Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-02-15

"Mr Dane wonder whether we are
related at all, for that happens to be my
name. and we seem to bear striking
similarity to one another
My double turned and surveyed mo
through his single eycglass in exactly the
Same manner as that with which should
have surveyed a stranger who addressed
mo in the tain
really do not know whether we are
related, he said in the voice use when
l wish to be slightly patronizing | am
Gilbert Dane of the Howard thoater, and
he actually handed me one of my ow"
cards
There was something in the substan
tial nature of the familiar bit of paste
board that brought back "A little of my
common sense and relieved me from the
state of stupefaction into which the phe
nomenon had driven me
Come. this is very clever trick, l
said, with smile which, am afraid, was
rather feeble You have certainly succeed
cd in startling me Now | should like
your own card. so that may know whom
to congratulate on a very clever perform
ance
And what did the mystery do?' in
uuircd 9Th interest, when the actor
paused
He did exactly what | should have
done if a stranger addressed me in the
same manner He became angry and
asked me what meant and who | called
myself
'''Wcll. until today have been in the
habit of calling myself Gilbert Dane of the
Howard theatcr was beginning keep
ing as cool as | could when my double
interrupted me in tone which | still rec
ognized perfectly as my own
We'll, you had better not do so any
more he said sharply, or you will find
yourself in the hands of the police sea
that you have been initiating my dress,
too, which | cannot help, but the use OF
my name is another thing
I'VE had Just reached Vauxhall, our
first stopping place, as he spoke. and a
ticket collector who knows me by sight
came to the doot My double caught his
eye first
=" | wish you would tell this gentleman
who | am, he said and the man an
swered promptly
d" Certai My sir. you are Mr. Dane, the
actor
He looked startled when | asked him
the same question
e." l should call you very good imita
ton, he said when he had recovered from
his surprise
This was becoming decidedly uncom
| Portable, and l began to wonder how
/ could prove to anybody that l was not n
very good imitation of myself The ticket
collectors ready acceptance of my double
as the real Mr.. Dane showed me how
helpless l should be in an appeal to any
one no did not know me well But |
felt that it would not do for two Gilbert
! Danes to remain at large The 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 to 90 to
gether to the theater and submit the
question to the company assembled for
the rehearsal l suggested this course to
my facsimile, and he surprised me by &C
cepting it readily
u" l warn you that l shall detain you
when it is settled and send for the pc
lice, he said in my haughtiest voice
1T was what | was intending to do
with him "
The actor paused to light another che
root
And did you both G. back" somebody
asked
Dane nodded
Yes, together The third man left us
at Waterloo, he said "You may not he
preached the Gtage door, and the fact that
had no latchkoy to open it for myself
seemed a calamity My double calmly
produced his and marched me into my
own theatcr with the air of n proprietor
Then he closed the door behind him, and
changing his voice and manner suddenly
turned toward me and said quietly, And
! now. Mr. Dane, will puzzle you no more
but apologize for giving you so much trou
BILE, which hope you will think repaid by
the enjoyment of unique sensation The
fact is that am very anxious to go 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 a specimen Of my acting
in the part of your understudy You will
admit at least that understand the art of
making up Now, are you going to give
me an engagement-or to send for the pc
liceS'
And you gave him the engagement,
SUPPOSED" l asked
Yes | have always regretted that he
threw it up before the year was up, and
returned to his former profession. that OF
a medical man
1t was he, of course, that called for
the latchkey in the morning.
Yes he had been in the shop when
ordered it, and the fact finally determined
him to carry out the affair." which he had
been bordering some time "
But he must have haunted you like Il
shadow beforehand, put in MAJOR Den
nett, Ito learn all your gestures and that
l should hardly think the 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 a mistake
there. ANY man would have been glad tt
give e100 down for the engagement which
Dane offered me straight away 1t COST
me less than go for clothes and about
a month of study, and my time was moi
worth 900 a month then, or l should Lo
have thought of giving up medicine anC
taking to the stage, Herbert Flowerdev
in Pail Mall Budget
0 Champagne.
e There are two peculiarities about cham
l payne drinking which are capable of OK
! hn - ,r,f1f mill