The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-27
The Globes Daily Short Story /

What are you doing it for?'' retorted
| Bliffkins.
L have no hesitation in telling you.
am suffering from lingering and incur
able disease. 1t not only makes me
Wretched, but unfit for work I have no
means and I haven't any desire to be-
come public beneficiary, so I'm taking
! this way out of It," A pause, then he
added, Zone confidence deserves an
other
oh said Bliffkins, with painful eff
fort, same old trouble-a girl
Thrown you over?' Bliffkins nodded.
whats the matter?''
Nothing, only she says she don't care
! for me-
"Oh, don't you believe it. Never say
die; you'll win out in the long run
mo; it's no use," Bliffkins responded
drearily. Il ought to have seen it long
ago, only I was such an ass
MY boy, you'll forget her in a month.
Go and have glorious old jag, and
you'll be all right.
Bliffkins shook his head. But he had
got started to talking and the rest of his
tale came forth without much difficulty.
The stranger was soon in possession OF
| the facts of his beQuest to Emmabelle.
After he had finished the man stood look
ing thoughtfully at Bliffkins
Five feet eight he murmured, eye to
eye with him, medium complexion,
brown hair, blue eyes, mustache, weight
about the same as mine-What's the USE
he said, "of giving her all that money
and making her feel sorry she didn't take
you, for nothing? I'll tell you a trick
| worth two of that. Nobody here knows
me. Change clothes with me-you've pa
| pers on to identify you I suppose. III
| jump overheard without witnesses. When
| they find me I'll be changed so they
| couldn't tell me from you. You go some
where and keep quiet for a month or two
| till it's all blown over; then come out
and claim her while her remorse and
| gratitude are at high tide
How about the money!
DO you care for that-you'd get it
| anyhow
No. but suppose she shouldn't be
| glad to see me?''
rs there any danger of that?"
''N-no; don't think she realized what
she was doing; she would be glad to have
| me come back If she once thought l
was dead
well, try it, anyway; it can't do any
HARM
'T wiz" said Bliffkns, and they shook
| hands
| The two men retired within the ferry
and exchanged clothing. Then Bliffkins,
suddenly feeling very queer, sat down
| on d bench in the saloon and watched
| the other man go out through the door.
The resemblance to himself, back view,
| was not reassuring. He was conscious
| of distinct relief that his suicide was to
| be by proxy.
| Bliffkins secured himself in a quiet
| lodging in South San Francisco to await
| the turn of events. He was interested
in reading the newspaper accounts of
| his disappearance, and his beuuest to
| Emmabelle furnished material for two
| columns in the yellowest sheet But the
| supplementary tale of the finding Of his
! dead body was withheld. The little
money he had with him tided him over
| the first few days, but at last he was
| obliged to earn something, and his shah
| by garb found him an obscure place be-
| hind the counter of a shabby grocer S
| shop. He hated the work, and found
| himself desperately homesick for the
magnificent surroundings of his uptown
| position. Two weeks went by; he began
| to venture about the city little. He did
not dare to go near Emmabelles home,
| feeling less and less sure of his welcome
| even had the longed-for Identification
| taken place. But he tried to catch a
| glimpse of her.
The meeting came about quite unex-
| pectedly, after all, one Sunday in Golden
Gate park. He saw her while she was
| at some distance. walking with a man
| of his own height, dressed in black.
| Blifkins did not know him but was sure
| he had seen him before. He noticed
| with pain that their understanding of
| each other was evidently perfect. Never
| theless he went toward her boldly. She
| raised her eyes. Her face turned white
| and she caught at her escorts arm.
''Emmabelle!'' said Bliffkins.
| 'T-I-you have the advantage of me,
/ SIR she faltered.
| 'Emmabelle!' he repeated, in a be-
| seeching tone. A masculine voice cut In
roughly.
"Confound your impudence! What do
| you mean by speaking to my wife?''
| Blifkins looked at him squarely for the
! first time. That comprehensive glance
| took in also his own best hat, tie and
! broadcloth. Both men took step back
ward. The one muttered a curse The
others jaw dropped. A moment they
| stood so, then Emmabelle's voice broke
the spell. 20, George, please take me
| away!'
A party of tourists, a dozen in all, came
up behind them, laughing and chattering.
They, bore. them past and left Blifkins
standing alone.
| well, iii be d-d!' said BlirEdns.