Evening star., 1925-04-05

Il don't know what I'm driving at"
| was the others reply II only know
that L woke up last night, tiptoed to
the door of my room, opened it and
| found myself trying the door of the
room next to mine. l wasn't walking
, in my sleep: | was wide awake. i
intended to rob that next room. Now,
| know that is wrong. | may not
have been a thief before ! lost my
| memory. But how do know?
Wouldn't it be better for me to aban-
don any effort to re-establish myself
under my own name? Might it not be
possible that | would find the police
waiting for the owner of that name?"
You are very frank said the
doctor
a Doctors office is like a confes-
sional; isn't it?" retorted the patient
This one is" said Conkling grim
ly. But I have told you that 1
would not risk an operation"
And I'm not sure that I'd consent
to one" said the patient. I'D like
to know who l am, but I'd like TO
find out quietly. / don't want to
| stir up any hornets nest"
You are very remarkable
man" said Conkling. May I ask
what you intend to do when you
leave this office"
Heaven knows. have nearly
| trade, no profession, no means of
earning a livelihood, and no friends"
DR.. Conkling drummed upon his
desk with great spatulate fingers.
You interest me-" he said at last
Il gather that you do not look with
equanimity upon the prospect of star
vation."
You're exactly right" said the
other. According to what little I've
found out about myself in the last
IA hours or so, your diagnosis of my
character is correct. That / am more
than reckless, a law-breaker, I don't
know.
CONKLING ceased his drumming.
You have, of course, no plans.
And you interest me. You are a rare
type-a man of evident culture who
is apparently completely normal.
believe that / would be overlooking
scientific opportunity if j did not
Keep you near me. l have need of
sort or secretary-companion. The pay
Will be ample for your needs. You
Will live here with me. AS you work
for me you will also be under my
medical observation. What do you
say?''
II may be the most vicious Grim
fnal at large; may be murderer"
objected the Englishman.
The physician smiled, exposing
great white teeth. sharp like those
or some carnivorous animal.
You are an extremely well built
young man." he said But though l
am at least 20 years older, / would
back myself in any contest of skill
or strength with you. For your own
sake, L would advise you to restrain
any homicidal impulses toward me-"
The Englishman grinned II was
only suggesting something"
Il was making more than a sug-
gestion--1 was uttering a warning"
rejoined Conkling. What do you
say?"
What can say, except that I am
extremely grateful" replied the Eng
lishman.
1T is settled. then. One Of the
servants will show you your quar-
ters. You will dine with me. Your
other meals you will take in your
room. You will be paid $50 week
| will explain your duties in few
days. In the meantime, l would sug-
gest that you familiarize yourself
with the city. That will be all for
now"
He made a gesture of dismissal,
then called the patient back.
"Oh. can't call you you all the
time. Have you any choice of
names?"
The Englishman shook his head
Il will call you, then, McFarlane-
Philip McFarlane. That will be all,
McFarlane.''
The duties of McFarlane were not
at all onerous. They consisted for
the most part in accompanying the
doctor on long walks after Office
hours and in affording an audience
to the physician in the evening when
he ordinarily played the violin for a
couple of hours. The new secretary
| had plenty of leisure. and he i'm
proved it in an odd fashion.
He studied the habits of the whole
household. He learned what serv-
ants were light sleepers, what they
did on their nights Off at what hours
| they might be expected to return.
Also he learned by heart the plans
of each floor. And he took it upon
himself to oil certain locks and
hinges that had a habit of squeak
| ing. And exactly three weeks after
his entrance into the Conkling house
| hold he crept, at 2 o'clock in the
| morning, into the bedroom where his
employer slept. With an uncanny
deftness he took a bunch of keys
from the pair of trousers which
Conkling had hung over the back of
| a chair Kneeling before a house
| safe in one corner of the bedroom, he
opened it. He had distracted a great
| wad of bills when a slight noise from
| the bed made him turn. His employ
er was awake.
Y He leaped for the door Conkling
intercepted him. The two bodies
clashed with a noise that woke the
household. Savagely McF'arlane tried
to break the grip of the giant who
had grappled with him. Working
free, he struck his employer a half
dozen trip-hammer blows in the face.
The physician shook them off. His
great arm circled through the air,
his fist collided with McFarlane's