts forgotten by the patient. A wait before the answering word is giv- en shows an attempt at concealment." ]"
 On a table was an electric instru- ment like small clock, and the first act was to attach to it two wires with small, black rubber mouthpieces. ''Now, Mir. Wardrop.' the doctor said l vr]4fh fhn nGf | other condition is fair. I think you can dismiss the idea of insanity with out a second thought, but there is l something more than brain and body to be considered. In other words, you have been through a storm. and some of your nervous wires are down. Put this mouthpiece between your lips, please. You see, I do the same with mine And when I give you a word speak as quickly as possible the as- sociation it brings to your mind. For instance, say noise Your first as- sociation might be street. band 'drumt almost anything associated with the word. As quickly as possible, please
 The first words went simply enough. .Wardrop's replies came almost in- stantly. To '1ight'' he replied 'lamp;" 'touch" brought the response "hand;;" seat" brought Burton" and both the doctor and smiled. Wardrop was in- tensely serious. Then
 tTaxicab," said the doctor, and after an almost imperceptible pause road" came the association. All at once be- gan to see the possibilities.
 Desk" Pen
 Pipe" Smoke
 "Head." After a perceptible pause the answer came uncertainty, Hair. :" But the association of ideas would not be denied, for in answer to the next word, which was ''ice," he gave 'blood," evidently following up the previous word head"
 found myself gripping the arms of my chair. Wardrops eyes were shift ing nervous1y.
 sHot." Cold"
 sfWhfte." "Black."
 "Whisky." Glass" all in less than a second.
 I Pearls" A little hesitation, then 'box.''
 "Taxicab' again. Night
 silly" Wise"
 "shot." After pause, revolver"
 Might" Dark ~
 "BIood." Head"
 "Water." Drink"
 sTraveling bag.'' He brought out the word ''train'' after an evident struggle, but in answer to the next word Host" instead of the obvious .found'' he said woman" He had not had sufficient mental agility to get away from the association with "bag." The woman belonged there.
 Murder brought dead" but t'shot,' 2 following immediately after, brought staircase"
 think Wardrop was on his guard by that time, but the conscious effort to hide truths that might be damaging made the intervals longer from that time on. Already I felt sure that Al Ian Fleming's widow had been right. He had been shot from the locked back staircase. But by whom?
 "Blow" brought "chair." Gone" Bag came like flash. In quick succession, without pause, came the words: Bank" Note"
 Door" Bolt"
 "Money" Letters" without any apparent connection. CHAPTER XVI. |