The Omaha morning bee., 1925-04-05
The Dictum of Amnesja.

the slanting desk before him, and
dipped his pen In the inltwell.
His bushy eyebrows drew together
in portentous frown, which could
not. however, entirely hide the good
humor In his blue eyes.
whats the charge against the
prisoner he asked.
Officer Mccarthy srinned. There
amt none, Sergeant Ryan"
"Ah. the gentleman dropped In for
a little sicial relaxation? Or is he
here TO make complaint against
someone else? Introduce us, Officer
Mccarthy
That's just it." said the police
man. 'He don't know who he Is"
Sergeant Ryan adjusted his glasses.
He shifted in his chair that he
might get a better view of McCar-
thy's companion. He saw a well-built
man of medium height. with extreme
ly keen gray eyes. They were deep
set below well-shaped forehead
above which grew black hair that
was as straight as an Indians. In
deed, the sharp-edged high-bridged
iiOSt, anu tie lliSIb ititeth-DOllt DOIe
out the impressian that here was
some one in whose veins ran the
blood of the American aborigines.
His mouth. though wide enough for
good humor, was thin-lipped. His
chin was bony and aggressive. And
his skin had that ieathery look
which comes to those who live and
labor out.ofdoors.
But his clothing seemed to have
nothing to do with the plains or hills
from which he might reasonably
have been assumed TO came. For an
expert tailor had cut the blue flannel
lounge suit which he wore; an Eng.
lish tailor, Sergeant Ryan decided
And the slightly brogued low tan
shoes could have come from the Brf-
tish Isles The hat which swung from
his hand was gray felt of delicate
and expensive texture. His scarf was
a golden brown, and beneath II Ryan
could see a shirt of soft fine linen
The sergeant added the face and the
clothing together and reached the
sum wealthy sportsman, English"
80 you don't know your manner"
he said wonderingly.
The stranger laughed embarrassed
ly. Sounds jolly rot, doesn't it?"
Sergeant Ryan mentally compi-
mented his own shrewdness. He had
guessed the mans nationality correct
ly, for his accent was indisputably
British
We'll. IT does seem strange for
young fellow in the pink OF condi-
ton like you seem to be, TO forget
who he is. You talk like an English
man. don't know how It Is in dear
old Lunnon. but 1t amt exactly
healthy TO spool the police over here.
Not in my precinct, anyway. So. Just
out of the kindness of my great big
generous heart, I'm telling you that
il you came here for a laugh you
picked the wrong spot
The stranger smiled deprecatingiy.
"If. there is any laugh In this, it's on
me, not you. 7 assure you, never
felt less like laughing in my life"
"Well. it's tough position you're
in. young man." he said. It'd give
me the willies"
cit makes me feel a little ga.ga,"
said the young man.
" Gaea% Now, that's new one
on me. Does it mean the willies?"
The stranger smiled. Something
like that. I imagine
well. | don't blame YOU said the
sergeant. "But suppose you tell me
the whole story
The stranger shrugged his well.knit
shoulders. :There's very little to tell.
! suddenly found myself walking on
a broad avenue along the edge of
park. ! don't know how I got there,
where it was, or who I was He
smiled rather winningly. ITS a
dreadful sensation"
II believe YOU" declared the ser
geant with emphasis. You don't
suppose you'd been drinking a little
bootleg liquor? It does strange things
10 people, you know
Now. that's a funny thing" re.
piled the stranger. while I don't
know my name, or where ] come
from, l do remember many. things.
For instance, ] know that I never
drink, and smoke only occasionally.
No, it wasn't liquor"
what did you do when you found
out your memory'd gomez" asked the
sergeant.
The stranger looked embarrassed.
"Well. at first I went into a state of
panic. Then I said to myself, Look
here, old man, this will never do.
Won't get you anywhere except com
pletely ga.ga.
THAT 'gaga' Is grand word"
commented the sergeant. "Go on"
'Well. across the park I could see
tail buildings, bigger than anything
that I'd ever seen in London"
'You remember London them" In
terrupted the sergeant.
"I seem to know, somehow, that
London is my home. But where I
lived there, ! couldn't possibly tell
you. Also. I remember Paris and
Brussels and the Riviera and Rome
quite as well as I remember Lon
DON"
"Polly.yoo Francy2a asked .e ser.
seant.
"Ah. oui, Monsieur. Msis ie ne suis
pas Francais. No. I'm not French.
I'm English"
The sergeant nodded. II believe
you. Go on
"welI, I looked for a sign, and
discovered that 7 was on Fifth ave-
nue.. But after two hours I hadn't
learned anything about myself. ]
couldn't go back Of the moment when
found myself strolling on Fifth
avenue. And so. finally, seeing this
officer here, I walked up to him and