The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-06-11
PASSING DELUSI0N
BY cEcILLE LANcDoN.

Imagination mainly, stimulated by
an idle mind, overlooking and the
whimsicalities only q rich man can af-
ford. Your father had the idea one
limb had turned to glass until l pur-
posely dropped a 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
I change of personality. He claims he
Is Napoleon Bonaparte."
Viola began to cry. Whim or dis
ease, "a wry twist Of the nerves or a
hideous delusion, the fact remained
that her father was drifting into an abb
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 Viola'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.
TITS funny, Milton" he observed.
"but strange ideas hit us movie men.
l was just thinking had an uncle once
who was taken the same way as Mr..
C1arn Thnu hirn-1roC fi r
ment did the job. He was the czar Of
Russia. They catered to his whim to
the point of getting up a mock Siberian
exile, nearly froze and starved him,
and one morning in faked-up prison
In the woods he awakened to a per-
manent dislike for cars and all classes
of royalty and got back to normal.
See here, it may take stringent meth.
DDS, but If you will leave this matter
entirely to me I'll guarantee a cure.
You know, it's a sort Of luxury to these
panpered 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 waking"
eff you can bring Viola's father back
to common sense, go ahead"
Ned Danvers went ahead. Ten miles
distant was his studio and camp. Herr
were staged initially any number of
movie playlets, and the equipment was
coneplete. 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 fallen
tree. A stranger came along, sat down
near to him and casual conversation
ensued. Finally Mr.. Glare got back to
his habitual obsession.
II see you look at me pretty closely"
he observed. you've seen me before, |
eh?"
81 don't think So" replied the stran-
ger.
"oh, yes you have, my picture is in
half a dozen histories. I'm Napoleon
/
"What?" crier the other, springing +
to his feet and displaying the widest
excitement. why, you miserable I'M
postor I'm the original and only Ma
poleon Bonaparte in the world"
"You! ha ha," chuckled Mr.. Glare.
How can that be, when Napoleon
Bonaparte has been dead for over half
a century,"
"Where's your sword and uniform7"
"They took them away from me at
st. Helena"
"You old fraud Why, tell you I
I'M the real Napoleon, and I'm going
% 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 automc-
Tile. When the blindfold was removed
Ir. Clare found himself to all appear
noes in the reception room of mag
lificent palace. He was apparently on .
rial before a royal court of France; .
e confronted stern and serious judges .
rrayed in imposing robes. The man =
VQO 0du luel IT'LL III tlC WooAS IL NoS Z
orm made the accusation Of fragrant
nposture. Upon table were thumb
crews, knives, ropes-all the menacing
araphernalia of veritable torture =
hamber. A cold perspiration bathed 8
ne prisoner at the ominous present. 8
lent. After an elaborate discussion i
ne high court of royalty condemned s.
i'm to perpetual exile on an arid des- 8
TT isle in the mid-Pacific. John Glare 8
assed twenty-four hours supplied
My with hard bread crusts and watey
a cell holding a wretched cot. His
ccuser finally appeared. He unfolded
pretentious looking document. "Sign
lis, your abdication, your avowal OF
nposture and I will help you to es-
lpe," he submitted. .
"I'll do anything to get away from
lis bloodthirsty crowd and back to the +
,mfort Of my homer groaned the
7pochondriac, eagerly.
John Glare never told living soul
that fearsome experience. To the
lief of Viola he became his old ra-
onal self. to the delight Of Milton he
,panded In spirit truly fatherly f
hat Mr.. Glare thought, surmised or