The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-07-16
CHAPTER ".
The Bear.

The Bear.
The muffled ring Of the doorbell
stirred Amy to agile activity. She
bent down to thrust her fingertips in.
to the side Of one tiny slipper.
Must be doctor!" she exclaimed.
where in the world did that Oh,
there it isl" She Strengthened up,
rosy checked, to flourish the key Of
the front door in Clinton's face. "Own
up! You'd never have looked for it
there-now would your
Magic" he declared. you'll not
pretend you really had that huge thing
in one of those slippers!"
Her face clouded. "Oh, win, for
you to make such compliment as
that! 1t shows you can't remember
I'm only your sister,"
Miss Lowrie." he replied, between
amusement and evaporation, "if it
were not for you. would go at once
This continual insistence that I am
not"
But doctor-he'll soon cure YOU I"
she cried in joyful relief. and she
darted into the hall, calling, "Wait,
Title, have the key. I'll let him in"
The lines of Clinton's firm mouth
frightened. He confronted Doctor
Kirkland. who came fastening in from
the hall with one big plump hand on
Amy's shoulder. The physician waved
his other hand around the room and
o,.1o sy0rfo11v,s ~,
talk this over like sensible people,"
II agreed to remain until you came,
Doctor Kirkland" said Clinton, stiff
fleming.
HE was going to run off and leave
u.s." announced Mrs. Kirkland.
"Leave?-tonight?" Queried her hus.
band. He eyed the would-be rum
away attentively. 1T was my under.
standing that you agreed to remain IN
Denver until"
until l had sent on for proofs to
convince you Of my identity" broke in
Clinton. "When I agreed to that did
not foresee how exasperating this alb.
surd mistake would become"
"Exasperating"
"Yes. Can none Of you imagine how
1t seems to me? come to Denver an
absolute stranger to you all"
"Oh. WIFI" sighed Ellen.
Amy, suddenly full of concern, be-
gan stroking his forehead.
you sect" he cried. ITO sit here
and let her-and I no more her broth.
er than Mr.. Bemm!"
mo, no." differed BENIN. "Aiiss
Amy never offered to be O sister to me,
I'm glad to say"
In spite Of the girls soothing I'm.
gers Clinton's forehead gathered in q
frown. This is no joke" he said. ut
has gone far enough already. Every
one Of you seems SO deluded that the
only thing for me to do Is to go on
TO California and not come back here
until l have received proofs that must
convince YOU"
"You are sure that you can furnish
proofs?" asked Doctor Kirkland.
positive"
The physician gravely shook his
head. Complete case Of dissocia-
tion," he observed. perfect instance
Of secondary personality. My dear
boy. In the circumstances cannot ex-
pect you to believe me. We must all
seem, as you think. absolute strangers
to you. Yet may request you to lis
ten seriously to what have to say"
Clinton looked ut his watch, glanced
around at the tense faces of BENIN
and the ladies, and reluctantly acQui-
esced: Every we'll, if you do not take
too long, and If Miss Lowrie will kind.
~ cease to-will take another seat"
"O-ah!" murmured Amy. drawing
away from him. deeply hurt.
Cant you see?" he burst out. ITO
let you-most despicable of mel"
'But-but to think tina, y-you-"
sobbed the girl.
MY dear boy" said Doctor Kirk
land, TRY to be reasonable. AS q
mere question of probability, here are
five of US believing that you are your
self-that is, Will Lowrie; while you
alone"
''But ! know that l am not he; l
know am Richard Clinton
you mean you believe you know.
You are not conscious of being other
than what and who you think you are.
May l ask If you have ever studied
abnormal psychology"
Not studied; though l have some
idea"
Some? Good: If you have even
the slightest idea of psychopatholOgy
you will know that anyone subject to
amnesia, that is to say, loss of men,
Dry"
MY memory. sir. is excellent"
ION, WILL reproached Ellen. "You
say that when you do not even-"
leave him to me, daughter" inter-
posed the physician. and he fixed hia
shrewd gaze on Clinton's angry face.
My dear boy, in many cases of am.
nesia the patient not only forgets his
past life but also forgets that he has
forgotten. This amounts to dissocia.
fiOn Of tho nprSopa1it,.v