The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-05-09
An EIGHT YEAR NAP
Blow on Head Causes Man to
Forget That He Was
Married.
BY Il. M. Ee5ERT.

y
ed himself; then he looked across the
room at his watch and sprang out OF
he'd in astonishment 1t was nearly
ten minutes to ten! This was his
wedding morning and he had nearly
forgotten! There was Just time to be
at the church in Brooklyn by half past
eleven.
It was to be a quiet wedding. Lucy
and he had loved each other for years,
despite the objections of her father,
one of the leaders Of the bar, who
wanted her to make brilliant mar
rage But he had become reconciieo
at last, and, with his backing, Drum
fields own law practice had improved
sufficiently to warrant his taking Out
the wedding license.
Drumfield paused in irresolution, LOT
his mind was as hazy as though ne
had oversight for five years instead OF
one night. These we're not his rooms;
this was hotel. A placard, announ-
cling that one ring would bring the
bell-boy and two the chamDermalo
stood over the faucet. Above the
mantel was notification that smok-
ing was not permitted and that the
management would not be RESPONSE
BILE for valuables unless left in the
safe. Drumfield's head was aching
badly. AS he passed the mirror he
caught sight Of his face. He had gone
to bed a young man and now his nalr
was turning gray, and there were
lines in his face that had not been
there when he. retired to bed.
Thoroughly alarmed, ne dressed
himself and FASTENED down. At the
hotel desk young clerk looked up
and smiled. Hurt your head! ne
asked. Drumfield put up his hand
and found that his scalp was gashed.
It must have bled freely during the
night, to Judge from the evidences.
Drumfield muttered something and
walked away. At the stand he bought
q newspaper. The next moment he
was clutching at space and staring IN
terror at the date on it. He had gone
to sleep in his rooms in August, 1905;
and he had awakened in a cheap hotel
in February. 1913 He had slept eight
years!
He then hurriedly took the subway
to Brooklyn. 1t seemed to him that
the subway had not run to Brooklyn
when he was last awake, but this was
only a minor problem now. He got
out at the Borough Hall and stood
looking round him uncertainty. Want
a cab?" asked a taxi driver. Drum
field put his hand into his pocket me-
chemically and found pocket-book
containing a five-dollar bill and two
Of the value of a dollar each. He
nodded and Ieaped in. Then. glancing
into the side glass, he saw that his
head was swollen and that mass Of
blood had matted his hair.
Five minutes later the cab stopped
opposite deep excavation and the
cabman descended and opened the
door.
Here's the church you asked for.
Boss" he said. pointing to the hole in
the ground.
Drumfeld jumped out "What do
you mean?" he shouted in bewilder-
ment.
"You said the DeKalb Avenue
church." answered the driver with q
grin. "It was pulled down two
months ago. can't help it If you've
oversight yourself. Mister. Two dol
lars, please"
Drumfeld flung him the two bills
and strobe away, while the driver
looked after him uncertainty. The guy
seemed crazy; perhaps he had escaped
from a sanitarium. Should he go aft
er him? His attention was attracted,
however, by a fare, and reluctantly
he sacrificed possibility to proba-
bility. BY this time Drumfield was
4 lost in the crowd.
His mind was whirling. He knew
that Lucy would not have waited
seven years for him-besides, he could
not remember her address, or her
fathers. Who was he? Was he ris-
ing young lawyer with happy mar
rage before him, or crazy man? He
must go cautiously. He must not be-
tray himself In his pocket he found
key and the pocket-book, and inside
the latter printed card bearing the
name Henry Patterson The name
seemed to awaken vague remem-
ORANGES in his mind and gave him his
clue The address was Nassau street.
He would go to Patterson. But who
was Patterson?
Then the probable solution burst
upon him. He must be Patterson. He
had heard of cases of double person
atty, In which the afflicted subject as
sumed another name and carried on
his business without recollection of his
previous life. until he awakened to
resume that where he had left it on.
He reached the building and was
shot up in the elevator for eleven
stories. Upon the door of a room at
the end of the passage he saw his
name. He opened it and entered. A
woman and girl sat at two desks
and as he approached they looked up