The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-15
Continued From Page 81


scene about him. the anxious. inter.
essed faces. faded from his conscious.
ness Thunder LAkei Somewhere.
some time. Thunder Lake had had
the most intimate associations with
his life Tho name stirred him and
moved him. dim voices whispered
m his ears about II. but he couldn't
quito catch what they said. lie
CROPPED and reached IN vain.
There was no doubt but that an
under-consclousnoss had full knowi.
edgc Of the name and all that n
meant. But Il simply could not
reach that knowledge up into his
conscious mind.
Ahner Darby II was curious what
n flood OF tenderness swept thru
hun as. whispering. he repeated the
name. Some one old and white
haired had been named Ahner Oar
by; some ono whom no had once
worshippcd with tho fevor OF boy.
heed. but who had leaned on hts
shoulders In latter years. Since his
own name was Darby. Abner Darby
was. IN all probability. his father.
but his reasoning intelligence.
rather than his memory. told him
90.
The name OF Faith Darby confurcd
mp In his mind childhood play.
matc.--a girl with towTled yellow
curis and chubby. eonflding little
hands. 80. But these dim mem.
CRY pictures went no further. there
were no later visions OF Edith as a
young woman. hlossoming with vir-
sin beauty. They stopped short. and
he had a deep. compelling sense OF
grief The child. unquestionably a
sister. had likely died In early years.
The third name OF the three. Mac
Leans College. called up no mem
cries whatever.
Il can hardly say that rcmcrn.
Der much abou, them" he responded
at last. Il think they'll come piaincr.
tho. tho moro l think about them
just get the harest. vaguest IDEAS
They'll strengthen In time. IN
SURF" Forest told him. "Put them
out OF your uind. for now. Let Il
be blank" The alleniHt again leaned
toward him. his eyes searching.
There ensued an inatant's pause.
possessing a certain quality OF sus-
pense- Then Forest spoke quickly.
sharply. Wolf Darbyr'
In response a curious trcmor
passed over Bcn's frame. giving In
some degree the effect Of violent
start. .'Wolf Darby he repeated
hesitantiy. why do you call mo
THAR
Tho very fact that you know
the name refers 10 you. not some one
else. shows that that blunted mem
ory OF yours has begun 10 function
In some degree. Now think. what
do you know about 'woir Darby
Ben tried In vain 20 find an an.
gwer. A whole world Of meaning
fingered just beyond tho reach Of
hts cropping mind. but always II
eiuded him IL was true. however.
that tho name gave him certain
sense Of pleasure and pride. as II u
had been used An compliment 10
some Of his own traits. Far away
and long ago. men had called him
''woif- Darby: he felt that perhaps
the name had carried far. thru
many sparseiy settled districts. But
what had been tho occasion for II
he did not know.
He described these dlrn memory
pictures. and Forests air OF salts
faction seemed TO imply that his
own theories I'm regard 20 Ben's
case were receiving Justification He
appeared quite little flushed. deep
~ intent. when he turned 10 the
next feature % the examination. He
suddenly spoke quietly TO old Ezra
Melville. and the latter put a small.
cardboard box into his hands.
II want ycu TO see what have
here" Forest told Ben. They were
your own possessions once--you
sent them yourself to Abner Darby.
your late father--and want you TO
see n you remember them"
Ben's eyes fastened on the box:
and the others saw a queer drawing
Of the tines OF his face. curious
Tightening and eiasping Of his fling.
era. There was little doubt hut that
hts Bubconsciousness had fun cog
nizance Of the contents Of that box.
He was trembling slightly. too--ln
excitement and expectation - and
Ezra Melville. suddenly standing
erect. was trembling too. The mo
ment was charged with the utter
most suspense.
Evidently this was the climax In
the examination Even McNamara.