The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-31
THE WRONG JACKSON.
TBy NJ. QUAD


jackson was living in certain TOWN. ~
Pennsylvania. He was single nlal
and bOOkbinder by trade he openSI
a bindery on a small scaie. put iouIe
little or no custom. He acted as sew,
ing machine agent for some time, anu
also bought butter and eggs and shlppse
them away. He had been resident o.
the town for upward OF three yea
when he got into trouble with hldli
and shot and wounded him. 1t was
case of self-defense. but, teartul or tlie
consequences. Jackson skipped out ne
had been gone thirteen months. ana ho
one had heard a word from him, Wheh
I got off a train at that station one
afternoon about 8 o'clock had never
been there before and didn't know soul
In the Mace | boarded a street car 70
20 uptown, but was hardly on the pat
form before the conductor extended MS
hand and said. ~,
Hello, Jacksonl Back again? Glad
70 see vou' -, Gov
explanations but had I sought TO make
one it would have been useless. Al
least five men nodded to me as we rouS
along. and when I got off at the ho'el
had to shake hands with three or four
others When 1 came to register, put
down my own name of course
Had it changed since you went
away?" queried the landlord. with
laugh. -.
Il never had any other. 1t seems that
I resemble a man named jackson, VINO
used to live here
Resemble! Well, a man ought to re
semble himself. 1 take it,
I went up to my room to wash up, but
had not been there ten minutes When
had a visitor. AS I opened the door toI
him his face wore a smile. and ne helu
out his hand and said
well old boy. I'm mighty glad 10
see you back! Why on earth dldn you
write to a feller2 7 thought you pc
anxious about that deal and want the
money"
"See here" I replied as I sat down
beside him, you and several others nave
made a curious mistake. To begin with,
my name is not Jackson L was never
in this town before. ! don't know any
thing about any shooting. l don't know
a soul in the town.
well, by thunder bluntly eXclalm-
ed the man when l finished. Look here,
jackson. what sort of a game is this
you are playing? Are you ass enough
to think year has changed you so no
one here would know you2 There's no
occasion for any skulking. Jim never
made a complaint on the shooting
And who is Jim?'
Are you sane enough to sign your
name to a receipt" he asked after
painful pause.
II hope SO"
Then sign this one I sold a horse
for you for $50 and was to keep $50
of it as commission"
He opened a wallet and counted down
S125 and handed out receipt for me to
sign.
THAT money belongs to Mr.. Jackson,
and of course can't take it," 1 said.
The man turned pale as he picked UP
the notes and walked out of the room.
He had made the discovery that 1 was
insane, and he probably feared l would
become violent before he could make
his escape. He went downstairs and
reported his discovery, and half an
hour later when I descended to the
office I found myself an object of Curl
osity While there was a humorous
side to the case, it was on the whole
very annoying and embarrassing.
When it was decided that l was harm
less" a dozen or more persons address
ed me as jackson. I selected four of
the most intelligent. among whom was
a lawyer, added the landlord and asked
them to a conference in my room. When
we had reached there said:
Gentlemen. there seems to be some
thing very queer about all this. l may
resemble man named Jackson. but it
is only resemblance"
Now, see here Jackson" said the
landlord as he saw that I was losing
my temper, you are among friends.
Some of EN- think you're a little off in
the top story, but I can't see any signs
of it. Come. now. tell US all about it.
L have nothing to tell you, except
that you are mistaken in your man.
Did this jackson have any relatives
here?"
They canvassed the matter over and
decided that he had not. Then I asked
where he boarded. and they gave me
the name of a widow.
Very well. gentlemen" I said q
will go with you to the house of thss
widow. and Wen hear what she has to
say. She ought to remember a man
who boarded with her for couple OF
years"
1t was decided that the lawyer and l
should go together and I felt certain
that the woman would instantly solve
the mystery. She had no sooner opened
the door and caught sight of me than
her face was covered with smiles. and
she cried out:
For the lands sake but if here
isn't Mr.. Jackson, looking as natural as
an old shoel Where on earth have YOU
been, and why didn't you write to say
I might expect your"
To say that I was amazed is drawing
Il mild I was knocked out and sat
down IN a sort of dream While I was
in this dazed state the lawyer asked her
II 7 had changed much and if she would
nave known me in crowd. and a lot of
other questions intended to establish my