Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-02-23

opportunity OF introducing myself OHeroC
by hearing my double called by my
name.
"'Excuse me- said, addressing him
but heard your friend just now call you
"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 ms
through his single eyeglass In exactly the
same manner as that with which l should
have surveyed stranger who addressed
me In the train.
L really do not know whether we are
related, he said in the voice I use wher
I wish to be slightly patronizing. i am
Gilbert Dane of the Howard theater, and
he actually handed me one of my owr
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 me from the
state Of stupefaction into which the pho
nomenon had driven me-
leone, this Is a very clever trick
said, with smile which, I am afraid, was
rather feeble. You have certainly succeed
ed in startling me. Now should like
your own card, SO that may know whom
to congratulate on very clever perform
ance' >"
"And what did the mystery dor" in
quired, with interest, when the actor
paused
He did exactly what / should have
done If stranger addressed mo in the
same manner. He became angry and
asked me what I meant and who I called
myself.
"'Well, until today have been in the
habit of calling myself Gilbert Dane of the
Howard theater'- Twas beginning, keep
ing as cool as could, when my double
interrupted me in tone which still rec,
ognized 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 tho police l see
that you have been initiating my dress,
too, which I cannot help but the use Of
my mamie is another thing
1--WE had just reached Vauxhall, our
first stopping place, as he spoke, and a
ticket collector who knows mo by sight
came to the door. MY double caught his
eye first.
Iwish you would tell this gentleman
who I am, he said. and the man an
swered promptly:
'Certai My, sir, you are Mr.. Dane, the
actor
"He looked startled when l asked him
the same question
81 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 was not a
very good imitation of myself The ticket
collectors ready acceptance Of my double
as the real Mr.. Dane showed me how
helpless I should be in an appeal to any
one who did not know me we'll. 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 tho
easiest way to do 1t would BIO to go to
gother to the theater and submit the
question to the company assembled for
the rehearsal. suggested this course to
cepting it readily.
g I warn you that shall detain you
when it is settled and send for tho pc
lice, he said in my haughticst voice.
ut was what was intending to do
with him."
The actor paused to light another che
root.
And did you both go back'" somebody
asked.
Dane nodded
Eyes, together The third man left US
at Waterloo" he said. "You may not be
lieve it, but l felt really uneasy as ap
preached the stage door, and the fact that
had no latchkey to open 1t for myself
seemed calamity. My 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 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 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
mo an engagement-or to send for the po
lice2"
And you gave him the engagement,
suppose?" asked.
"Yes. have always regretted that he
threw 1T 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 rnorning9"
Eyes; he had been in the shop when
ordered 1t, and the fact finally determined
him to carry out tho affair, which he had
been pondering some time"
But he must have haunted you like u
shadow beforehand" put in Major Den
mott, ito learn all your gestures and that
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 mistake
there. Any man would have been glad to
give 9100 down for the engagement which
Dane offered me straight away. 1t cost
mo less than 910 for clothes and about
a month of study, and my time was not
worth 200 month then, or should not
havo thought of giving up medicine and
taking to the stage. Herbert Flowerdew
in Pail Mall Budget.