New Britain herald., 1927-01-06
@192o, NEA SERVICE NC
WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE

Elwell is an artist. He has a son. Jim. aged 5. Late that night the woman bears twin girls and dies without revealing her name. ' The story then moves forward IS years. The twins, now growing to beautiful womanhood. have been adopted and named Margaret and Elizabeth. They are called Rusty and Betty.
 Jim enlists in the World War Hs then discovers one of the twins l loves him. Put in charge of a machine gun unit, he is she'll shocked at Sedan and, through a miXup, is registered as John Pow ell. He is removed to an American hospital and reported dead. | It is discovered that the father of the twins is dead and that they are the nieces and heirs of John Clayton. wealthy retired banker While the twins are visiting Clay tons home, the Elwells get word that Jim is alive and in New York hospital and their grief is turned to joy.
 While they are on their way to New York the story goes back to the point where Mike Hennegan, .x- l soldier, is taken by nurse Nellie Downing 10 the hospital where Jim 1 is. There they are told about his | strange case.
 NOW BEGIN THE STORY
 CHAPTER XXy l What has been taught so far" l the superintendent continued, "con- i sists in getting into his coat and trousers, drawing on his socks and shoes and walking and eating in the way I've described. Those things he now performs of his own volition, poor fellow. You will find him very tractable and an easy patient to handle.
 "As for any understanding of what is said to him, fox terrier is a marvel of intellect in comparison Nellie Downing winced.
 "Only his physical brain func- I tions." said the superintendent. There is no sign of real mental ac- tivity whatever. It is thought that an operation possibly might restore ! him to normal, but such an opera tion, on the other hand, would be exceedingly dangerous and perhaps 1 fatal. The trouble. doubtless, is the result of blood clot on the brain 0" 1 else some connecting fiber in some way was broken by the terrific physical shock of a heavy shell ex- plosion."
 "Is there nothing we can do?" Nellie Downing asked.
 Nothing that l know of" If it was blood clot. the superintendent told her, another similar shock might, so the specialists had said, shake it loose and bring back his memory.
 , But it would be purely accidental if it did. Now, if you wish, l will | have him brought in here, but there isn't q chance in a million that he will know you or would know any person he had ever seen before. In my opinion and in the opinion of two specialists who have examined him, he might far better have been killed outright"
 He called an orderly and instruct cd him 10 bring John Doe Number into the reception room. The orderly went out and Nellie Down. ings eyes met those of Mike Henne- gan.
 The orderly returned in a few minutes and Nellie Downing rose with an impulsive little cry as her gaze rested on the man she had seen carried out of the hospital in Metz, shaken wreck.
 She started forward but before she had taken a step her ear drums were almost split by a whoop in her ear.
 Mike Hennegan had been sitting in his chair when the patient was brought in and had glanced up with only casual interest, But suddenly great change came over him. Me started up, his face wrinkled in surprise and his mouth fell open. Then he gave vent to his war whoop and rushed past Nellie Downing like a huge projectile hurled from Q catapult.
 For the love of Saint Pat!" the nurse heard him yelp in raucous bleat as he grabbed the shell-shock- ed soldiers hand in 8 pump-handle .l, n1- n ro't Jim Elwell! Who in hell would ever've dreamed of this? Me old sidekick, Jim. Put 'er there, old top, put Ger there!'
 The heart of Nellie Downing rose up in a quick, thrilling leap as she heard the words of recognition. But it sank again the next instant as she noted the total lack of any aroused memory in the eyes of the man Mike had called Jim Flwell.
 Those eyes looked at Mike Henne- gan and merely stared. His hand had gone out mechanically into Mikes grasp. He was unsmiling. un- moving, like some pale wooden sol dier.
 Mike had not yet noticed all this. His heart was sounding the bugle call of reveile in his excited brain, which at that moment held nothing but the glad knowledge that his old. buddy stood before him.
 Well, I'm a son of a gun," he went on, his grin still stretching from ear to ear, still pumping the staring soldiers hand. Now. what do you know about this? Don't you remember me, Jim-yer old pal Mike, that fought the cooties with yuh half way across France an t"0l got gasscd at the foot of Belleau Wood? Don't you remember me an the French quartet what used 10 sing all those crazy dam-don't you remember. Jim"
 He stopped short. The happy look on his freckled face faded. The grin vanished and the mouth sagged. It had suddenly dawned on him that |. l.l, fN