Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-04-17


heard" Renshaw explained as he sat
down again. you see, my PROPOSE
ton Is so unusual"
Campbell nodded. "You may feel
unite SAFE" he said. mo one In the
huuse could have any reason for listen
ing to us, even If we had any one here
who-ah-did that kind Of thing"
Again he wished this young man
you'd come to the point; and now, as
If in response to the telepathic COM
mand, the caller did so, taking the mo-
ment as II 1t were hurdle.
1.-THE truth is, sir" he blurted out,
"I-~nave come here to ask you to buy
mel"
Campbell leaned forward.
II beg your pardon" he said apollo
getically, "but / shall have to ask you
to speak very distinctly. OF late my
hearing"
Il have come here, Mr.. Campbell"
henshaw repeated, slowly and clearly,
ito ask you to buy mel"
The old man, who was still bending
toward him with look of almost
strained attention, relaxed In his chair
and smiled. 1t was courteous smile,
but weary one, the smile of man
constrained by good breeding to ac-
cept dull jest He shook his head.
"And now" he invited, "let us get to
the point"
'"That is the point" Renshaw spoke
with an apathetic flatness of tone. He
was struggling with a tremendous
temptation to get up and get out; to
drop the whole business; to take the
other way-which, for the moment at
least, seemed the easier way.
"Will you-ah-elucidate?
"It sounds rather weird I know"
Renshaw said apologetically, "but Doc
tor Stanley warned you 1t was I'M
usual He knows all about my plan
and highly approves of it."
"Dick approves of my-my buying
your" Campbell was puzzled, uncon-
WINGED. annoyed, and sta bit appre-
hensiv@.
"YeA sir. And, if You don't mind
should like to explain"
IT wish you would" Campbell said,
almost fretfully.
"Mr. Campbell, don't expect you to
take in the thing all at once, but the
facts are these" Renshaw had begun
almost glibly, because he had re-
hearsed his opening speech. Now he
stopped, as If uncertain how to pro-
coed.
"Yes," prompted his hearer. Rem
shaw drew deep breath.
1.-TWO years ago." he said, II had an
will not trouble you with the details;
in fact, could not discuss them. The
result Is what am talking about. The
experience knocked me out completely
for year. The second year l was
able to crawl around, in leading
strings, as it were. Now l am well,
or almost well-but there is still one
thing I can't face. Stanley tells me
it's my last obsession, and that it will
pass as soon as I get into a normal
way of living. However that may be,
1t has got me now"
He brought out the last words be-
tween set teeth.
"What is it?" Campbell asked the
question very gently.
"a fear of the responsibility for my
own life. and self-support, a fear that
amounts to nightmare
"What? I beg your pardon, but
am never quite sure / am hearing
things correctly" the old man inter-
rupted.
"A horror Of the responsibility for
my self-support," Renshaw almost
fercely repeated. II can't endure it.
If have to face 1t in the half-baked
state I am in now, I shall never get
well. 1 know that. If, on the other
hand, some one else will be responsible
for me year longer, / am beginning
to believe that, with the start I've got,
/ can be cured. But-Ive got to be
owned and supported by another. I've
got to be bOndman. I've got to be
as irresponsible and dependent as a
slave, doing as I'm told and absolutely
assured of living"
David Campbell shook his head. He
was still puzzled, but he felt he was
beginning to understand. The poor
chap needed humoring.
"My dear fellow" he began sooth-
ingly, surely there are sanatoriums
where you can have every care"
"I've been in them; have had every
care. That's just the point. am ready
for the next step. The doctors have
turned me out. They say am well
but don't know 1t. Thex saw will