The Argosy, January 1906 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

4 Miedy | | ¥ * x 1 i Py ~~ *) wy Pes. Ye i }, y Dt) ny Feel ie phi Me i 4 K x awl ce) , A any i rey) bs yet igh i> eR ee ‘' Mary, {A Mada te iin LEE TAC ET 02 Bf % M ve | " uy , / 7 - SS. freee Savitaiiw Ta HA Le 4 318 insanity; the lost memory had returned to patients who, in their normal health, were classed as imbeciles. However it had come about, the fact was established beyond peradventure that the gulf between Lloyd’s primary and his present personality could be spanned. Since November, when his patient’s mind seemed established in its present groove, the physician’s apprehensions had been lulled to sleep. At times he had feared the curious inquiries of out- siders; but he had not expected a sudden exposure such as this incident had promised. Working and studying daily to the end that he might cure his friend of his loss of memory, Burress had hoped gradually to merge his present mind with that of the old Seymour Lloyd. This strange paroxysm suggested the possibility of instantaneously throwing the patient back into his original per- sonality. Burress secretly intended escaping from his present environment when Lloyd seemed upon the highroad to re- covery; he could do this without break- ing his promise to Leslie. Faithfully as he had taken up the treatment of his old friend, there was back in his mind the expectation that opportunity would be given him to flee from the consequences of his crime before Lloyd’s story of the murder would be made public. But this sudden alternation from one identity to the other threatened him with instant ruin if his friend should become firmly established in his old mind again. The change was like to be sudden and unexpected; chance might not favor him a second time. Had any other medical man been pres- ent when Lloyd made his accusation, or was Leslie herself at all suspicious, Bur- ress would have been put to it for an explanation of his old friend’s harsh words. | Fortunately no elucidation was needed; Leslie was convinced that Lloyd had been delirious. She did not suspect that for those few moments he was his own sane self. She had caught a glimpse of her lover as he used to be, and had not known it! “ What Orrin says is true—it must be THE ARGOSY. true, Ramon,” she said _ earnestly. “Seymour saw your uncle shot; there can be no doubt of it after this. “Tf he was himself again he might even be able to point out the murderer. I have never believed that the shot was fired and that the guilty person went away without being aware of the awful result of his act. “This explains it—don’t you think so? Poor Seymour must have been within sight when the shot was fired. He not only saw your uncle killed, but he knows the man who killed him. In his delirium the scene came back-to him. Don’t you think that is reasonable? ” “It may be so,” Burress answered gravely. “We probably shall never know the truth of the matter until Lloyd is once more firmly established in his original identity.” “Tell me, Ramon, does what has hap- pened this evening give you any stronger hope for his recovery?” The girl clasped her hands over the doctor’s arm -and looked up at him with eyes whose glance he dared not meet. “I cannot answer that question, Les- lie,’ he murmured. “How will he be when he awakes? Will he be delirious again? Is it pos- sible that he may come back to us—in his own sel{—this very night?” Burress, whose fingers were lightly resting upon Lloyd’s wrist, shook his head slowly, and finally he turned to her with a sad smile. “No, no, Leslie; not now. Perhaps the drugs [ gave him stimulated his system too highly at first; but they have now gained control of the fever. He will awake just as he was before the paroxysm. We must be patient.” She began to sob, hiding her face against his shoulder. His arm stole around her waist, drawing her to him, and he patted her hand as he might have soothed a child. : “Dear Ramon! my more than brother! What should I do without you in this hard trial? I know you will do your best for him—your very best. But it is so hard to wait! ” The crisis of Lloyd’s illness was past. He awoke in the morning without fever and in a few days had completely thrown off the effects of the cold. He had no comicbook