The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-01

''There was something i'll the substan-
tial nature of the familiar bit of paste
board that brought back Il little of nv
common sense, and relieved me from the
state of stupefaction into which the phe.
nomenon had driven me.
'''COme this is Il very clever trick,
said. with II smile which am afraid was
rather feeble. 'You have certainly sue
ceeded in startling me. Now should
like your own card, SO that l may know
whom to congratulate on II very clever
performance. ''' RS
"And what did the mystery do?' in
quircd. with interest, when the actor
paused
''He did exactly what l should have
DONE if n stranger addressed me in the
same manner. He became angry. and
asked me what | meant, and whom I
called myself.
"'Well, until to-day I have been in
the habit of calling myself Gilbert Dane
of the Howard Theatre I was be-
ginning, keeping as cool rs could, when
my double, interrupted me in u tone
which | still recognized perfectly rs nv
own
We'll. you had better not do SO anv
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
1--WE had Just reached Vauxhall, our
first stopping place, as he spoke, and a
ticket collector who knows me by sight
came to the door. My double caught
his eye first.
4 wish you would tell this gentleman
who am, he said, ands the man an
swercd promptly:
Certainly. sir; you are. Mr.. Dane.
the actor.
Gle looked startled when asked him
the same question.
9 | should call you a very good imlta.
ton, he said when he had recovered from
his surprise.
''This was becoming decidedly uncom.
Portable, and began to wonder how 7
could prove to anybody that / was not Ii
good imitation of myself. The ticket
collectors ready acceptance of my double
as the real Mr.. Dane showed me how
helpless / should be in an appeal to any
one who did not know me we'll But |
felt that it would not do nnforsstwo 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 &c to-
gether to the theatre. and submit the
question to the company assembled for
oiiS 'SiS"i SUI. SuSScSlctl IHlS course TO
my fac-simile, and he surprised me bv
accepting it readily.
Il warn you that l shall detain you
when it is settled, and send for the po-
lice, he said, in my haughtiest voice
ut was what 1 was intending to do
with him.
The actor paused to light another
cheroot.
"And did you both go back" somebody
asked.
Dane nodded.
eyes, together. The third man left
us at Waterloo" he said ''You may
not believe it, but felt rather uneasy
rs | approached the stage door, and the
fact TINT I had no latchkey to open it for
myself seemed n calamity. My double
calmly produced his, and marched me
into my own theatre with the air of n
proprietor. Then he closed the door be.
hind him, and, changing his voice and
manner suddenly turned quietly: and
now,sMr. Dane, will puzzle you no
more, but apologize for giving you so
much trouble, which I hope you will
think repaid by the enjoyment of II
unique sensation. The fact is that am
very anxious to go To the stage under
your auspices, and | thought that this
would be the best way to obtain an in
show You Il specimen of my acting in the
part OF your undcrstudy. You will adj
nit mt least that | understand the art of
making up. Now are you going to give
me an en9agement-or to send for the
polices'i
And YOU gave him the engagement,
suppose" | asked.
eyes; | lave always regretted that he
threw it up before the year was out, and
returned to his former profession, that of
medical man.
''lt was he, of course, who called for
the latchkey in the MOI ning.'
Yes; he had been in the shop when I
ordered it, and the fact finally determin
ed him to carry out the affair, which he
had been bordering some time
But he must have haunted you like a
shadow beforehand put in Major Den
that. should hardly think the result
was worth the trouble
Macpherson, who had been sitting
quietly in the background, surprised us
by replying for his friend.
Excuse me, Major he said, in his
usual quiet way, but you make mis-
take there. Any man would be glad
TO give E1O0 down for the engagement
which Dane offered me straightway. 1t
cost me less than $40 for clothes. and
about Il month OF study; and nv time
was not worth 600 month then. or 7
should not have thought of giving up
medicine and taking to the stage. Tit.
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