The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-08-11
Copyright. 1915. BY the Mcclure Newspaper
SvndicataA

A slip OF girl, smartly at
tired In a fur-trimmed dress
and a chic little feather-tipped hat. hur-
ried up to Constance Dunlap late one
afternoon as she turned the corner be-
low her apartment.
TT isn't faintness or illness exactly
but--it's all so haEy." stammered the girl
breathiessiy. And I've forgotten who 1
am. I've forgotten where live-and a
man has been following mech, ever so
long"
The WEAKNESS In the tone OF the last
words caused Constance to look more
closely at the girl Plainly she was on
the verge of Mysteries. Tears were
streaming down her pale cheeks and
there were dark rings under her eyes,
suggestive Of a haunting fear Of some
thing from which she fled.
Constance was astounded for the mo-
rnent Was the girl crazy? She had
heard Of cases like this. but to meet one
so Unexpectedly was surely disconcerting.
who has been following your asked
Constance gently. looking hastily over
her shoulder and seeing no one.
"a man. exclaimed the girl. but I
think he has gone now"
Cant you think of your manner urged
Constance. TRY"
mo- cried the giTl. mo. can't.
can't"
"or your addressr' repeated Constance.
''Try-try hard!
The girl looked vaeautiy about.
NO" she sobbed. TITS all gone-aH."
Puzzled. Constance took her arm and
slowly walked her up the street toward
her own apartment in the hope that she
might catch sight of some familiar face
or be able to pull herself together.
But It was OF no use.
They passed a policeman who eyed
them sharply. The mere sight of the
blue-eoated officer sent a shudder
through the already trembling girl on
her arm.
Don't. don't let them take me to a
hospital-don't," pleaded the girl in q
hoarse whisper when they had passed
the officer.
won l. IeASbuTeQ constance. w as
that the man who was following your
''No-oh. no." sobbed the girl nervously
looking back.
who was he. then?' asked Constance
eagerly.
The girl did not answer. but continued
to look back wildly from time to time.
although there was no doubt that, If he
existed at all. the man had disappeared.
Suddenly Constance realized that she
had on her hands a case of aphasis, per
haps. real, perhaps induced by a drug.
At any rate. the fear of being sent
away to an institution was so strong in
the poor creature that Constance felt 10
tuitively how disastrous to her might be
the result OF disregarding the obsession.
She was in a quandary. What should
she do with the girl? To leave her on
the street was out OF the question. She
was now more helpless than ever.
They had reached the door Of the apart
ment Gently she led the trembling girl
into her own home.
But now the question OF what to do
arose with redoubled force. She hest
tated to call a physician. at least yet. be-
cause his first advice would probably be
to send the poor little stranger to the
psychopathic ward OF some hospital.
Constance's eye happened to rest on
the dictionary in her bookcase. Perhaps
she might recall the girls name to her. If
she were not shammlng. by reading over
The list of women's names in the back of
the book
It meant many minutes, perhaps hours.
But then Constance reflected on what
might have happened to the girl II she
had CHANGED to appeal to some one who
had not felt true interest in her. 1t
was worth trying. She would do it.
Starting with a" she read slowly.
rs your name Abigail?''
Down through Barbara, Camilla, De-
oorah. Edith. Faith. she read.
"Flora?" she asked.
The girl seemed to apprehend some
thing. appear less blank.
"Florepce?" persisted Constance,
"oh. yes" she cried. that's t-that's
my name"
But as for the last name and the ad-
iress she was just as hazy as ever. Still,
here was now something different about
aer
"Florence-Florence WHAT" reiterated
Constance patiently.
There was no answer. But with the
continued repetition it seemed as If Soma
depth In her nature had been stirred.
Constance could not help feeling that the
girl had really found herself
she had risen and was facing Con-
stance, both hands pressed to her throb-
bing temples as II to keep her head from
bursting. Constance had assisted her off
with her coat and hat. and now the
sartorial wreck OF her masses OF blond
hair was apparent
Il suppose" she cried inooherentIy.
I'm Just one more of the thousands of
girls who drop out OF sight every wear, -
Constance listened In amazenent. As
he spell OF her influence seemed 70 calm
he overwrought mind of the girl thers