The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-16

NAtttttNtNA fN+tst - W
quality Of beauty that dwelt here.
.one strange. deep appeal that the
moonlit realm made 20 HIS heart.
FOR tho moment Ben had forgotten
the old. tried companion az hts side.
Vague memories stirred him. trying
10 convey him an urgent message.
lie could all but hear: the sight Of
shs meadows. ensilvcred under the
moon. were making many things
main 70 him which before were
shaaowed and vague The steel rails
cleaned like platinum. tho tree tops
seemed TO have white. molten metal
poured on them. II was hard 20
take his eyes Oft those moonllt trees.
They got 20 him. deep inside. thrill,
tnx 20 him, stirring Perhaps in his
Lost Land the moon shons on the
trees this same way.
There we're no prison walls around
him tonight. The high buildings be.
hind him. pressing one upon an.
other. had gone 10 sustain the feel.
ing q Imprisonment. but Il had
quite left him now. There were no
cola, waschfui lights.--only tho moon
ana the stars and an occasional mel.
low xleam nom tho window OF q
home. There was scarcely any
sound At all: not even a stir~-as 81
prisoners tossing and uneasy In thelr
cells. Ills whole body fcl, rested.
The air was marveiously sweet.
Clover was likely In blossom In near.
by fields He brcathed decp. an un-
known delight stealing over him. lie
stole on farther. into the mystery OF
tho nixht--ravtshed. tingilng and al
most hreathless from an inner and
inexpiicahie excitement. Melville
walkei quietly beside him.
Forest had given over the case:
Il was MeivIlie's time for expert.
rnents tonight. All the way out he
rad watched hts patient sounding
him. studying his reactions. and all
that h. had beheld had gone 70
strengthen his own convictions
And now. after this moment In the
meadows. the old man was ready to
70 en- with his plan.
Let's set down here he invited
casually. Ben started. emerging
from hts revcry. The Old mans
CHEEKY smile had returned. In its
!. fun charm. to his dfoli face. "You1l
want 10 know what it's all about
and what have I'm mind And
sure think you've done mighty well
20 hold onto your patience this
long"
He sat himself on the rail. and
Ben quietly took a scat beside him.
There are plenty Of things ia Ike
to know" he admitted
-And plenty Of things I Amt
soinr 20 tell You. neither-for the
reason that Forest advised against
IT. Ezra went on. Il don't under.
stand if--bus he says you've rot
lot better chance to set your memory
vorkin clear again n things are re-
called 70 you BY thu aid OF stimuli
Instead Of having any one tell you.
I'VE agreed to supply the stimuli
Il don't see any harm In tellin'
you that the wacases you've already
made are right. Your nam. 10 Ben
p9rey--end you used 10 be known
g ~woir parby--for reasons that
soou<r or later you may know.
Atner DARBY was your father. Edith
Darby WIS POUR sister that Amt no
more. You went awhile 10 Mac
Leans CoIisgc. In Ontario.
''Now. Ben. I'm going to put a
proposition Up to you I'm hoping
you ses fit TO accept II. And
might ~ well say right here. that
while Ms the best plan possible to
bring you back your memory. and
that while II offers Just the kind OF
fstimuli' you're supposed TO need.
neither stimuli nor stimulus or
efimuium has got very much to do
with II. I argued that point mighty
strong because I knew II would ap-
pal 10 Forest. and thru him. 20
the governor. don't see II makes
Z whale Of lot OF difference whether
you get your memory back or not.
Maybe you don't folier me. But
you know and I know you're all
night now. remembering clear enough
everything that happened since you
were arrested. and don't see what
difference II makes whether or not
you remember who your grea;-aunt
was. and the scrapes you got in as
Kid. You can talk and walk and
hsxer. get BY In any comp'ny. and
you suit me for a buddy just as you
are However. Forest seemed to think
r was mighty irnportant--and It may
~.
The reason I'm goin' 10 take you
where I'm going 10 take you IL for
your own good. I'm sort Of RESPONSE
bic for you. bein' your folks are dead.