The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-12-31

oeiNSu "AN NltfSA '"ea.NJ ~ law NNNNAs'c
myself offered by hearing my double
called by name.
"'Excusc me- said, addressing him,
but I heard your friend just call you
MIR Dane" wonder whether we are
related at all, for that happens TO be
my name, and we seem 10 bear strili-
ing similarity 10 one another
my double turned and surveyed
me through a single eyeglass in exact
ly the same manner as that with which
| should have surveyed a stranger who
addressed me in The train.
"I really do not know whether we
are related or not he said, in the voice
use when wish to be slightly patron
izing, 4 am Gilbert Dane, Of the How
ard theater,' and he actually handed me
one Of my own cards.
"There was something in the sub
stantial nature Of the familiar bit of
pasteboard that brought back little
Of my common sense, and relieved me
from the state Of stupeiaction into
which the phenomenon had driven me.
"'Comc, this Is very clever trick, !
said with a smile, which | am afraid
was rather feeble. You have certainly
succeeded in startling me. Now 7
should Ike your own card, so that !
may know whom to congratulate on
very clever performance
And what did the Mystery do?" I in
quired, with interest, when the actor
paused.
HE did exactly what should have
done, II stranger addressed me in the
same manner, He became angry, and
asked me what l meant, and whom l
called myself.
We'll, until to-day | have been in
the habit Of calling myself Gilbert
Dane, Of the Howard theater--' was
beginning, keeping as cool as l could,
when my double interrupted me in a
tone which ] still recognized 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 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
ticket collector who knows me by
sight came to the door, My double
caught his eye first.
40 wish you would tell this gentle
man who l am he said, and the man
answered promptly:
Certainly, sir, you are Mr.. Dane, the
actor.
"He looked startled when asked him
the same question.
"'I should call you very good imi-
tation,' he said, when he had recovered
from his surprise
"This was becoming decidedly un-
comfortable, and began to wonder
how could prove TO anybody that !
was not a good imitation OF myself. The
ticket collectors ready acceptance Of
my double as the real Mr.. Dane showed
how helpless | should be in an appeal
TO anyone who did not know me well.
But felt that il 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
ST. uck me that the easiest way to do
ii would be to go together to the the
ater, and submit the question to the
company assembled for the rehearsal
| suggested this course tony fac-simile,
and he surprised me by accepting 1t
readily.
Il warn you that shall detain you
when il is settled, and send for the po-
lice he said, in my haughtiest voice,
at was what was intending to do
with him.
The actor paused to light another
cheroot.
"And did you both 60 back?" some
body asked.
Dane nodded.
Eyes, together. The third man left
US at Waterloo" he said. "You may not
believe IL, but / felt rather uneasy as
approached 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 quietly:
And now, Mr., Dane, ] will puzzle you
no more, but apologize for giving you
SO much trouble, which | hope you
will think repaid by the enjoyment Of
unique sensation. The fact is that
am very anxious to 60 on the stage un-
der your auspices, and ! thought that
this would be the best way to obtain an
introduction to you, and al the same
time show you specimen Of my act
ing in the part of your understudy.
You will admit at least that under
stand the art Of making up. Now are
you going to give me an engagement
Or send for the police2'"
"And you gave him the engagement,
] suppose?" asked.
"Yes; have always regretted that
he threw it up before the year was out,
and returned to his former profession,
that of a medical man."
ut was he, of course, who called for
the latchkey in the morning2"
"Yes; he had been in the shop when