The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

THANKS TO THE B. R. T. of the ablest and most sensitive con- sciences in the world; yet it was not sufficiently strong just now to part his lips again and release his true identity. Five hundred dollars! Why, for five hundred dollars, in his mental state this evening, he would undertake anything short of murder! With five hundred real dollars in his pocket he could settle down comfortably in a first-class boarding- house, draw his breath, recover from the shock of Dr. Rimborne’s passing, and look about for work that fitted his undoubted capabilities. To-night five hundred dollar meant the difference between utter ruin and humilia- tion, and an assured five months of com- fortable existence, with all that that en- tailed. Nor was it as if Polly Whinnys needed five hundred dollars. That favored soul had spent more than that sum for his office Oriental carpet alone. And other little arguments raced along, prodding Dr. Jim like so many imps. What Polly could do, he could do—of that he felt certain. And if Polly had been on hand, he would have taken. the job, whatever it was—and he hadn’t urea on hand. And still more, if that suggestion of “almost any fee’ were realized, he could split with Polly; or if Polly felt injured, he could, and of course would, hand over the entire sum. And also— Dr. Jim Bowen sat back suddenly. Right or wrong, his mind was made up! “Go on, Mr. Catterson,” he said quietly. “Vou find the terms satisfactory, doc- tor? Iam very glad of that,” Catterson’s whisper continued. “ T’ll try to tell you about the thing as briefly as possible, and please determine as I talk what questions you wish to ask. Dr. Whinnys, I have a daughter.” Dr. Jim bowed. ‘‘ She is twenty-two now, and for nearly a year she has been afflicted with a most peculiar nervous disease.” _ “Of what sort?” 13 “Your profession, — sir,” sighed heavily, “‘ has failed to give it any definite name and—what is more deplor- able—has failed to find any remedial measures which were of the least avail. Later, if you feel warranted in so doing, I may ask you-to undertake the case itself; for the present I can tell you only that three of our greatest specialists have tried to treat Helen, without success.” “a SCG “Frequently, for a week at a time, she is perfectly rational and normal in every way. Again, doctor, she will be- come subject to the most distressing at- tacks of fainting—you have a better name for it, I believe—which sometimes lapse into actual coma, a state which persists sometimes for five minutes and sometimes for two or three days. Frequently the child becomes sullen and silent, although by nature she has the sweetest disposition I have ever known. When this state pos- sesses her, Dr. Whinnys, it is positively dangerous to question even her slightest whim. She will fly into a passion of the most distressing kind and—ah, dear me!” ‘“T understand,” Dr. Jim said gently. “Dr. Kaswel, the neurologist, assured usthat should we fail to humor her at such times, her reason might be permanently impaired,” Catterson went on, with a wretched little smile. ‘“‘ If she wishes to talk, we must talk with her—and it is by no means unusual to find her conversing quite rationally in the very middle of an attack! On the other hand, if she wishes tc maintain silence we must. fall in with the mood or risk consequences beyond prediction. ‘““Tf she wishes to sit alone, we must permit her to do so; and as has happened recently, she will remain almost motion- less in a chair for seven or eight hours at a time. Again, she will be taken with a desire to wander alone in the streets, and on these occasions her cunning is the cunning of the insane. Twice, when [I have had Helen followed by members of the household to insure her safety, she has discovered what was afoot and passed into CORMICLOOOKS Catterson (C@)