Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-09-25
The ManWho
Met, Himself
By "DGAR wELT0N COOLEY.
oopyrisat. 1908. By Daily Story Pub. Co,


.musement in staring at his dim refec-
ion in the mirror at the further end.
There was no lamp in the bus, and the
only light that illumined the interior
Was such as struggled through the
mist and the night from the shop
windows.
While he sat idly gazing at this mir
:or. he suddenly noticed that, while
t reflected perfectly his features, it
lid not reflect any other object.
His curiosity aroused, Demming
eaned forward, the better to scruti-
1ize it. Then he drew back, aston
shed.
He had moved-had moved at least
foot. But his reflection in the glass
1ad remained perfectly stationary.
Umphi" he exclaimed aloud,
that's queer"
AT the sound of his voice, the side
view of himself il the mirror suddenly
changed to a front view. His eyes
seemed gazing directly at himself
There were the same deep-set eyes.
the same aquiline nose, the same
heavy mustache, the same prominent
jaws and square chin, the same care
fully parted hair, even to one stray
lock that hung down over his fore
head
For full moment Demming enjoyed
the sensation of doubling his own san
lty. He was positive he had heard his
own voice; therefore, he must have
spoken. Yet he was not conscious of
having done SO, and his thought had
certainly not been upon the weather
Then the bus swung under the bril-
iantly lighted shed of the Grand Cen
trail station. He had thought himself
alone in the vehicle. but he now saw,
instead of second mirror, a man sit
ting on the further end of the seat
Demming stared at him in abject be-
wilderment, for the mans apparel
his closely buttoned coat, his trousers,
his tie, his gloves, his hat, his shoes,
even his valise-were exact duplicates
Of his own!
Having finally managed to stumble
out, he stood in the glare of an arc
light and watched the Other Man
alight and ming1e with the throng
And slowly there crept through him
an indistinct impression that he, him
self, was only his own spirit, and that
his Other Being was his mortal self
He wondered if this aoul of dead man
must lot experience like sensation,
in case it is allowed to hover around
the mortal remains and witness the
grief of it's living friends.
However, once in the Pullman, on
the Denver limited, and Invested of hat,
gloves and storm coat, his fatigue con-
WINGED him that he was still in the
flesh, and seeking his berth, he was
soon in refreshing slurber
When he awOke the first gray
streaks Of morning were slowly bright
ening the bluffs of the Mississippi val
ley.
1t was, as yet, too early to arise, so
he lay. gazing out upon the flying
landscape and thinking of the woman
who was awaiting him in Denver; of
the wedding that was to be; of the
contemplated wedding tour; of the
coy home he had prepared for her
in the east.
Finally the sun came up, shooting
its scarlet darts across the hills and
dispelling the mists upon the lowlands
Then he dressed and went forward
to complete his toilet
When, after breakfast and a morn
-ng smoke, he returned, he found one
nalf of his section occupied by his
;ellow-passenger of the bus.
He did not experience any surprise
at this; nor did it occur to him as
ceing out of the ordinary. Yet, it an
noyed him.
He picked up paper, but could not
Z I'D
eyes resting upon him. So he laid his
paper aside and glanced, rather de-
family at his fellow-traveler.
The other was looking directly at
him, and he saw the same features
chat he had mistaken for his OWE re-
lection in the bus.
The face was aglow with amuse-
ment; the eyes twinkled; there was
the suggestion of a smile upon the
face.
How far west?" Demming managed
to ask, finally.
Denver" the other replied.
do you reside in Denver?" he ven
tured, after a paHte.
mo, sir" the other replied, my
nome is in Cleveland
cleveland" Demming faltered, be-
ginning to feel Uncomfortable Why,
{ live in Cleveland, also"
'.Indeed?" replied the other, smil-
ing. Then perhaps we viii become
good friends
Demming did not reply, and the two
gazed out of the windows at the green
oluffs rolling backward, like gigantic
waves, from the broad river.
Finally, the stranger. without remov-
ng his eyes from the landscape, re-
marked:
From Cleveland to Denver is rather
long journey for one to take for the
sole purpose of committing matrimony,
L =.