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5. A walk in amnesia. I am a lawyer. I am happily married to a good, pretty woman.

I work hard, and I am good at my job. I have won many important court cases. Just a few

days ago, I won a famous railroad law case. I worked very hard for it for many weeks both

day and night. Dr. Volney, my best friend and physician, often warns me about working too

hard, and just yesterday he told me again not to work so hard.

It is bad for your nerves and your brain, he said. If you don't rest, Belford, you will

get amnesia. Every day in the newspapers we read about men with amnesia. They lose their

memory. They forget their names and their past. They wander around without a name and

with no home. Do you want to be like them too?

5. I don't believe those news stories. Newspaper reporters are lying, I said.

6. No, they are not. Dr. Volney said sharply. Amnesia is very common nowadays. It is a serious

illness. You need to rest. If you don't rest, you will be ill. You spend each day in the

office, at court, and at home. And when you rest, you only read law books.

6. Oh, I sometimes do nice relaxing things too, I said. On Thursday evenings I play cards

with my wife, and every Sunday my wife reads me the weekly letter from her mother. And I

like reading law books. I feel relaxed when I am reading them.

But you must do something different too. You need a change in your life. Dr. Volney warned

me again. That morning, after I left home, I thought about Volney's words. I felt quite

well and happier than most other days.

6. I have a good life, I thought to myself. My wife gave me a goodbye kiss at the door.

She straightened my tie too. She did these things every morning. So it was the beginning of

a usual day for me. Nothing was different. The attack came suddenly, perhaps.

6. I woke up with a headache. I was on the seat of a train coach. My muscles were cramped

after a long, uncomfortable sleep. I put my head against the seat and tried to think.

I thought for a long time, but I didn't know who I was. I probably have a name. But what

is it? I said to myself. I searched my pockets. There was no card, and no letter with my name

on it. But I found $3 ,000 in one of my pockets. That was a huge amount of money. Who am I?

I asked myself and began to think again. The train car was full of men. Perhaps they

were travelling as a group because they seemed to know each other. One of them came and sat

next to me. He unfolded his newspaper and began to read it. Now and then he stopped reading

and had a few words with me. We had a conversation about daily matters. After a while he introduced

himself. My name is R .P. Boulder, he said. I am from Missouri. You are a pharmacist, too,

aren't you? Yes, yes, I'm a pharmacist, I answered quickly. But I had to think of a name

for myself. Just at that moment, luckily, I noticed a big advertisement in the man's

newspaper. And I saw a name in it. So I said, my name is Edward Pinkhammer. I live in Conopolis,

Kansas. I am glad that our meeting is in New York this year. I've never seen New York before,

Mr. Boulder said. Are all the passengers in this car, pharmacists? I asked him.

Yes, they are all going to the yearly meeting like you and me, the man answered. Then he pointed

to a news story in his newspaper. Look, here is another fake case of amnesia. I don't believe

the news about the men with amnesia. I think those men get tired of their jobs and families.

They want to have some fun, so they run away to another city. And then they say they don't

remember who they are. That is a lie. I quickly took the newspaper from him and read the news

that the lawyer is missing. He left his home three days ago and has not come back. Mr.

Belford is married and owns a nice home. On the day of his disappearance, he took out

a big amount of money from his bank. No one has seen him since then. Mr. Belford is a quiet

man and he is happy with his family and work. His wife and close friends say he works too

hard. He quite possibly has amnesia. When I finished reading, I turned to Mr. Boulder

and said, This is a true news story, I think. Why will a successful lawyer leave his home?

Sometimes, a man can forget everything. He will wander around with no name and with no past.

Oh, come on, Mr. Pinkerhammer, Mr. Boulder said. Those respected, successful men are happily

married. They have everything, but they want something exciting or a change in their lives,

and people think they have amnesia? The train arrived in New York at ten o 'clock that night.

I took a taxi to a hotel in Manhattan and checked in. While I was writing the name Edward

Pinkhammer in the hotel book, I felt very happy. I was born into a new life. I was a free man

with no chains. There was an exciting future before me. The hotel clerk looked at me for

a while because I had no baggage. So I said, I am here for the pharmacist meeting, but my

suitcase is lost. Then I gave him some money. Oh, yes, we have other pharmacists staying

here for the meeting. The clerk said with a smile. Then he called a bell -boy and sent me

to my room. The next day I went shopping for some clothes and I also bought a big suitcase.

I spent a few wonderful days in Manhattan. I did not try to think who I was. I went to

the cinemas, parks, music halls and nightclubs. I met pretty girls, singers and dancers. I dined

at expensive restaurants and listened to soft music while I was eating. I also had riverboat

rides and went to Broadway theatres. I had so much fun and I learned one important thing.

The key to happiness is freedom. One day when I came back to the hotel from a sightseeing

tour, a fat man stopped me in the lobby. He had a big nose and a black mustache.

