The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-08-19
seized the opportunity of introduc-

..Nr. Dane" [ wonder whether Vc (
related at all, for that happens 10
nv name, and We seem 10 bear str
ing similarity to one another
My double turned and survey'
me through a single eyeglass in cEae,
" the same manner as that with which
| 7 should have surveyed stranger VINO
addressed me in the train.
81 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 low
ard theater,' and he actually handed me
one of my own cards.
There vas something in the sub
stantial nature of the familiar bit or
pasteboard that brought BIZ: little
of nv common sense, and rt!cEcd nc
from the state of stupefaction into
which the phenomenon had driven Elc.
"'Come. this is 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 L
NAV know whom to congratulate Oh a
very clever performance
And what did the Mystery do?" in
ouircd, with interest, when the actor
paused.
"He did exactly what 1 should have
done. if stranger addressed me in the
same manner. He became angry, and
asked ne what l meant, and whom I
called myself.
well, until to-day L have been i'll
the habit of calling myself Gilbert
Dane, of the Howard theater-' [ wa
beginning, keeping as cool as I could,
when my double interrupted me in q
tone which | still recognized perfectly
Us my own.
"'Wcl. you had better not do so
any ncrc,' he said sharply, or you will
find yourself in the hands of the police.
] see that you have been initiating ny
dress, too. which / cannot help, but tho
use of III name is another thing.
I'VE bad just reached NauXhall. our
first stopping place, as he spoke, AMI
ticket collector who knows me by
sight c>l~c to the door. My double
caught IS eye first.
81 wish you would tell this gentle
nan who / am he said, and the man
answered promptly:
Certainly. sir, you are Mr.. Dane, the
actor
':Hc looked startled when / asked him
the same question.
81 should call you very good iml-
tatior, he said. when he had recovered
from his surprise.
This was becoming decidedly I'M
comfortable. and I began to wonder
how | could prove to anybody that L
was not good imitation of myself. The
ticket collectors ready acceptance OF
nv double as the real Mr.. Dane showed
| how helpless should be in IN 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 go together to the tho
alter, and submit the question to the
company assembled for the rehearsal.
I suggested this 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 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 left
Us at Waterloo" he said. "You may not
believe it, but felt rather uneasy as l
approached the stage door, and the fact
that [ had no latchkey to open it for
myself seemed a calamity. My double
calmly produced his, and marched me
into my own theater with the air of q
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, bnt apologize for giving you
so rarch trouble, which I hope you
will think repaid by the enjoyment of
a unique sensation. The fact is that I
am very anxious to go or the eta~a TT
der your auspices, and I thour!,t tlot
this would be the best way to obtain g,
introduction to you. and at the sar0~
time show you a specimen Of my act
ing IN the rart of your undcrstudv
You VIII admit at least that under.
stand the art of making up. Now arc
you "oin~ to give me an engagement
Or ccnd FOR the police?'"
'And you gave him the engagement
sunnose?" asked
"Ics; I have always regretted thai
he threw it up before the year was out
ard returned to his former profession
that Of medical man.
''It was he, Of course. who called fol
the latch1ley in the morning?"
"Ies; he had been in the shop wher
[ ordered it. and the fcct finally deter
mined him to carry out the affair, which
he had been pendering for some time
"Eut he must have haunted YOU l:l-t
shadow beforehand" put in Mai. Der
nett. ito learn ell your gestures ant
that. I should hardly think the result
was worth the trouble"
Macpherson, who had been sittins
quietly in the background, surprised u
by replying for his friend.
Excuse me. major" he said, in hi
usual quiet way, ''but you make mis-
take there. Any rcar. would have bee,
glad to give c 1CO down for the cagaoc
lrent which Dane offered me straight
way. 1t cost me less than SO 70