walked nearer and took Darby's hand.

"Ben, Ben!" he said, evidently struggling with deep emotion. "What are
you doing here?"

The younger man gave him his hand, but continued to stare at him in
growing bewilderment. "Five years--for burglary," he answered simply.
"Guilty, 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 seemed to pass to
him. "You know Ezra Melville--"

Sprigley, whose beliefs in regard to Ben had been strengthened by the
little episode, stepped quickly to Melville's side. "He's suffering loss
of memory," he explained swiftly. "At least, he's either lost his memory
or he's doing a powerful lot of faking. This is the first time he ever
recalled his own name."

"I'm not faking," Ben told them quietly. "I honestly don't remember
you--I feel that I ought to, but I don't. I honestly didn't remember my
name was Darby until a minute ago--then just as soon as you spoke it, I
knew the truth. Nothing can surprise me, any more. I suppose you're kin
of mine--?"

Melville gazed at him in incredulous astonishment, then turned to
Sprigley. "May I talk to you about this case?" he asked quietly. "If not
to you, who can I talk to? There are a few points that might help to
clear up--"