The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-06-04

ductor hurried forward followed by a
brakeman with some bits of. board, pro-
cured in the baggage car. which they
laid across the seats and heaped with
rugs and oyercoats, improvising as COM
Portable a resting place as circumstances
would permit. The train was local.
and had no sleeper attached. The con-
ductor seemed troubled, and repeated
the story he had given earlier in the day.
The fellow has no business travelling"
ke averred impatiently. He's been
badly smashed up. and is only just out
of the hospital. He seems in the devil
of Il hurry to get where hes going to.
\ brother Mason handed him over to me
this morning. with orders to look after
him and help him all could. He seems
TO need taking care of, il ever man did"
is he "a Mason" questioned "A by
stander, then added. superfuously.
How do you know he Isl
How do You know I'm IA man" was
the sharp counter query.
The passenger stared.
The signs point that way, don't
they pursued the conductor. elabor-
ating from sheer vexation with the
others inconsequence. Well, I'm a
Mason myself, and that gentleman was
given into my charge by a Mason. rs l
said before. and he's got the badge of
the order pinned on his breast. That's
as good evidence as beard and trousers.
reckon. 1t passed, anyway"
There was smile at the questioner's
expense. The young man bending over
the invalid moved his coat aside and
glanced at the badge on his breast. He
had been working away with profess
sional skill and promptitude, and his
instant assumption of authority and
responsibility, as we'll rs his evident
ability to cope with the situation. sug-
gested in the minds of the other passen-
gers a surmise that he was practicing
within his own bailiwick even before an
abrupt announcement changed con-
lecture into certainty.
1--WE all thought the lady across the
aisle commenced, then paused, smiling.
THAT l was a ranchman: Everybody
makes that mistake, madam. l come
from out there, and doubtless have
look of the plains, SO it's very natural.
DR.. Hart Royal"
The sick mans eyes opened; his mind
was torpid, but struggled to perform its
functions. His lips moved and he nut
tered slowly; THAT is my name, sir.
| Who wants me-
DR.. Royal No. was bending forward
with his fingers on the sufferers wrist,
! his ear inclined for the feeble words
He Strengthened himself, a trife puzzled;
| then his expression changed to one of
! half quizZical amusement. He had known
very i'll men before to acknowledge
their own names; even in d semi-con-
sciOus condition a name is a mental
anchor. The sick mans travelling bag
stood open near at hand, and in it was a
silver brandy flask. Royal turned it SC
as to read the name engraved on the
side, then his hand went to his pocket
for his own flask. They differed in size
and in other trifiing particulars, but
both TASKS were labeled with the same
name-John Hart Royal. TWAS 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 other 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 were of
medium height and had brown hair and
mustaches and blue-gray eyes, there was
no resemblance whatever. Even in health
the face on the pillow must have differed
materially in cast and expression from
the one bending over it. It was older,
and there were in it lines of thought and
care which neither life nor experience
had traced upon the other. DR.. Royal
No. 2 leaned back in his corner and let
his thoughts run somewhat in this wise:
ga 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 can make it
out! Out yonder I'd cut loose from him
as quick as lightning-pass him on to
the next lodge. A double would have
to be the right sort of mascot to make it
pay to tie to him out there. But here in
Virginia. He paused, the association
of ideas producing a new thought.
"Good Lord. suppose it should be! A
similarity of names is no more sign of
: kinshi,' than paper collar is sign of a
shirt; but it's safe to presuppose an indi-
} cation IN both cases. When that fellow
, pulls together I'm going to ask him who
, his grandfather was. If he's Virginia
born he'll have plenty, and trot 'em out
i on,
used to be, as plentiful as cookie burrs
hereaway. Ny father-God rest him.
claimed to be one of large family. It's
: comical, though!-my almost breaking
1 my neck to catch this train for the APP
parent purpose of playing good Samari-
!, tan to a kinsman in a tight place"
His nominations we're interrupted by a
mOuntaineer in the next seat. The man
y had come in at the last station, and was
slowly taking stock of his surroundings
He slouched forward, with both arms on
j the back of Dr.. Royals seat, and glanced
: curiously at the sick man.
Pretty bad off. your friend thar,
reckon" he suggested cheerfully.
; my stranger, you mean. Yes, he:
/" a bit shaky. He's been overtaxing hi.
. strength, but he'll be better presently
i with professional mendacity in the pres.
ence of the patient. Some of you keeI
an eye on him, will you: 1 must speal
, to the conductor"
!, He addressed nobody in particular, and
1 his glance swept the car, but he knew ht
could depend ON his fellow passengers t.
Q attend to his request. The young lady
: opposite turned an interested, sympa
+ thetic face in his direction at once, anG
the elder one assumed an alert attitude
and held herself ready for emergencies.
|. DR.. Royal went forward into the smok.
d ing car. He had assumed control of the
i case with constitutional impetuosity
and now set about ordering it in accord
, ance with his own judgment. The i'm
e y,ortapt-nay tho jmparafiva-cfap RI