The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-09-18

Bashford wrote when he eloped
with
Have you an Uncle Charlie Bash
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;
only that IL have an uncle who an
swers to that name and he, also, lives
in Paducah."
He paused moment. as though de-
batting great question and then the
light OF sudden understanding flashed
across his countenance.
THAT is to say" he resumed, 81 did
have an Uncle Charlie Bashford-be-
fore l died"
Before you what?" the other
asked, visibly startled.
Before died." repeated Demming.
81 must have had heart-failure or
something and didn't know it. At all
events, am dead. l died very sud-
denly in bus. l recognize you now,
of course. You are my spirit. l first
saw you in the bus at the time OF
my demise. l see that you are re-
luctant to leave me. 1t is very hind
of you, indeed"
The other gazed at him, affrighted-
ly. 1t was quite evident to him that
Demming 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 fumbling 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 a hole had
been bored.
For moment Demming gazed at the
piece of metal in fierce wonder.
'In the name of God!" he cried, ex-
citedly, IF you are not my spirit; if
you are mortal and in the flesh, where
did you get this coin?"
81 assure you," the other replied,
calmly, that 1 am not your spirit;
that l am of the earth, earthly l
have had that coin for years-ever
since I was 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 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.
81 understand" the other said, final
ly, 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.
''In heavens name!" 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 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, tremor in his
voice, cit is as feared. am dead"
His companion laughed
late iamented. You are only mistaken
in your identity. You have been
known, practically all your life, as
Archibald Demming, when i'm reality
you are Ferdinand Randolph. Do not
Interrupt me, but listen:
You and I are first cousins. and, vir-
tually, of the same age. When we
were babes in arms, we were so II UGH
alike that our parents could not tell
us apart. A relative-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 a 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
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 that
day to few years ago, when learned
of my true identity by reason of fail
ing eyesight, which is hereditary in
the Demming family, have been
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
Demming 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