New Britain Herald Newspaper, December 14, 1922, Page 5

— PART ONE The Awakening CHAPTER 1, Groping in the Dark The convict gang had a pleasant pleace to work today., Their road bullding had taken them some miles from thewcattered outskirts of Walla Walla, among fields green with grow- ing barley, The convicts themselves were in a genlal mood, easlly moved to wide grins; and with a single exception they looked much Itke any other road Eang. Curiously enough, whenever the warden's thought dwelt upon the ipmates of his prison, there was al- ways one wind-tanned, vivid face, one Lrowny, towering form that seemed to demand individual consideration, The man who was listed on the records as Ben Kinney was distinctly an in- dividual, ‘That's the queerest case we ever had here at Walla Walla,” Springley told his fellow guard, as they watchea the man's pick swing in the alr, “Sometimes I wonder whether he ought to be here or not. Leok at that face—he hasn't any more of a criminal face than I have.” The other guard, Howard, scanned his companion’s face with mock care, “Now let me tell you how they happened to catch him. Maybe you heard—he and Dago Irank were in the act of breaking into the Western- Danish bank. They were in the alley, in the act of jimmying a window, and all at once Kinney straightened up as if something had hit him and let the jimmy fall with a thump to the pavement. He put his hands to his head, like a man with a headache. And the next instant a cop came run- ning from the mouth of the alley. “Kinney was heeled, but he didn't even pull his gun, Now let me tell you another queer thing. - You know, the chief has started a system here to keep track of all the prisoners. He has them all fill out a card. Well, when this man Kinney turned in his card, he had written ‘Ben’ on it, but the rest was absolutely blank. “Mr. Mitchell thought at first that the man couldn't write. It turned out, though, that he can write—an in- telligent hand, and spell good too. Then Mitchell decided he was just sulking, but I'm confident I know the answer. The reason he didn’t fill out that card was because he couldn't re- member, “He couldn’t remember where or when he was born, or who were his folks, or where he had come from, or how he had spent his life. Amnesia —that's what the doctors call it—am- nesia following some sort of a mental grouble. In the end you'll see that I'm right.” There had been quite a northern migration lately, these late spring days. The last of fhe waterfowl had passed by now, but the northern mi- gration was not yet done. {Ben thought about them as birds of passage, and the thought amused him. '~ And at thé sight of a small, stooped figure advancing toward him up the railroad right-of-way he paused, leaning on his pick. Because Ben had paused, for the first time in an hour, his two guards looked up to see what had attracted his attention. They say what seemed to them a white-haired old wanderer of sixty years or more; ‘but at first they were wholly at a loss to explain Ben's fuscinated look of growing in- terest. As he paused to scrutinize the con- wict gang neither insolence nor fear, one of which was certainly to be ex- pected, became manifest in his face. " Both guards were held and amazed by the apparent fact that at the first scrutiny of the man’s outline, his car- riage and his droll, wrinkled face, the prisoner Kinney was moved and stirred as if confronted by the risen dead. The old man himself halted, re- turning Kinney's stare. Kinney's mind seemed to be reaching, groping for some astonishing ttuth that eluded himn. “The old man ran, in great strides, toward ' him. “My God, aren't you Beh Darby?” he demanded. The convict answered him as from @ great distance, his voice cool and calm and with an infinite certainty. “Of course,” he said. “Of course I'm Darby.” . J'or the moment that chance meet- ing thrilled all the spectators with the gense of monumental drama. The convicts stared absurdly, rather guilt- 1ly, when the old man whirled toward im. : “What are you doing with Ben Darby in a cenvict gang?” the old wanderer demanded. “What am I doin?"" Howard's as- tonishment gave way to righteous in- dignation. “I'm guardin’ convicts, that's what I'm a-doin’.” The old man had turned his eyes eagain to the