The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-01-05
CHAPTER ri,
THE COUNTS DOUBLE.

was too Overwhelmingly unexpected.
telt for Il moment so utterly, helplessl,
amazed that | must either laugh or cry
"1mpossiblel" l gasped. "You cdult
not have, old man, Why, how eoult
the dear old governor no; it's impossi
blel You didn't speak to him"
eyes, I did, | met him In Oxforf
street and capped him and said, 'zdrav'
stvui, graf" (Geod morning, county,
'and-well. he seemed q bit surprised
and looked me over rs though he didn't
recognize me, but he returned my salu'
%tation"-
"Go on" I said. sin heavens namel
What did he say then--where did he
goY"
"That's the funny part Of It," said
Percy. "He didn't stop to talk, and
your pater Is generally so kind and nice
to me. Instead Of taking my arm and
having a chat and probably standing
me presently a rare lunch. he nodded,
jumped into Il hanson and drove
away
~ can't believe Ii of old dad, Percy
l said. lyon must have been mistaken,
old man; you mistook some one else for
him.
"His double, then, and another Rus
sian, toe. for he answered In Russian,
'Zdravstvui; but Of course that might
be a coincidence, If Ii were not that | am
ready to swear to it that he was your
father and no other, or almost ready,
perhaps | ought to say
l jumped at the little point Of implied
uncertainty.
"Ah~almostl You are not absolutely
certain, then2' D.
"Well, to be entirely straight'--Per.
cy hesitated-'I remember now motto.
ing-well, you know how very partieu.
lar your father IL about dress, and 80
IN. Today he did look different IN that
respect. He wore a Tyrolese hat and
a seedyish coat; he didn't look -- you
know-quite 30 distinguished as usual
that's all--and he hadn't shaved"
"Then ia swear Ii wasn't dad" I
cried. ''for the dear old man would soon.
er perish than walk up Piccadilly look.
ing like the bounder You described
"Oxford street, Percy corrected.
"Or even Oxford street, said I.
"But stop, old chapl You seem to be
anxious It shouldn't DO your father"
said Percy, puzzled by my attitude,
"Wouldn't you rather know he was
over here, safe and all we'll than-well
heaven knows whereY"
"The thing is." I tried to explain,
II shouldn't like to think he was here,
free on his own hook, as II were, be.
cause then, why shouldn't mother know
about 1t, and | and all the world for
the matter Of that2 It would mean that
the dear old man had gone dotty. you
know, and I'd almost rather anything
had happened than that"
~ see" said Percy, and we walked
on awhile in silence, taking the nearest
route to my hotel. I told my friend my
intention Of starting tonight, and no
promised to dine early with me and SEQ
me off at $50.
4" Chang itr' he said presently, II
wish I was going with you. D'you
know this Is the most hopeless place In
the world to find anything to do In"
"There are nearly always matches at
Lord or the OVAL I said, land there
are the theatersl"
II mean work, he explained--"a
living. can get G1 a week az a clerk In
the city and that's the best offer I've
had as yet. jolly prospect, isn't its"
What a selfish brute | was, for the
last hour I had talked hard about my
affairs and had never ever thought
of asking after his. Yet he was very
badly off, indeed, I had heard. and, as
his words showed, he was without i'm.
mediate prospect Of employment.
II most heartily wish you were com.
ing over with me-" I said, "Look
here" I added. "Why not Gomez"
"Oh. I couldn'tr' he laughed. MAT.
affairs are too important for
that, or rather my want Of affairsl'
"Well, but l said. struck with q
idea. 1--WE shall require a stew.
ard badly until the old dad turns up
again to look after things, Why not
come and help usY | promise you a fair
reward If my dear old mother has any.
thing to do with 1t, which she certain.
ly will"
Don't tempt me too sore, or l shall
falll' he laughed.
Then | went at him tooth and nail
and almost compelled him TO accept the
suggestion, and presently no did con-
sent, He conld not DO ready, he said, In
time to start with me tonight, but he
would come tomorrow or next day, by
that time ho would get his passport and
luggage together, II was rather short
notice and might DO a bit OF a shock to
mother, but she would quite under,
Eyes, old man, no ended, "I'm
on for II.
This decision OF Percy's comforted
mo greatly, for | was very fond indeed
Of my friend, At Toddlestone no and |
had been known IN Wdus and Achates
Ae would come as a guest at present
nptapNvoe1 IL ahnulI tn,n D,,t that