Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-09-25


gerly forward
Eyes. SIR" returned the other He
| resides in Paducah-Paducah, KY.
Why?''
Nothing" Demming replied, much
with the air Of one who is crushed;
'oniy that II have an uncle who an
sWers to that name and he, also, lives
in Paducah.''
He paused a moment, as though de-
batting great question and then the
light of sudden understanding flashed
across his countenance.
THAT is to say" he resumed, 'I did
have an Uncle Charlie Bashford-be-
fore I died.
Before you what?" the other
| asked, visibly startled.
Before 1 died." repeated Demming.
Il must have had heart-failure or
something and didn't know it. 1t all
events, 1 am dead. died very sud-
denly in bus. / recognize you now,
| OF course You are my spirit I first
saw you in the bus at the time of
| my demise 1 see that you are re-
luctant to leave me. 1t is very AInd
of you, indeed
The other gazed at him, affrighted
ly. 1t was quite evident to him that
Demmlng was lunatic, and he glanced
uneasily around. as though measuring
his chances of escape. His hands
shook with fear, and a coin. which he
| had been fumbiing in his fingers,
dropped to the floor.
Demming stopped and picked it up.
1t was Roman piece of ancient coin
age, and through the edge hole had
been bored.
For moment Demming gazed at the
piece of metal in fierce wonder.
I'm the name of Godi" he cried, ex-
citedly, IF you are not my spirit; if
you are mortal and in the flesh, where
did you get this coin?''
IL assure YOU" the other replied,
| calmly, that I am not your spirit;
| that I am of the earth, earthly 1
have had that coin for years-ever
since l was a babe. To the best of
my knowledge it is the only one of its
kind in existence-save one. But why
do you ask"
For reply Demming thrust his hand
into his pocket, then drew it out, and
the other saw q coin upon the open
palm.
He laid his own beside it and COM
pared the two. They were precisely
alike, even to the small hole in the
edge.
Il understand" the other said, final
| ", and smile spread over his face.
| ''This is the other one of which l
spoke"
But Demming paid no heed to his
words. His face had grown pale; his
lips were close-pressed; his eyes were
riveted upon the others.
Gin heavens namei" he cried,
hoarsely; what are you-man or
devil?"
81 am a man. the other, answered,
his eyes twinkling; whether or not
am devil is as men judge me. My
| name is Archibald Demming''
For a moment, Demming gaZed at
him. helplessly. Then a CLEAN of pa
thetic hopelessness crept into his eyes,
and he bowed his head.
Then" he said, a tremor in his
voice, lit is as feared. 1 am dead"
His companion laughed.
NO" he replied, you are not the
| late lamented. You are only mistaken
| in your identity. You have been
known, practically all your life, as
8,
you are Ferdinand Randolph. Do not
interrupt me, but listen:
you and 1 are first cousins, and, vir-
| tually, of the same age. When we
| were babes in arms, we were so much
| alike that our parents could not tell
us apart. A relatiye-an enthusiastic
numismatist-gave our mothers these
coins, and they fastened them on
chains that we might wear them
around our necKs.
Zone day there was church pic
mic, or something, and our mothers,
planning to attend, agreed that one
! of US should not wear our chain that
day. This would guard against any
! possibility of getting US mixed. It was
a good arrangement and was spoiled
only by our maternal sires very care
! fully leaving both our chains at home
"The expected happened. When our
mothers returned from that picnic
each had the others child. From thai
| day to a few years ago, when / learned
of my true identity by reason of fail.
| ing eyesight, which is hereditary il
the Demming family, 1 have beer
known as Randolph. Since that have
been searching for you. That we are
residents of the same city is a coin
cidence of which did not dream. But
| it is Fortunate
There was violent jolting of the
cars. the sound of brake-beams lock.
! ing tightly. the noise Of screening en-
gines. and then
! Demning heard roar like the crack
of doom, the swapping of timbers, the
kissing of steam, the grinding Of steel
on wood. And he felt the sensation
of falling, OF tumbling, of rolling, over