Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-02-06

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women ana sundry other accessories
OF the stage. The manager. whose
generosity was never in doubt. after
maintaining brisk conversation with
my uncle for some five minutes or so,
was suddenly called away, and lin
and We're left with nothing more to
40 than inspect the portraits of the
pretty women which were scattered so
lrpfusely about the room. frankly
admit that found the gallery of ce-
lebrities somewhat interesting, but not
80 my uncle. He had gone over to the
table the better to inspect the wigs,
and presently an ejaculation of his
wheeled Inc round.
He was standing, looking my way, q
curious smile playing about his mouth
and Frightening his eyes. In his hand
he dangled that which 1 at first took
to be wig, but which upon closer
scrutiny proved to be a false beard
and mustache.
"Davie, what do you think of this?"
He put the question almost gloating-
ly, humor failed to comprehend.
What did think of it? Why, what
could anybody think of it but what it
was obviously intended for?
"Can you guess Its use?"
II think so.'
I 1t seemed to me that this required no
prodigious strain on the intellect.
"Then what do you think of the
idea?'
confess his mysterious language
puzzled me, and no doubt my face re-
fected somewhat the state of my mind,
for, as If reading my thoughts, he I'M
mediately fixed the beard ON his face,
and, 10! n perfect stranger stood before
me.
"Wonderfulw 1 said. What a trans
formationw
EYES, he replied. 'T believe it will
puzzle even our friends"
His meaning was no longer obscure.
grasped the idea with ayidity.
Excellent l should never know
you. Lend 1t to me.'
took the beard from him and, ad-
justing 1t to my face, which at that
period was entirely clean shaved, look
ed at myself in n mirror The change
was startling in the extreme. A man
Of about 40 stared at me from the
glass. Even the eyes were those of a
stranger.
"Admirable~ cried my uncle. "I
should pass you by in the street. We
must try the effect Of this upon our
friend Wooching."
But as laid the disguise aside still
saw many dangers abroad. 1t was one
thing to adorn ourselves here in the
privacy Of the managers room, but 1t
was quite another to set out secretly
from Dover street. This was not
slow to mention, and for the moment it
staggered Jim, and something like a
desperate look Of hopelessness racked
his face. But presently his brows con-
tracted, and lie threw back his head, a
habit of his when acting upon a sud-
den resolve.
W. M-st go back to Dover street"
he saw my look of amazement and
continued:
ITO go back, take 1t, would be SUI
preme act of folly. There would then
be not the slightest hope of escaping
the watchers. The present affords the
very opportunity we require. My dear
Davie, after all we are not without
some luck"
Explain"
We will borrow these DISCUSSES
from our esteemed friend the manager,
who ut the present moment for certain
reasons of his own is inclined to be ex-
ceedingly friendly, make our way out
through the stage door and take the
night mail to Paris"
"a pretty idea. But what about
preparations for the trip?"
"This is no time for preparations. 1
have enough money on me to take us
over. Once there shall communicate
with my bankers. What do you think
of the plan?''
l thought 1t excellent, though had
some doubt as to its efficacy. Howev-
er, that was in the hands of chance,
and was fast reaching that state of
helplessness which reposes increased
confidence in the powers Of Proyi-
dence.
Soon after this the manager returned
full Of the most profuse apologies for
the length of his absence, an absence,
by the way, which had not been quite
so dreary to us as he seemed to i'm
agine. Then, after some skillful fenc-
Ing on the part Of my uncle, which,
considering the issue at stake, consid-
erably impressed me with his power of
restraint, he broached the subject of