The spectator., 1920-07-23
CHAPTER ".
The Bear.

The Bear. The muffied 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 doctorl' she exclaimed. Where in the world did that Oh. there 1t is" She straightened up. rosy checked, to flourish the key of the front door in Clinton's face. own up! You'd never have looked for 1t there-now would you?'
 "Magic!' he declared You'll not pretend you really had that huge thing in one of those slippers!"
 Her face clouded. "Oh. VIII. for you to make such compliment as that! It shows you can't remember I'm only your sister,
 Miss Lowrie." he replied. between amusement and eXasperation, If 1t were not for you. would go at once This continual inAstence that I am | not"
 But doctor-hell soon cure you 7" she cried fin joyful relief. and she darted into the hall, calling, Wait. Tillie, have the key. I'll let him in"
 The lines of Cllnton's firm mouth | frightened He confronted Doctor Kirkland. who came hastening in from the hall with one big plump hand on Amy's shoulder. The physician waved his other hand around the room and ordered genlally: "Sit down We'll talk this over like sensible people"
 "I agreed to remain until you came, Doctor Kirkland" said Clinton. stiff fening.
 He was going to run off and leave us" announced Mrs. Kirkland.
 "Leave?-tonight?" Queried her hus- band He eyed the would-be run away attentively. "It was my under standing that you agreed to remain n Denver until"
 convince you of my identity" broke in Clinton. "When I agreed to that 1 did not foresee how exasperating this ab- surd mistake would become"
 "Exasperatingr
 "Yes. Can none of you imagine how 1t seems to me? come to Denver an absolute stranger tO you all"
 "Oh. Will" sighed Ellen.
 Amy. suddenly full of concern. be gun stroking his forehead.
 .You see!" he cried. ''ro sit here and let her-Rnd no more her broth CT than Mir. Bemm
 "No. no," differed Bemm. Miss Amy never offered to be a sister to me. I'm glad to say"
 In spite of the girls soothing nn. gers Clinton's forehead gathered in . frown. '"rhis Is no joke" he said. Tt has gone far enough already. Every one of you seems so deluded that the only thing for ms to do Is to go on to California and not come back hers until have received proofs that must convince you"
 You are sure that you can furnish proofs?" asked Doctor Kirkland.
 Positive"
 Tho physician gravely shook his l head. Complete case of dlssocia- 1 tion," he observed. Perfect instance of secondary personality. Ny dear boy, in the circumstances 1 cannot ex- pect you to believe tpe. We must all 1 seem. as you think. ahSolute strangers to you. Yet may l request you to lis- ten seriously to what 1 have to sayr' Clinton looked at his watch. glanced | sroand at the tense faces of Bemm and the ladies, and reluctantly acQui- esced: Very we'll, if you do not take | too long. and if Miss Lowrie will kind | ly cease to-will take another seat"
 "Oah!" murmured Amy. drawing away from him. deeply hurt.
 Cant you seer" he burst out. "To let you-most despicable of mel" 'But--but to think that y-you-l" sobbed the girl.
 My dear boy" said Doctor Kirk land, "try to be reasonable. As mers question of probability, here are five of us believing that you are your self-that is, VIII Lowrie; while you a6ne-"
 But l know that am not he; know l 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 psychologyr
 Not studied; though l have some idea"
 "Somef Good! If you have even the slightest idea of psychomthology you will know that anyone subject to amnesia. that is to say, loss of mem- ory-"
 My memory, sir. is excellent"
 "Oh, Will" reproached Ellen. You say that when you do not even"
 "Leave him to me. daughter" inter. posed tho physician, and he fixed hia shrewd gaze on Clinton's angry face. My dear boy, In many cases of am. nesia tho patient not only forgets his past life but also forgets> that he has forgotten. This amounts to dissocia. ton of the personality"
 This medical jargon, sir, Is, to say