Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-16

6cgtl Itetc lOuaS
In a convict gang toiling on a
road on the outskirts Of NaIIa
Malta is
BEN DARBY. serving 4 five-year
sentence for robbery committed
while a Victim of amnesla u to
wounds received in the war. A
chance meeting with
EZRA MELVILLE an old friend OF
the prisoner, esuits IN recogni-
ton Melville pleads with
GONERNOR MCNAMARA to have
the prisoner examined. The men,
tai test is made By
FOREST, a noted alienist of Seattle.
A small box is brought forth n
Darby remembers its contents.
the Victoria Cross given him for
yalor in the war.
Go on With the Story
Mcnamara focused an intent gaze
first on Ben, then on the alienist. 1t
d, then-as you guessed"
Absolutely. The night of his ar
rest marked the end of his trouble:
you might say that his brain simply
snapped back into health and began
10 function normally again, after a
period of temporary mania from
sheil-shock. In other words. he a
been slowly convalescing since that
night; under the proper stimuli l
have no doubt that everything would
come back to him."
"And u friend here-Melville-
offers to supply those stimuli"
Exactly. And it's up to you to
say whether he gets a chance
/. Thoughtfully the executive drum
med his desk with his pencil. Pres
emily a smile markedly boyish
and pleasant, broke over his face.
He turned slowly In his chair.
DARBY, / suppose you followed
what that doctor said?" he asked
easily.
Fairly well, / think"
eI'l, review it, if l may. It seems,
Ben, that you have been the victim
Of a strange set of unfortunate cir
cumstances. Due TO the efforts of
an old family friend we've looked up
Your record. You served in France
with Canadian troops and there you
won among other honors the highest
honor that the government of
England can award a hero. There
you were shell shocked, in the last
months of the
ssThis good friend of yours has a
plan outlined that he'll tell you of
later. that will not only be the best
possible influence toward recalling
your memory. but will also give you
3 clean, new start in life.
$50 you needn't return to Walla
WaIla, Darby. I'm going to parole
you-under the charge of your bene-
factor. Melville, from now on ats
up to you"
CHAPTER II
Hiram MeIyille's Will
There was a great house cleaning
II the dome of the heavens one mem
orable night that flashed like a jew
ell from the murky desolation of a
rainy spring.
The Seattle citiZenry, for the first
time In some weeks, recalled the ex-
istence of the stars. A magnificent
moon rose in the east, too big and
too bright to compete with.
No living creature who saw it re-
NAMED wholly unmoved by it.
But to no one in the city vas the
Influence Of the moon more potent
han to Ben Darby, once known as
Wolf" Darby through certain far
spreading districts, and now newly
come from the State capital. walk
ing Seattle's streets with his ward
and benefactor, Ezra Melville.
Forest had given over the case: it
was MeIyiIle's time for experiments
tonight. AL the way out he had
watched his patient, sounding him,
studying his reactions; and all that
lie had beheld had gone to strength
n his own convictions.
II don't e any harm in tellin'
o. that the guesses you've already
made are rigb.. Your name is Ben
Darby-and you used to be known
IS Wolf Darby-for reasons that
sooner or later you may know. Alb
ner Darby was your father. Edith
Darby was your sister that amt no
ore. You went awhile 10 Mac
leans College in Ontario.
NOW Ben, I'm going to put a
proposition UP to you I'm hoping
you'il see fit to accept it. I don't
zee 1t makes a whale of a lot OF diff
terence whether you get your mem
Dry back or not.
1.-THE reason Pm goin' to take you
where I'm goin' to take you is for
your own good"
I'm willing TO take your word for
that. Mr.. Melville" Ben i~nterposed