The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-04-05

me-that she was married seven
years ago"
Tarrant gasped and checked himself
upon the verge of an exclamation. l
saw his lips form the word "impossi-
ble," and he began shaking his head.
IF 1t is true" cried Morton, II don't
know whether to be more sorry for
myself or her."
Now, my dear fellow, let us get
at the story systematically" said the
Doctor. when did she tell you
this?"
Yesterday afternoon, when I was
calling on her. We have been en-
gagged three months and expected to
be- married in about six weeks time.
Miss Digby has lever shown any signs
OF abnormality except that she is
given to what is called 'day-dream-
ing Frequently she falls into a brown
study which lasts a couple of min
utes, and during that period she is
entirely oblivious to what is taking
place around her. But that is of no
significance"
Pardon me; it is of the greatest
significance" replied the Doctor. at
is a true trance condition, of a limit
ed kind. 1t is a process of auto
hypnosis-self-hypnotism. that is to
say-which may reveal a great deal
to the specialist. But proceed"
II had grown accustomed to these
states, which do not occur with great
frequency" continued Morton, "but
yesterday I was a little piQued that
one should occur at a time when she
had given me reason to believe that
well, that she thought a good deal
of me. And so I shook her gently, to
bring her out of it."
"My dear Mr.. Morton! You might
have done serious harm. And then
she made that astonishing statement
to you?"
"She turned around and, without the
slightest expression of shame or
guilt, informed me that she was mar
ried, seven years ago, in the Harmony
Hall, a low sort of dance hall across
the Avenue, to a man called Ira Hop
kins."
What, Hopkins, the corner gro
cer?" shouted Tarrant, leaping out of
his seat.
EYES," answered Morton, overcome
with emotion. "Of course, it was fan
tastic. An instant later she came out
of her reflections and gravely told me
that she loved me with her whole
heart. I made some excuse, hurried
out of the room, went home, and wrote
that letter to you"
"And you have not seen her since?"
"No. l have written saying that I
was called out of town on urgent
business. What "a I do, Doctor? I
feel that I shall go mad"
"fIave you spoken to this man Hop
kins?" asked Tarrant.
"Of course not, you IDIOT" answered
Morton angrily. "Why, confound you,
he has a wife and three children"
Have you examined the marriage
%records?" asked Emmanuel.
James Morton scratched his head
in perplexity. II eve thought of
that" he muttered shamefacedly.
ut is common, among hysterical
persons, for them to accuse them
selves of all kinds of things" contin-
ued the Doctor kindly. Nov don't
you rush off to the marriage bureau.
Go out Of town at once. as you have
said, and stay away for a week. At
the end of that time come back and
you shall know the truth"
ga week." cried Morton. II can't
wait a day. Why, you can find out
in an hour"
Hardly that" answered Emmanuel
quietly. 1.-The old records are at AL.
bany, you know"
"Three days, then"
II said a week." replied the doc
tor infexibly. IF you cannot accept
my proposal"
"You promise to have the whole
problem settled when l come back,
then?"
Zone week from tonight" replied
the Doctor. And after a rather pain
full scene Tarrant and / got the poor
fellow out of the room and took him
to his home.
heard nothing more for I think
five days. except that Tarrant called
me on the telephone the following
morning and told me that he had
stayed the night at Morton's house
and had seen him off to the country
early the next morning. On the eve
ming Of the fifth day, however, 1 re-
ceived a telephone message from I'm.
manuel, saying that Tarrant had been
dining with him and asking if I could
join them that evening. l found them
talking earnestly together in the con.
sulting room. But when l spoke of
the case Emmanuel seemed slightly
embarrassed.
1.-THE fact u.s." he admitted, all de.
Ponds upon the result of this eve.
ning's work; that is why l asked you
to come in as a witness. l have had
the marriage records examined and
there is certainly none Of such a pre-
posterous union as is supposed to have
occurred. But, as you may know
some of the records were destroyed