Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-11-20
HIS DOUBLE SELF.

81 could tell you" said the dapper lit
tie doctor, "Of the etrangest thing IN my
experience. How much longer is 1t be-
fore that c0nfOunded train will be due?"
AN hour" replied one of the other
men, who stood with his back to the
stove contemplating his valise.
I've won't get in tonight" growled
the third. I'D like to change places
with any man that doesn't have to travel.
Ugh! how l hate it!'
"No, you wouldn't want to change
places" responded the doctor. Hear
my story. No, thank you don't smoke
or, rather, can't. Help yourselves"
and he sat down, stretching out his feet
on the stone hearth. Good fire, any.
how. There are worse places to be in
than the comfortable waiting-room OF a
depot"
where's your story?' said the man
with the valise.
"Oh do you want to hear it? Well,
then, | knew man once. Met him at a
country house where few Of us were
stopping for the Summer. He was a
queer sort of Dick, l thought; he was
in love with the daughter Of our hostess
a pretty girl of about twenty or SO,
brown eyes and hair. altogether very
loveable. Didn't blame him for being in
love with her think she returned it,
TOO, but the man seemed to be utterly
miserable.
1--WE were all sitting on the piazza one
evening, half q dozen of us, Miss Ada
and her lover among the rest. 1t was
not more than eight o'clock when my
Young man, whom will call Reed, ex-
,nta h.,h
not coming out again that night.
Il saw Miss Ada looked hurt, but
caught the hopeless expression on his
face as he turned to give her one look
before going in, and felt that she ought
not to blame him for leaving her Some
one asked him the next morning If he
was sick; but he said NO"
Il became quite interested in the
matter, especially as Miss Ada always
avoided him and be seemed so wretched
about it.
Things became more complicated
when picnic was proposed and Reed
refused to GO ! felt terribly sorry
for the poor fellow, and made up my
mind one evening, when he again left
us as abruptly, to see if could fathom
the difficulty.
Il went to his room half an hour after
he had gone in and knocked at the door.
No answer; knocked again, and still no
answer. Turned the knob softly and
went in; the light was burning dimly
and he was lying on the bed. evidently
sound asleep. put my hand on him;
he felt cold. Then l turned up the light;
he lay like one dead, or as if in trance.
shook him: be opened his eyes but
there was not sn intelligent expression
in them. though he kept them open for
some time; he was like one whose soul
had left the body, and left it still alive
| gave him little brandy; he swallowed
IT but did not seem to bs conscious Of
the act. | sat by him two hours.
At the end Of that time, with heavy
sigh he turned over and | saw be was
himself again.
what are YOU doing here?" he asked
sharply.
Watching you" answered.
Well" said he, getting up, what
good has it done your
None, so far" I replied. Reed. my
dear fellow, wish you would explain
it."
Il wish to God could" said he.
You were asleep"
WAS L."
"'Were YOU
al would like to think So
eff you were not, why didn't you an
swer my knock?-unless you were ILL.,
81 was not here
"'Was the man crazy?
"'Where were your said !, thinking t.
hupor him.
"'Oh, miles away said he, YEARLY
leaning his head on his hand. looked
at him closley, and saw that he ha(
grown thinner and paler in the las
week. He leaned back in his chair an(
closed his eyes, as if intenesely tired.
MIR. Reed said /, you are eithe
very unhappy, or likely to be very iii
Which is it,
"'He did not answer for some time
Then he said:
Doctor, l believe you are good fel
low. 1t is out of the power Of any hu
man being to help me. but will tell vol
my story, if you care to hear it.
"'Most assuredly.'
"'Well, then, seven years ago-I wa
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