The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1913-01-30

sight of my own position. Now l asked
myself, on what ground was l to make
my plea for information? To tell this
DR.. Addison the whole story would
certainly be inexpedient. To hint even
at alarm concerning Cameron might
involve the precipitation of that f1nan-
c1al disaster he had feared and regard
Ing which he had warned me Indeed.
would not any effort to obtain the
facts I desired be likely to arouse sus-
p1cion, no matter how d~elicately
made?
The more I pondered the situation,
sitting there thoughtfully while one
after another the patients who had
preceded me passed into the physi-
clans consultation room, the more beg
carly, it seemed to me, became my
chances Of success. AND when,' at
length, my turn came to enter the
presence of my friends friend, I was
about persuaded that l should very
soon be making an igno1ninious exit,
branded as an impertinently meddling
busybody.
have always contended that 1T was
DIR. Addison's severely professional air
which was responsible for my inspi-
ration, for no thought of such a course
occurred to me, until standing dumbly
hesitant before him, I became con-
sc1ous that he was making mental in
ventory Of me with q view to, a dag
nosis.
The penetration Of his gaze i'm.
pressed me at once. His. steel gpay
Eyes were like a pair of converging
probes; and they were his dominant
feature. Aside from them his face
was commonplace.
Doctor" I said. and the sound Of
my voice was a relief to the strained
tension of the moment, II learned of
you through Mr.. Cameron-Mr. Rob-
ert Cameron, a mutual friend"
1 hoped to see his expression bright
en- at the name, but it did not. If
there was any change whatever 1t was
In the reverse direction. After a sec
ond's deliberation he asked:
"You wish to consult me regarding
%yourself?"
On a sudden impulse 1 answered.,
"Yes," though 7 had neither ache nor
pain, and, so far as l could Judge,
was perfectly normal.
Il see," he replied. cam right
in assuming that your trouble is Of
a nervous character?"
Heaven knows that in spite of my
fancied normality there had been suf-
ficient eason in the past few weeks.
for my nerves to go awry. l con.
fessed that I had been under consid-
cradle mental strain.
Thereupon, having babe me be seat
ed. he began to ply me with questions
with a view to sympathetic revelation.
fear, however, that I gave him mea-
ger material upon which to base a con.
clusion. I slept well. my appetite was,
excellent. I had observed neither a
numbness nor a supersensitiveness in.
my finger tips, o a sensation of full
ness at the base of the brain. 1
could not recall any twitching of my
muscles, nor any elimination of mus
cular power. At length, after a brief
pause, he inquired:
will you be good enough to tell me,
Mr.. Clyde, why you think you require
professional attention."
And my inability to answer him, OF.
hand. paradoxical Is 1t may SEEM,
eventually supplied me with an an
swer at nce truthful and convincing,
Because" I explained gravely, Il
find that Of late I am losing my power
of mental coordination"
The ardor with which, he seized
upon this index Of my supposed mai
ady was amusing. Instantly he grew
obviously and deeply interested. I
have since learned that what is known
as confessional insanity, a rare con.
dftion, usually has it's inception In this
wise, without essential emotional dis
turbance," If T may quote an author
fty. At the time, I believe he vas
suspicious Of a developing paresis.
What he thought, however, or what
he did not, is aside from the story. l
know only that his changed
abruptly, his object evidently being to
gain my full confidence. Whereupon.
the bars Of reserve lowered between
US, l ventured. to revert to our so-called
mutual friend"
(TO BE C%oNTINUED1