The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-01-17

sight OF my own position. Now | asked
myself. on what ground was to make
my plea for information? TO tell this
DIR. Addison the whole story would
certainly be inexpedient. To hint even
at alarm concerning Cameron might
involve the precipitation of that finan-
ciai disaster he had feared and regard
ing which he had warned me- Indeed.
would not any effort to obtain the
facts | desired be likely to arouse sus-
picion. no matter how deIicately
made?
The more ] pondered the situation.
sitting there thoughtfulIy while one
after another the patients who had
preceded me passed into the physi-
clans consultation room, the more beg
carly. IL seemed to me, became my
chances Of success. And when, at
length. my turn came to enter the
presence Of my friends friend. was
about persuaded that | should very
soon be making an ignominious exit.
branded as an impertinently meddIing
busybody.
have always contended that II was
DIR. Addison's severely professional air
which was responsible for my inspi
ration. for no thought OF such course
occurred to me. until standing dumbly
hesitant before him, l became con.
scious that he was making mental In.
ventory Of me with a view to q dag.
nOsis.
The penetration OF his gaze i'm
pressed me at once. His steel gray
eyes were like pair of converging
probes; and they we're his dominant
feature. Aside from them his face
was commonplace.
Doctor" l said. and the sound OF
my voice was relief to the strained
tension Of the moment, Il learned of
you through Mr.. Cameron-Mr. Rob.
ert Cameron, a mutual friend"
hoped to see his expression bright.
en- at the name, but II did not. II
there was any change whatever 1t was
In the reverse direction. After a sec.
onds elaboration he asked:
You wish to consult me regarding
yourself?"
On sudden impulse l answered
YES" though l had neither ache mol
pain. and, so far as l could Judge
was perfectly normal.
I Il see," he replied. Am | right
in assuming that your trouble is OF
| nervous character"
Heaven knows that in spite OF my
fancied normality there had been suf
| ficient reason in the past few weeks
| for my nerves to go awry. ! con
fessed that had been under consid
cradle mental strain.
Thereupon. having bade me be seat
| ed. he began to ply me with questions
with view to sympathetic revelation
| fear, however, that l gave him mea.
ger material upon which to base con.
clusion. / slept well. my appetite was
excellent. l had observed neither a
numbness nor a supersensitiveness In
my finger tips, nor sensation Of full
ness at the base of the brain.
! could not recall any twitching Of my
muscles, nor any diminution 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 as 1t may seem
eventually supplied me with an an
swer at once truthful and convincing
Because" l explained gravely, Z"
find that of late am losing my power
| OF mental coordination
The ardor with which he seized
upon this index OF my supposed NAL
ady was amusing. Instantly he grew
obviously and deeply interested.
have since learned that what is know
as confessional insanity. rare con
dition, usually has it's inception In thi
wise, without essential emotional dis
turbance." IL I may quote an author
ity. At the time. | believe he wa
suspicious of a developing paresis
What he thought. however, or wha
be did not. is aside from the story.
know only that his manner changed
abruptly. his object evidently being t
gain my full confidence. Whereupon
the bars of reserve lowered between
us. ventured to revert to our so-calle,
mutual friend"
| ITO RE CONTINIYEDl