tall, trembling figure of Ben. “Ben, . Ben!” he said, evidently struggling with deep emotion. “What are you doing here?” " upive years—for burglary,” he an- swered simply. ~ “Gullty, too—I don’t know, anything more. And I can't remember—who you are.” “You don't know me?” Some of Ben's own bewilderment gseemed to pass to him. “You know Ezra Mel- ville—" Springley stepped quickly to Mel- ville's side. “He's suffering loss of memory,” he explained swiftly. “This {8 the first time he ever recalled his own name.” ¢ Melville gazed at him in incredu- Jous astonishment, then turned to Springley. “May I talk to you about this case?” he asked quietly. “If not CHRISTMAS GIFT SUGGESTIONS FOR HER FOR HIM FOR THE KIDDIES Today’s Want Ad Page oc;wflayfions 65 A-B-C-D 022-Little, Brown & Company to you, who can I talk to? There are a few points that might help to clear up—" Many and important were the de- velopments which arose from thelr| conference, Melville's northward | Journey was postponed for some days, and within a week this same white- haired, lean old man was pleading his case to the governor of the State of Washington, It came about, from the same cause, that a noted allenist, | Forest, of Seattle, visited Ben Darby in his cell; and finally that the prison- er himself was taken to the capital! at Olympia. ) ‘The brief inquisition that followed, changing the entire current of Ben Darby’'s life, occurred in the private office of McNamara, the Governor. The allenist from Seattle conducted | the examination, “You don't remember this man?” ‘W BRITAIN o Qvaic o oo i MISERABLE FOR THO YEARS “Fruit-a-tives” Restored Her Strength and Vitality Movurronvitre, Carrors Co., N, H, I was all run down and work was burdensome owing to Indigestion, and gas on my stomach which caused me to belch a good deal. My heart seemed to be affected, 1t was two years ago that I was in this condition and began the use of “Fruit-a-tives”, which proved the very remedy I required, I was freed of the Indigestion, which I attributed to my heart; and I can conscien- tiously recommend ‘‘Fruit-a-tives” the great Fruit Medicine”, Mrs. FRANK W. WALLACE. 50c & box, 6 for $2.50, trial size 25c. Limited, OGDENSBURG, N.Y, “They'll strengthen in sure,” Torest told him. “Put them out of your mind, for now. Let it be blank.” The alienist again leaned toward him, his eyes searching. There ensued an instant's pause, possessing a certain quality of suspense, Then TPorest spoke quickly, sharply, “Wolf Darby!" In response a curious tremor passed over Ben's frame, giving in some de- time, I'm THE OLD MAN RAN IN GREAT STRIDES TOWARD HIM. Tforest asked him quietly, indicating Ezra Melville. Again Ben's eyes studied the droll, gray face. ‘With the vaguest kind of memory. I know I've seen him before—often. I can’t tell anything eise.” “He's a good friend of your family. I should say he was a very good friend, to take the trouble and time he has, in your behalf.” Ben nodded. The explanation was bteyond him. Forest leaned forward. “You re- member the Saskatchewan River?” Ben straightened, but the dim images in his mind were not clear enough for him to answer in the affirmative. “I'm afraid not.” Melville leaned forward in his chair. “Ask him if he remembers winning the canoe race at Lodge Pole—or the time he shot the Athabhska Rapids.” Ben turned brightly to him, but slowly shook his head, “I can't re- member ever hearing “of them be- fore.,” “I think you would, in time,” For- est remarked. “They must have been interesting experiences, Now what do these mean to you?—Thunder Lake--Abner Durby—Edith Darby— MacLean's College—"" Abner Darby! It was curious what a flood of tenderness swept through Ben as, whispering, he repeated the name. Since his own was Darby, Abner Darby was. in all probability, his father; but his reasoning intel- ligence, rather than his memory, told him so. The name of Edith Darby conjured up in his mind a childhood playmate —a girl with towzled yellow curls and |§ chubby, confiding: little hands. . . . But these dim memory-pictures went no further: there were no later visions of Edith as a young woman, blossom- ing with virgin beauty. The third name of the three, MacLean's College, called up no memories whatever. DOINGS OF THERE SEEMS To BE A STRANGE SITUATION /HE LLO. OLWIA\ ARE YOU HOME At dealers or from FRUIT-A-TIVES | gree the effeet of a violent start, l#Wolt Darby,” he repeated hesitantly, | “Why do you call me that?" | | The very fact that you know the | name refers to you, not someone else, |#hows that that blunted memory of yours has begun to function in some | degree, Now think, What do you know about ‘Wolf' Darby?" | Ben tried in vain to find an answer, A whole world of meaning linge Just beyond the reach of his groping | i mind; but always It eluded him, "orest suddenly spoke to old Fara Melville; and the latter put a small, | board box Into his hands, | want you to see what 1 have here," Forest told Ten, “They were your own possessions once-—-you sent them yourself to Abner Darby, your Inte father—and T want you to see if |you remember them.” Kvidently this was the climax in the examination, Forest opened the box, tuking therefrom a roll of white cot- ton, This he slowly unrolled, reveal- ing two small, ribboned ornaments of gold or bronze, Ren's starting eyes fastened them, ' No doubt he recognized “The Victoria Cross, of course,”” he sald slowly, brokenly. "I won it, | didn't I—the day——that day at Ypres the day my men were trapped—"" Jis words faltered then. The wheels of His memory, starting into motion, were stilled once more. Again the great darkness dropped |over him. Yet to Forest the experi- | ment was an unqualified success. | *“There's no doubt of it!" he ex- |claimed. He turned to McNamara, the Governor. “His brain is just as sound as youts or mine. With the right environment, the right treat- ment, he'd be on the straight road to recovery.” (Continued in Our Next Issue) on em, Two Hats For the Price of One A Big Success the First Two Days of the Sale — CONTINUES FOR — .2 More Days THURSDAY, FRIDAY and SATURDAY — CLOSING OUT — Entire stock of Winter Millinery in this sale. Now 1c SALE, 1c SALE is 'your opportunity to get in on a real genuine bar- gain. Two Hats for the price of one. Tell your friends and bring them with you. One dollar off on all new Hats during this sale Goldenblum 188 MAIN DUFFS OH NO, DANNY 15 IN BED IN THE DUFF HOUSEHOWD: ALONE?P WHERE | AND HELEN 15 TOM ADPEARS ToBE INTERESTED N SOMETHING OTHER THAN HIS HOME WHILE Hf HELEN SPENDS A GREAT [ DEAL OF HER TIME IN A ROOM BY HERSELF WITH THE DOOR- LOCKED - 1T IS LOCKED AT ALL TIMES- JUST WHAT 1S THE CAUSE OF THIS SITUATION TIME ONWV ' cAN TELL - 1S5 THE RESTOF VP STAIRS IN THE FAMILY P HER ROOM - Millinery Co. NEW BRITAIN AILY HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1922, The ingredients you use yourself 7, Carefully selected and blended flours—the purest lard—the finest salt and sugar—rich whole milk— VERY housewife knows that the quality of her bread depends upon the qual- ity of the materials she puts into it. Good bread cannot be made with poor flour, cheap lard, inferior salt, adulterated sugar, just any sort of yeast, water instead of milk. The peculiarly rich, wheaty flavor, the soft, yet firm tex- ture, and the high food value that characterizes White Rose Bread, the Master Loaf of the Six Bakers, is due to the superior quality of the ingre- dients used. Flours having different properties, and grown in different lochlities and at different seasons of the year, Copyright, Massachusetts Baking Co., 1922 For Quick Returns Use Olivia Is In the Dark, Too HELEN, MAY | SEE YOU FOR A MINUTE P NO. NOT JUST NOW, T STUFFED —R—eal Relationship? r , JUST APPN A LITTLE OF TS SHOE. BLAKNG To ™' EXPOSED PART, SIR— WHY DOES SHE are blended in just the right proportions and under just the proper conditions. The purest leaf lard is used for shortening; the finest salt and sugar, for seasoning. Pure, rich milk with all the cream init! Filtered water. Fleisch- mann’s Yeast. And nothing else. Just the materials you would use yourself. Six Bakers in six neighbor- ing cities combined their skill, knowledge and experience to ive you this perfect bread. ou will find it in grocery stores. Ask for it at your grocer’s today. And look for the new wrapper with the checked tea-towel pattern. Herald Classified Adots. BY ALLMAN WHAT IS HELEN DOING ’ 1 THAT ROBM P DON'T ASK ME ! SHE WON'T LET ME IN- IF YoU'DQUIT RUNNING OUT EVERY NIGHT MAYBE YOU WOULD KNOW SOME- THING ABOLT IT! LOCK THE DOOR.?