Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-07-05
felt that I must

name.
"'Excuso me, l said, addressing him.
but heard your friend just now call you
"Mr Dane" | wonder whether we are
related ut all, for that happens to be my
name, and we seem To bear SURFING
similarity to ono another.
my double turned and surveyed me
through his single eyeglass In exactly tho
Same manner as that with which should
have surveyed stranger who addressed
mo In the train
81 really do not know whether we arc
related. he said in tho voice l use when
/ wish to be slightly patronizlnG i am
Gilbert Dane Of the Howard thoater, and
he actually handed mo ono of my own
cards
"There was something in the substan-
tial nature of the familiar bit Of paste
board that brought back little of my
common sense and relieved mo from tho
state of stupcfaction into which the pho
nomenon had driven me
Come, this is a very clover trick, l
said, with smilo which, am afraid was
rather feeble You have certainly succeed
ed I'm startling mo Now / should like
your own card so that may know whom
to congratulate on very clover perform
ance.
And what did the mystery doY' In
ouircd, with interest, when the actor
paused
lilo did exactly what l should have
done if a stranger addressed me In tho
Same manner He became angry and
asked me what meant and who l called
myself
''Wcn, until today have been In the
habit Of calling myself Gilbert Dane Of the
Howard theatcr'- l was beginning, keep
ing as cool rs / could, when my double
interrupted me in a tone which l still rec
ognizcd perfectly as my own.
"'Well, you had better not do so any
more he said sharply or you will find
yourself in the hands Of the police see
that you havc been initiating my dress,
too, which l cannot help, but the use OF
my name is another thing.
1--WE had just reached Nauxhall, our
first stopping place, rs he spoke, and
ticket collector who knows me by sight
camo to the door My double caught his
eye first.
" / wish you would tell this gentleman
who l am, Eo said, and the man an
swered promptly:
Certain My, sir, you are Mr.. Dane, the
actor.
TIC lOOhtN SlIIAINu NllOh tohNA A4Ai''
the same question
~ should call you very good imita-
ton, he said when he had recovered from
bis surprise.
This was becoming decidedly uncom-
Portable, and / began to wonder how
could prove to anybody that l was not a
very good imitation of myself The ticket
collectors ready acceptance Of my doubio
as the real Mr. Dane showed me how
helpless / should be in an appeal TO any
ono who did not know me well. But
felt that it would not do for two Gilbert
Danes 10 remain Mt large Tho question
which one was TO surrender the title must
be settled at once 1t struck me that the
easiest way TO do it would be 10 90 to-
gethcr TO the theatcr and submit tho
question TO tho company assembled for
the rehearsal suggested this course to
my facsimile, and no surprised me by ac'
cepting it readily
- Il warn you that l shall detain you
when 1t is settled and send for the po-
lice, he said in my haughtiest voice.
1T was what l was intending to do
with him -
The actor paused to light another che
root.
And did you both go back?" somebody
asked
Dane nodded
Yes, together The third man left us
at Waterloo, " he said. You may not be-
liovo it, but l felt really uneasy rs l APP
preached tho stage door, and the fact that
l had no latchkcy to open 1t for myself
seemed calamity. Ny double calmly
produced his and marched me into my
own theater with the air of proprietor
! Then he closed the door behind him, and
changing his voice and manner suddenly
turned toward mo and said quietly, And
now, Mr.. Dane will puzzle you no moro
but apologize for givingyo so much trou'
| bic, which l hope you will think repaid by
the enjoyment of "a unique sensation. The
fact is that l am very anxious to 90 on the
stage under your auspices, and thought
that this would be the best way TO obtain
an introduction TO you, and at the same
| time show you n specimen OF my acting
in the part Of your undcrstudy. You Will
admit at least that | understand the art of
making up Now, are You going TO give
me an engagemont-or TO send for the pc.
liccS' "
And you gave him the engagement, /
supposc" l asked.
Yes l have always regretted that be
threw it up before the year was up, and
returned to his former profession, that of
n medical man.
1T was he, of course, that called for
the latchkey in the mornings"
YES; ho had been in tho shop when
ordered 1t, and the fact finally determined
him to carry out the affair, which he had
been pondering some time F"
." But no must have haunted you like "A
shadow beforehand" put in Major Don
nett, "to learn all your gestures and that.
| should hardly think tho result was
worth the trouble. "
Macpherson, who had been quietly sit
ting in the background, surprised us by re-
plying for his friend;
Excuse me, major" he said In his
usual quiet way, you make u mistake
there. Any man would have been glad to
give 600 down for the engagement which
Dane offered me straight away. 1t cost
me less than G10 for clothes and about
a month Of study, and my time was not
worth 600 month then, or l should not
have thought Of giving up medicine and
taking TO the stage. ''-IIerbert Flowerdew
in Pail Mall Budget.