The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-03-06
Chapter 28 A BLIND TRAIL

Chapter 28
 A BLIND TRAIL
 A bell was ringing somewhere Enid raised her head and listened She brushed the tears from her eyes. and automatically put the re- ceiver to her ear. It was central asking for her
 "Marthal" she exclaimed eager ly. Martha! Marthal Is that you!''
 And then the old familiar voice, but in anxious tones, answered her:
 "Yes, dearl Yes, it's Martha. I received your telegram. Is any thing the matter2 What is it? Are you i'll? Has something happened? I've been so worried all day, but your telegram said not to telephone you until this evening. Tell me, dear, what is it?"
 Martha" she cried, I've seen Royl''
 i've seen him-talked to him" Enid added wildly. He's here in New York"
 "Oh, Miss Enidl" Martha's voice was quivering with excitement now. Dear Roy-dear, dear Royl It sounds like miracle! But your poor mother was always so sure, sweet soul, that he would come back, wasn't she? Oh, Miss Enid, what glad, glad news I wish l could take you in my arms this minute, child. I am so happy for you both. What a meeting you must have had Is he well? Where has he been all these years? Something very strange must have happened to have kept him from you until now. Tell me about it."
 "Yes'-there was a sob in her throat, now-"yes, something did something terrible. Mar tha, he-he lost his memory in the var He doesn't recognize me. And, worse still, he believes that he is someone else"
 For moment, as though stunned into silence, Martha did not an- swer; and then Enid heard her cry out in mingled grief and pity:
 Poor Royl Oh. Miss Enidl'
 And I've tried to tell him over and over again" said Enid brok- enly, that he is Roy; and I've tried to prove it to him, and make him believe. But he won't believe
 "Child"-Martha's voice was siid- denly resolute and determined I'm coming right back home! With someone else besides yourself, with his old nurse to recognize him. too, he'll soon believe us. Don't you worry another moment about it, dear. I'll leave here tomorrow morn ing
 "No'-Enid shook her head pite- ously as though Martha could ac- tually see her-"that wouldn't do any good. He says he knows who he is, that he was born in Chicago, and that he could bring dozens of people to identify him who knew him there"
 Again there was pause. Miss Enid" d"-Martha's voice came at last hesitantly and troubled IT don't seem to be able to quite un- derstand. It--it's so strange Could --could there be any chance, dear that you have made a mistake and that he is someone else?"
 "Oh, Marthai How could I? How could that be possible?"
 asWell, haven't seen him, dear and there are people, you know who look very much alike. There have been hundreds of cases of mis. taken identity
 Mistaken identityl" Enid's voici was low and trembling. "Yes, tha is what he says But it can't bel l couldn't bel" And then, faltering ly. "Oh, Martha, do you think i could?"
 s"Well, of course, as I said, haven't seen him." Martha answer cd soothingly; "but such thing possible. And then there are al these years that have gone by sine he went away, and there is tn war, too, to think of-there must b changes. He was little more thal boy, then, and he's man now.
 "Oh, know all that!" Enid erie out desperately. That is also wha he says. And-and that was onl child when I last saw him. Blu If you saw him now you'd know too, that he was Roy"
 s.sYes, and that's just what an going to do,' Martha replied cheer fully. "I'll be back there as fast a a train will take me"
 Enid's lips frightened suddenly Martha back herel No, lio. no she mustn't cofnel And, besides, wouldn't do any goodl .
 NO, Martha"-she was forcin composure into fier voice-"I d not want you to do that. Indeed you mustn't do anything of tn L,-at r.,a,, ;f vn,f were inst AS SIT