Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-15
TIE
SKYLINE
SPRUCE
By 6dDonN MARSHALL
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| man whirled toward him.
What are you doing with Ben
Darby in a convict gang?" the old
wanderer demanded.
What am 1 doin'?" Howard's as
constituent gave way to righteous
Indignation. I'm guardin' convicts,
that's what I'm a-doin'."
The old man had turned his eyes
again to the tall, trembling figure OF
ben, Benz" he said, evidently
struggling with deep emotion.
what are you doing here?"
Five years-for burglary" he an
swered simply. Guilty, tool don't
know anything more. And 1 cam.
remember-who you are"
lyon don't know me?" Some of
Ben's own bewilderment seemed to
pass to him. You know Ezra Mel
Vile
sprigley stepped quickly to Mel
viIle's side. Hes suffering loss OF
memory" he explained swiftly.
This is the first time he ever re-
called his own name
Melville gazed at him in incredu-
lous establishment, then turned to
S~prigley. May talk to you about
this case?" he asked quietly. IF
not to you, who can 1 talk to-?
There are a few points that might
help to clear up
Many and important were the de-
velopments which arose from their
conference. Melville's northward
journey was postponed for some
days, and within a week this same
pleading his case to the governor of
the State of Washington. 1t came
about, from the same cause, that q
noted ~alienist, Forest. of Seattle,
visited Ben Darby in his cell; and
finally that the prisoner himself was
taken to the capital at Olympia.
The brief inquisition that follow
ed, changing the entire current OF
Ben Darby's life. occurred in the
private office of Mcnamara, the
governor. The alienist from Seattle
conducted the examination.
You don't remember this MANI"
Forest asked him quietly, indicating
Ezra Melville.
Again Ben's eyes studied the
droll, gray face. with the vaguest
kind Of memory. 1 know I've seen
him before-often. I can't tell any
thing else"
Hes a good friend of your fam
lily L SllUulu Sdy ne was a NCLS
good friend, to take the trouble and
time he has, in your behalf"
Ben nodded. The explanation was
beyond him.
Forest leaned forward. you re-
member the Saskatchewan river?"
Ben Strengthened, but the dim
images in his mind were not clear
enough for him to answer in the
affirmative. I'm afraid not"
Melville leaned forward in his
chair. "Ask him if he remembers
winning the canoe race at Lodge
Pole-or the time he shot the Atha-
baska Rapids"
Ben turned brightly to him. but
slowly sh, ok his head. 81 can't re-
member V hearing of them be-
fore"
II think you would, in time"
Forest remarked. They must have
been interesting experiences. Now
what do these mean to you?-Thun-
der Lake-Abner Darby-Edith
Darby-MacLean's College"
Abner Darby! 1t was curious
what a flood of tenderness swept
through Ben as, whispering, he re-
peated the name. Since his own was
Darby, Abner Darby was, IN all
probability, his father; but his rea-
soning intelligence, rather than his
memory, told him so.
The name of Edith Darby con-
jured up in his mind a childhood
playmate girl with towzled yell
low curls and chubby, confiding lit
tie hands. But these dim mem
ory-pictures went no further; there
were no later visions of Edith as a
young woman, poisoning with vir-
gin beauty. The third name of the
three, MacLean's College, called up
no memories whatever.
They'll strengthen in time, I'm
sure,' Forest told him. Put them
out of your mind, for now. Let it
be blank" The alienist again leaned
toward him, his eyes searching.
There ensued an instant's pause.
possessing a certain quality of sus-
pense. Then Forest spoke quickly,
sharply. "Wolf Darby"
In response a curious tremor
passed over Ben's frame, giving in
some degree the effect of a violent
start. "Wolf Darby" he repeated
hesitantly. why do you call me
that?"