The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-15
CHAPTER vi.
On the Scent.

L
wide leather couch. Both we're
smoking.
80, that's why I didn't get the
Psyche l limited for so diligently
for Christmas? And why you have
closed your old rooms and occupy
these instead? You feel that those
things are not yours to disturb nor
give away. Um-m!"
The alienist chuckled during
this commentary, but his keen
eyes behind the broad spectacles
were bright with anticipation, his
nostrils quivered like q beagle
hounds on scent.
The younger mans face behind
the thick smoke of his cigar held
a rueful smile.
1--WE said the other George so
often that I've grown possessed
of an uncanny feeling that he's OBJ
jective-a person outside this car
cass of mine. Underwood, / never
write my name to check but that
feel like a forger. To save my
buttons | can't get the feel of own
ership."
"Um-m! And your wife and
child?"
Gail? Vance?" His brows knit.
Then he laughed. They're mine.
The feeling of ownership is good
and strong there. But Calls my
wife, Vance's my child, through
and by myself, not as an inherit
ance from the other George. l
also feel that Calls my wife and
never has and never could have
belonged to that beast"
The doctor twinkled.
"Beast-eh? That's the way you
speak of yourself?"
"Myself?" With quick wrath.
"That libertine never inhabited
oh, the devil! Can't | stop the
lunacy of disowning my own
past!"
The alienist raised himself from
his pillow and sat upright.
"It's all rotten muddle!" Or
cult continued. "Pd close the door
on George CIRCUITS past some day
as | have on that room'and cut for
the open"
"And Mrs. Orcutt?-shall you
leave or take herr"
"You old quizzer Why does it
always seem to interest you so
greatly how / get along with my
wife? Well, for once | shall an
swer you. My wife is Historically
afraid of me. / kissed her Christ
mas eve and she threatened to
leave the house forever IL / as
much as laid finger on her again,
sentimentally, that Isl
"You mean Christmas eve was
the first time you kissed herr"
"And the last, probably. Unfor-
tunately, my wife hasn't lost her
memory"
"Then make her lose It," COM
manded the physician. "If she's
your wife, then let her be your
wife"
easier said than done with a
wife that shudders at the approach
of my caresses as a gazzelle might
at a gorilla's! Gorilla?-
Gorilla?" he repeated slowly. Go
ril-la?"
He trembled violently, sprang to
his feet, clutching the air.
Underwood, help me to remem-
ber," he entreated piteously, turn
ing dazed eyes on his friend.
"Ah!" half falling to his chair.
"It's gone-the door closed before
-I-could-look-in."
"What door," The alienist's
quiet voice hid palpitating ex-
element.
"Memory's door. 1t seemed for
an instant that something-great
was going to happen"
Something great has happen
ed; memory has stirred" muttered
the alienist under his breath.
''By the way" aloud. have you
found me a picture of yourself be-
fore your illness?"
circuit opened drawer of the
desk by which he sat and handed
out a pasteboard box.
"a boxful. / ran across them in
the storeroom Wednesday, while
looking for mechanical toy
Vance wanted and thought was
there. The other George liked to
pose before the camera. I don't
The usual consistent difference,
you see."
The alienist gave him a quick
glance, then attacked the photo
graphs.
Does Mrs. circuit know that
you have these photographer"
mo-" he returned, drily.
"Then she couldn't have known
these were in the storeroom?"
mo, of course. She has ordered
them destroyed, and Jackson
am sure it was Jackson-has saved
them. He has been in the family
a long while and has the old re-
tainer's devotion to even a black
sheep"
Underwood reached for a small
leather bag he had with him.
81 shall take these with me-"
said he, depositing them. 81 want
you to go right away and sit for
your picture. Have an exact pro-
file, left face view, cabinet size.
Come to me when you get the
proofs; don't wait for the finishing
process. Say nothing to Mrs. Or
cult about these photographs or
the one you sit for. No-don't
ask me why"