The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-04-10
Ten Minutes to TW6lV6.
By NJ. G. MCLELLAND.
,Uvr.rht bv American Press Asssociation.]
CONTINUED.


were supplied, a woman depriving her
sleeping child Of its pillow. The tide of
sympathetic interest set toward the sick
man once more, and even the lady op-
poate rose superior to the natural ex-
ultatlon of prophetess whom the event
has justified, and rendered her shawl
and tiny silver flask witt no thought
save for the sufferers relief. The con-
ductor hurried forward followed by
brakeman with some bits Of board, pro-
cured IN the baggage car, which they
laid across the seats and heaped with
rugs and overcoaIs, inprovising as COM
Portable a resting place as circumstances
would permit. The train was a local,
and had no sleeper artached. The con-
ductor seemed troubled, and repeated
the story he had given earlier in the day.
1.-THE fellow has no business travelling"
he averred impaJiently. He's been
badly smashed up, and is only just out
of the hospital He seems in the devil
of a hurry 10 get where he's going to.
A brother Mason handed him over to me
this morning, with orders TO look after
him and help him all I could. He seems
TO need taking care OF, if ever a man did. -
is he a Mason" questioned a by
stander, then added, suparfuously,
How do you know he is?'
How do you know I'm a mann was
the sharp counter query.
The passenger stared.
1.-The signs point that way, don't
they pursued the conductor. elabor-
ating from sheer vexation with the
others inconseguence. Well, I'm a
Mason myself. and that gentleman was
given into my charge by q Mason, as /
said before, and he's got the badge of
the order pinned on his breast. That's
as good evidence as a beard and trousers.
reckon. II passed, anyway"
There WIS = smile at the quesuoner's
expense. The young man bending over
the invalid moved his coat aside and
glanced IT the badge on his breast. He
had been working away with profess
sional skill and promptitnde, and his
instant assumption of authority and
responsibility, as we'll as his evident
ability to cope with the situation, sug-
gested IN the minds Of the other passen-
gers a surnise that he was practicing
within his own bailiwick even before all
abrupt announcement changed con-
lecture Into certainty.
We ali thought" the LADY across the
aisle commsnced. thzl paused. smiling.
THAT I was a raaclInan? Everybody
makes that mistake, madam. I come
from out there, and doubtless have a
look of the plains, SO it's very natural
Ranching isn't my trade, however. I'm
Dr.. Hart Royal"
The sick mans eyes opened: his mind
was torpid, but struggled to perform iEs
functions. His lips moved and he NUT
tered slowly: That Is my name, sir
Who wants nle:7
DR.. Royal No. ? was bending forward
with his fingers on the sufferers wrist,
his ear inclined for the feeble words
He Strengthened himself, q trife puzzled;
then his expression changed TO one Of
half quizzical amusement. He had known
very III men before TO acknowledge
their own names; even IN a semi-con-
scious condition a name is a mental
anchor. The sick mans travelling bag
stood open near at hand, and n II was a
silver brandy flask Royal turned it SO
side. then his hand went TO his pocket
for his own flask. They differed in size
and IN other tifing particulars, but
both TASKS were labeled with the same
name-John Hart Royal II was a queer
coincidence. Dr.. Royal felt it so, and
regarded his namesake with whimsical
sense Of confused identity. He won
dered whether they could resemble each
other.
The ether man lay with his white face
and closed eyes thrown wildly out by
the dull red background Of the seat
Beyond the facts that both men We're of
medium height and had brown hair and
mue5aches and blue-ray eyes, there was
no resem blance whatever. Even IN health
the face on the pillow must have differed
materially II cast and expression from
the one bending over it. 1t was older,
and there were IN 1t lines of thought and
care which neither life nor experience
had traced upon the other. DR.. Royal
No. leaned back In his corner and let
his thoughts run somewhat in this wise:
"a queer sort of happening, this-a
fellow with my full name and profess
sion besides, my double, in short, and
cast on my hands in this overwhelming
fashion. I'll be hanged If I can make it
out. Out yonder I'd cut loose from him
as quick as lghtning-pass him on TO
the next lodge. A double would have
10 be the right sort Of mascot to make it
pay to tie to him out there. But here in
Virg1nia''- He paused, the association
of ideas producing new thought.
Good Lord! suppose IL should be! A
similarity OF names IS no more a sign of
kinshiu than paper collar Is sign Of a
shirt; but its s1lfe TO presuppose an indi-
cation IA both cases. When that fellow
pals tcgether I'm going to ask him who
his grandfather was. II he's Virginia
born hell have plenty, and trot EN- out
on small provocaGon. Royals are, or
used TO be, as plentiful as cookie burTs
hereaway. lily father-God rest HIM
claimed to be one Of large family. It's
comical, though.-my almost breaking
my neck to catch this train for the ap-
parent purpose Of playing good SaInari-
tan TO a kinsInan II tight place.
rad l0I- n