The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-11-05

but | heard your friend just call you
Mr.. Dane" l wonder whether we are
related at all, for that happens to be
my name, and we seem to bear a strik
ing similarity to one another
My double turned and surveyed
me through a single eyeglass in exact
ly the same manner as that with which
l should have surveyed a stranger who
addressed me in the train.
ST really do not know whether we
are related or not he said, in the voice
[ use when | wish to be slightly patron
ling 4 am Gilbert Dane, of the How
ard theater,' and he actually handed me
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 | am afraid
was rather feeble. You have certainly
! succeeded in startling me. Now
should like your own card, SO that
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 should have
done, if stranger addressed me in the
same manner. He became angry, and
,,rI- .l.,+ I 4 \
called myself
We'll, until to-day l 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
as my own.
Well! you had better not do so
any mere he said sharply, or you will
find yourself in the hands of the police.
l see that you have been initiating my
dress, too, which l 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.
~ 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 l asked him
the same question.
81 should call you a very good imi-
tation, he said, when he had recovered
from his surprise.
This was becoming decidedly I'M
comfortable, and l began to wonder
how | could prove to anybody that l
was not a good imitation of myself. The
ticket collectors ready acceptance of
nv 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 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
il would be to so together to the the
alter, and submit the question to the
company assembled for the rehearsal.
l suggested his course tony fac-simile,
and he surprised me by accepting it
readily.
81 warn you that I shall detain you
when it is settled, and send for the po-
lice he said, in my haughtiest voice.
"It was what l was intending to do
with him."
The actor paused to light another
cheroot
"And did you both go back?" some
body asked.
Dane nodded.
Eyes, together. The third man lett
us at Waterloo" he said "You may not
believe it, but I felt rather uneasy as |
approached the stage door, and the fact
that | had no latchley to open it for
myself seemed a 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, I will puzzle you
no more, but apologize for giving you
so much trouble, which l hope yol.
will think repaid by the enjoyment of
a unique sensation. The fact is that
am very anxious to go on the stage I'M
der your auspices, and I 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 l under
stand the art of making up. Now are
you going to give me an engagement
Or send for the police p"
"And you gave him the engagement,
1 suppose?" asked.
"Yes; I have always regretted that
he threw it up before the year was out,
and returned to his former profession,
that of a medical man."
at was he, of course, who called for
the latchltey 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
4