Hello, Belford. He cried out. What are you doing in New York? Is Mrs. Belford with you or is

this a short business trip? You are making a mistake, sir. My name is Pink Hammer. Please

excuse me, I said coldly. The man was shocked and moved away. Then I saw him speaking to a

bell -boy. I heard him say something about sending a telegraph. I didn't want to stay

in that hotel anymore. So I went to the clerk desk and asked for my bill. A bell -boy brought

my suitcase from my room and I left at once. I moved to a quiet old -fashioned hotel on Fifth

Avenue. One afternoon I went to a nice restaurant near Broadway. Just as I was walking to a table,

someone touched my sleeve. I turned around and saw a beautiful woman. She was sitting alone.

She was about thirty years old and had reddish hair. She was very happy to see me. She extended

her hand and we shook hands. She asked me to sit at her table and I took the chair opposite

her.

Do you recognize me, Belford? She asked. Don't say no because I won't believe it. She was

drinking orange juice and I ordered a drink for myself. I couldn't look away from her eyes.

They were so beautiful.

No, I was never sure I knew you. She answered with a smile on her face.

I don't want to disappoint you, but my name is Edward Pinkhammer. I come from Cornelis,

Kansas. I told her in a cold voice.

I think your wife Marion isn't here with you. Why didn't you bring her? She asked and added.

Fifteen years is a long time, but you haven't changed Elwyn. Then she looked into my eyes

and at my face and said, You haven't forgotten me, have you? She asked softly.

I took a sip of my drink and said, I have forgotten everything. I often hear about you,

she continued. You are a famous lawyer in Denver. I am sure Marion is proud of you.

I got married six months after you married her. I had a great wedding. It was in the newspapers.

Then she looked into my eyes again and said, I am very curious about something. After that evening,

fifteen years ago, do you ever think of me when you see white roses? I don't remember anything

about the past. I am sorry, I repeated.

You're lying, Elwyn, and you're not a good liar, she said, with a smile.

My name is Edward Pinkhammer. I told you. I am a pharmacist and I am here for a meeting, I said.

I am sorry, but I don't know anything about white roses.

At that moment, a shiny, expensive car stopped in front of the restaurant and she stood up to

leave. I held her hand politely and bowed. Goodbye, Mr. Belford, she said sadly and walked to the car.

I went to a theatre on Broadway that night. When I returned to the hotel, a small man in dark clothes

came near me and said, Mr. Pinkhammer, can we have a short talk in that room over there? It's very

important. Certainly I answered and followed him. There was a lady and a gentleman in the room.

The lady was very beautiful, but she looked very sad and tired. She was in a travel costume,

and it was very fashionable. She wanted to come forward to me, but the man stopped her.

He had a serious face.

Belford, my old friend, he cried out. I am very happy to see you again.

Don't worry. Everything is all right. You were working too hard, but you didn't listen to my warnings.

Now come with us. We will take you home.

Several people have called me Belford here, but my name is Edward Pinkhammer,

and I don't know you, sir. I have never seen you in my life, I said.

Then the woman came up to me and put her arms around me. There were tears in her eyes.

Oh, Elwin, she cried. Don't you remember me? I am your wife.

I pulled myself away from her arms and stepped back. The gentleman told the lady to go to her room,

so she left the room together with the small man.

Then the gentleman said, I would like to talk with you, Mr. Pinkhammer.

Very well, I said. I was tired, so I sat on a couch and lit a cigar.

Listen. Your name is not Edward Pinkhammer, he said.

I know. I forgot my real name, so I had to find a name, and believe me, I don't really like the name Pinkhammer,

but it is easy to remember. Your name is Elwin. You are a famous lawyer in Denver.

You were working very hard, so you had an attack of amnesia. You lost your memory and forgot everything.

That lady is your wife, Marion. She is a beautiful lady. I like the colour of her hair. It's my favourite, I said.

Marion is very sad and worried about you. We learned that you were in New York,

a man saw you in a hotel in Manhattan and talked to you in the lobby. He sent a telegram to Marion

at once. He said, you didn't recognise him. Oh, yes. The man called me Belford. And who are you?

I am Dr. Volney, Robert Volney. I have been your friend for 20 years. Do you remember?

You called me Bobby.

Marion and I came here as soon as we got the telegram. I really don't remember you.

You say, I have amnesia. Is it a curable disease? Will I ever become normal again? I asked the doctor.

Yes, you will. Amnesia is curable, he answered.

Some amnesia patients recover suddenly. But sometimes it takes a long time.

Patients recover very slowly. Will you try to cure me, Dr. Volney? I asked.

Of course I will, he answered. You are my friend and my patient. I will do my best.

Oh, thank you, I cried out. You are a doctor, so you won't tell anyone what I say. My words must be a secret between you and me.

Yes, of course, he said. Don't worry.

Then I got up from the couch. There was a vase of white roses on the coffee table.

I took the roses out from the vase and threw them out of the window.

I prefer to get better suddenly, Bobby. I said.

I am tired of all this. Please bring Marion here now. I missed her very much.

Then I patted the doctor on his shoulder and said,

Oh, Bobby, my friend. Everything was wonderful. I had great fun.