Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-12-08

one of my own cards.
"There was something in the SUBJ
stantial nature of the familiar bit of
pasteboard that brought back little
of my common sense, and relieved me
from the state Of stupefaction into
which the phenomenon had driven me.
"'Come, this is a very clever trick
said, with a smile, which I am afraid
was rather feeble. You have certainly
succeeded in startling me. Now
should like your own card, SO that I
may know whom to congratulate on a
very clever performance
"And what did the Mystery do?" in
quired, with interest, when the actor
paused.
HE did exactly what I should have
done, if stranger addressed me in the
same manner. He became angry, and
asked me what I meant, and whom
called myself.
swell, until to-day have been in
the habit of calling myself Gilbert
Dane, of the Howard theater-, was
beginning, keeping as cool as could,
when my double interrupted me in
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
eve 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. !
"T wish you would tell this gentle
man who I 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 I could prove to anybody that I
was not 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 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 the easiest way to do
it would be to go together to the the
alter, and submit the question to the
company assembled for the rehearsal.
suggested this course tony fac-simile,
and he surprised me by accepting it
readily.
"I warn you that shall detain you
when it is settled, and send for the po-
lice,' he said, in my haughtiest voice.
"It was what was intending to do
with him.
The actor paused 70 light another
cheroot.
"And did you both go back?" some
body asked.
Dane nodded.
eyes, together The third man left
us at Waterloo" he said. "You may not
believe it, but felt rather uneasy as I
approached the stage door, and the fact
that 1 had no latchlley to open it for
myself seemed a calamity. My double
calmly produced his, and marched me
into my own theater with the air of a
proprietor. Then he closed the door
behind him, and, changing his voice
and manner, suddenly turned quietly:
And now, Mr.. Dane, I will puzzle YOU
no more, but apologize for giving you
so much trouble, which 1 hope you
will think repaid by the enjoyment of
a unique sensation. The fact is that !
am very anxious to GO Oh the stage I'M
der 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 act
ing in the part of your understudy.
You will admit at least that I under
stand the art of making up. Now are
you going to give me IN engagement
or send for the police 20"
"And you gave him the engagement,
I suppose?" asked.
eyes; have always regretted that
| AAS lew ~ u UGlOlc Ulle year WIS OuU,
and returned to his former profession,
that of a medical man."
ut was he, of course, who called for
the laichkey in the morning?'
Eyes; he had been in the shop when
I ordered it, and the fact finally deter
mined him to carry out the affair, which
he had been bordering for some time.'
"But he must have haunted you like
a shadow beforehand" put in Maj. Den
nett, "to learn all your gestures and
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 have been
glad to give e1oo down for the engage
lnent which Dane offered me straight
way. 1t cost me less than a1O for
clothes, and about month of study;
and my time was not worth EGO a
month then, or I should not have
thought CT giving up medicine and TAX
ing up the stage."-Tit-Bits.
st. Louis is tbs largest tobacco
manufacturing center in the world.