Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-12-25
: OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
! PASSING DELUSION.
BY cEclLLE LANGDoN.

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Copyright. 1913. Western Newspaper Union /
Doctor BARLEY, what is the matter
with papa?"
'Hypochondriasis."
"Oh, what a dreadful word! and
please, doctor" pleaded Viola Glare,
what does it mean?"
Imagination mainly, stimulated by
an idle mind, oyerfeeding and the
whimsicalities only rich man can af-
ford. Your father had the idea one
limb had turned to glass until I pur-
posely dropped paper weight on it.
Then both limbs were gone, he de-
clared, and he could not walk. had
my automobile break down five miles
from nowhere and he managed to foot
1t for home. His last tangent is a
change Of personality. He claims he
Is Napoleon BOnaparte."
Viola began to cry. Whim or dis
ease, wry twist Of the nerves or a
hideous delusion, the fact remained
that her father was drifting into an alb
normal mental condition that alarmed
her. He became irrational at times.
He insisted that the doors and win.
dows be kept closed, that all visitors
be excluded. even yiola's fiance, MIL
ton Ross.
Viola was sorely distressed and Mil
ton gravely anxious. He unburdened
his troubles to an old-time chum one
day, Ned Danvers. The latter listened
with interest. He was bright, rollick-
ing sort Of fellow.but true blue to
friend. For year he had been man
ager Of movie studio.
Its funny, Milton" he observed,
"but strange ideas hit us movie men.
/ was just thinking had an uncle once
who was taken the same way as Mr..
Glare. They cured him drastic treat
ment did the job. He was the car of
Russia. They catered to his within to
the point of getting UP mock Siberian
exile, nearly froze and starved him,
and one morning in a faked-up prison
In the woods he awakened to a per-
dislike for cars and all classes
OF royalty and got back to normal.
See here, 1t may take stringent meth
DDS, but If you will leave this matter
entirely to me I'll guarantee a cure.
You know, it's sort of luxury to these
pampered old fellows, with time hang
Ing heavy on their hands, to nurse
along some ridiculous fancy. They
need waking up. Do you want me to
do the wakingY
IF you can bring Viola's father back
70 common sense, go ahead"
Ned Danvers went ahead Ten miles
distant was his studio and camp. Here
we're staged initially any number of
movie playlets, and the equipment was
Ned as manager had free
swing He did not write any scenario,
but he did block out plot with many
fellow conspirators to put it through.
John Glare, wandering in the woods
one day, rested himself upon a, fallen
rec. A stranger came along, sat down
near to him, and a casual conversation
ensued. Finally Mr.. Clare got back to
MS habitual obsession.
II see you look at me pretty closely"
le observed. you've seen me before,
,h?''
Il don't think So" replied the stran-
,er.
"Oh, yes you, have, my picture is in
half dozen histories. I'm Napoleon
"WhatT crier the other, sprlnging
o his feet and displaying the widest
excitement. "Why, you miserable Inn
,ostor I'm the original and only Ma
,oleon Bonaparte in the world!"
"You! ha ha," chuckled Mr. Glare.
How can that be, when Napoleon
3onaparte has been dead for over half
! century,"
where's your sword and uniform?"
'They took them away from me at
IT. Helena"
"You old fraud Why, I tell you
i'm the real Napoleon, and I'm going
o have you prove your claim. Hi,
here this way"
For the next hour John Clare was in
/ maze. Three men wearing the uni
orm of French soldiers burst from a
hicket. They .jabbered, they seized
lin rudely. They bound, they gagged
lin, they threw him into an automo-
lie. When the blindfold was removed
dr. Glare found himself to all appear
noes in the reception room of mag
lificent palace. He was apparently on
rial before royal court of France
le confronted stern and serious judges
rrayed in imposing robes. The man
Who had met him In the woods in due
orm made the accusation of fragrant
Upon table We're thumb .
crews, knives, rOpes-all the menacing ..
of veritable torture .
hamber. A cold perspiration bathed
he prisoner at the ominous present .
1ent. After an elaborate discussion
he high court of royalty condemned
i'm to perpetual exile on an arid des-
rt isle in the mid-Pacific. John Glare
assed twenty-four hours supplied
My with hard bread crusts and water
! cell holding wretched cot. His
ccuser finally appeared. He unfolded
pretentious looking document. "Sign
his, your abdication, your avowal OF
nposture and I will help you to es-1
ape" he submitted.
"Tll do anything to get away from
his bloodthirsty crowd and back to the
omfort of my home!" groaned the
ypochondriac, eagerly.
John Clare never told a living soul
c that fearsome experience. To the