The Ordway new era., 1913-03-07

sight Of my own position. Now asked
myself. on what ground was 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 finan-
cial 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-
picton. no matter how delicately
made!
The more pondered tho 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. 1t 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 I should very
soon be making an ignominious exit.
branded as an impsrtinently meddlins
busybody.
have always contended that 1t was
DR.. Addison's severely professional air
which We: responsible for my inspi-
ration. for no thought of such course
occurred to me. until standing dumbly
hesitant before him. 1 became con.
scious that he was making mental in
ventory Of me with q view to 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" said, and the sound of
my voice was q relief to the strained
tension Of the moment. II learned Of
you through Mr.. Cameron-Mr. Rob
ert Cameron. a mutual friend"
hoped to see his expression bright.
en- at the name. but 1t did not. II
there was any change whatever it was
In the reverse direction. After a sec
ond's elaboration he asked:
You wish to consult me regarding
yourself?"
On sudden impulse I answered,
"Yes." though I had neither ache nor
pain, and, 80 far as I could Judge,
was perfectly normal.
Il see." he replied. "Am right
in assuming that your trouble II Of
q 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. l con-
fessed that I had been under consid-
cradle mental strain.
Thereupon. having babe me ID seat
ed. he began to ply me with questions
with view to sympathetic revelation.
fear. however. that gave him mes
ger material upon which to base a con-
clusion. slept we'll. my appetite was
excellent. had observed neither a
numbness nor a supersensitiveness in
my finger tips, nor a 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 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, or
hand. paradoxical as 1t may seem,
eventually supplied me with an an
swer at once truthful and convincing.
Because" I explained gravely, II
find that Of late l am losing my power
of mental coordination"
The ardor with which he seized
upon this index Of my supposed mall
ady was amusing. Instantly he grew
obviously and deeply interested.
have since learned that what is known
as confessional insanity. a rare con-
dition. usually has Its inception In this
wise, without essential emotional dis
turbance." If may quote an author
ity. At the time. believe he was
suspicious of a developing paresis.
What he thought. however. or what
he did not, is aside from the story.
know only that his manner changed
abruptly, his object evidently being to
gain my full confidence. Whereupon,
the bars Of reserve lowered between
US, 1 ventured to revert to our so-called
mutual friend"
Cro BE coNTINUED.)