Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-04-19
CHAPTER XIII

lure Jacoby was forcing upon him.
This occupation was enough for the
present. He filled up his mind with
German words to keep it from being
filed up with thoughts of Elizabeth.
When Jacoby came to see him he
talked in simple sentences, proudly,
and felt childish delight when
Jacoby and the nurses began to un-
derstand him.
Long afterwards, when they were
looking back on those days, Jacoby
said to him, "You did not know how
you were encouraging me then" Ar
thur answered, Maybe you never
knew how often I nearly gave up"
YES I did know" said Jacoby, "but
you did not give up. That is what
I mean, Kitt.''
To the very end, Jacoby some
times called him Kit. If anyone
asked why, he said, "Oh no, Herr
kessler's first name is Erich. Call
ing him Kit is an old habit of mine,
from years back"
They were both SO used to it they
generally forgot it was an abbrevia-
ton of his old name. The new name
was provided by Jacoby after Arthur
had been moved to the hospital in
Berlin, while he was convalescing
from another of the surgical opera
tons Jacoby inflicted upon him. He
had been very ill and Jacoby had
given him blood TRANSMISSION. When
he was better and tried to express
his thanks Jacoby retorted, my
blood isn't good enough for graft
tude, Kitt-made of nothing but tur-
nips and a carrot or two. But I
have something else for you, more
important" He produced a docu-
ment, offering it with an air of tri-
umph. Here is your birth certif-
icate.
Listen carefully, Kilt. From now
on your name is Erich Kessler.
have lost sleep over wondering how
you could identify yourself, until one
morning about three o'clock found
the solution. When l was a child,
my parents knew a couple named
Kessler. They had a son named
Erich. While the boy was still a
baby, the Kesslers went to the Unit
ed States. They lived in a town
called" he consulted his notes, and
pronounced incorrectly - "Milwau-
kee. You have heard of it,"
Arthur nodded. Eyes. I grew up
in town called Chicago. They are
very near each other"
"You have been to Milwaukee,"
Frequently"
THAT is good. While he was still
small child, Erich Kessler died.
I know that, because his mother and
mine used to correspond. But there
is no official record of that in this
country, because the Kesslers
stayed in the United States and were
naturalized. For all I know they
may be there to this day."
Making beer, perhaps?"
"Why? Do you know them?"
'Never heard of them. But know
Milwaukee. Go on, Jacoby."
II have obtained Erich Kessler's
birth certificate. I have recorded
that Observation-Disclosures without
his knowledge or consent when his
parents were naturalized, was draft
ed into the American army. The
rest follows. You have returned to
the land of your birth, and can stay
here now until you want to leave"
II shall not want to leave, ia
coby."
II hope not. But anyway, this
makes you a German and at the
same time takes care of your Amer
lean accent. However, please listen
to me and try to speak like me.
Erich Kessler would have heard his
parents speak German at home and
would pronounce it better than you
do"
"I'n do my best. Correct me
whenever you please"
Almost automatically, Jacoby was
massaging the muscles of his pa
tents right arm. "These are fab
BY" he observed. "While you are
lying in bed, for a few minutes at
time, clench your fist slowly and
relax it slowly. Slowly, remember?
That won't tax your strength, and
you must take care of this arm. You
will need it,
"F'or crutch?" said the new
made Erich Kessler, with a note Of
his old bitterness.
81 hope there will be a crutch,"
Jacoby answered quietly. "Remem.
Der, I've promised nothing abou,
your legs except to do the best I can
with Them"
"All right, all right, I know. A
man isn't hoping for too much in
this world when he hopes for q
crutch, is he?"
Jacoby addressed him sternly
my friend, until you can face what
you're up against now, you aren't
fit to try to 60 further"
There was long silence. At last
the patient said, II get it, Jacoby
And-ah-thank you.''