The Argosy, January 1906 — page 130: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

312 But although he hed so calmly, the storekeeper’s question had pointed a way of danger, and a danger that was imminent. Suppose inquiries should be made about his own rifle! | Several people would know that - weapon well enough to swear to it in any court of law. Some occasion might arise which would call for the produc- tion of the gun—and he had buried it in the swamp! How short-sighted he was to destroy the gun in that way! Had he merely hidden it under a log or in a brush elump, he could have smuggled it home afterward. This idea worked upon Burress’ mind for forty-eight hours. Then he found a reason for visiting the city, and boldly took his gun-case along. It was a stiff leather case, and he load- ed it with stones so that it was the weight of an ordinary gun. Toa chance . inquirer he proposed saying that he was taking the weapon with him for re- pairs. On arriving at his destination—the very town where, by this time, Lawyer Higby’s checks had paid all his old ac- eounts—Burress went to a hotel, en- gaged a room, and behind the locked door dumped out the contents of the ease. Then he went to a gunsmith’s and bought the duplicate of the rifle he had hidden in the swamp. He as well as Lloyd had scratched his name on the butt of his rifle years be- fore, and now he marked this new gun in the same way. Sandpaper and a file to rub down the parts corresponding to those worn on the old gun, and oil to blacken the butt and give it an old ap- pearance, finished his work. He went back to Barrowsvale carry- ing with him a weapon which he was not afraid to show as the gun he had so often used in the Big Woods during his vacations. One danger, he believed, was sidetracked. The old doctor remained to assist him with Lloyd for a fortnight; and Ogle- thorpe displayed his interest in the case by coming to Barrowsvale twice for con- sultation. Yet Burress was forced to wage practically a single-handed fight for his friend’s health and sanity. Day and night, excepting during the THE ARGOSY. » hours which were spent by Lloyd in sleep, Burress was by his side. Slowly at first the patient learned some simple things, much as one of the bigger and more’ intelligent apes would have learned them. For instance, he was soon able to hold a cup and could drink from it; he ate with a fork and spoon, although unless he was watched he fell back upon his fingers as a child might, the digits being easier to manage than the table instru- ments. The mind which had been perfectly blank upon his awakening advanced in primary branches of education quite rapidly, when once Burress had gained its attention. Lloyd was no longer afraid of new faces, and he began to repeat a few words, although at first speech was very difficult. In the beginning he learned the names of the objects about him, and those which he first began to use, fol- lowing this by learning the names of the individuals whom he saw most frequent- ly. Hearing Burress called “ doctor” incessantly, he picked up the word and addressed Burress by it, showing there- by the possession already of some rea- soning powers. It was after Dr. Munhall had. gone away again and left his protégé without medical advice or assistance that the patient learned most rapidly. He was as docile as a well-behaved child, and never sought to oppose Burress. So active was his mind that every minute of the time the doctor could spend with him was occupied in Lloyd’s learning something new. And his mem- ory retained everything which he under- stood. He soon learned to call the moving shadows which had so disturbed him at first “ people.” “What am I?” he asked Burress one day. “You are ‘ people,’ too,” he was told. At once he wished to know why he did not get up and move about, and be dressed in clothing like other folks. Before this time he had never ex- pressed a desire to move from his bed, for Burress had been more anxious to advance his mental activities than. his physical. = com chook (e(@) m