The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-09-25

Bashford wrsSe when he eloped
with"
"HAve you an Uncle Charlie Bash
ford?' Deming broke in, leaning ca
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 II have an uncle who an
swers to that name and he, also, lives
1 in Paducah."
| He paused a moment, as though de-
batting a 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 1 died"
Before you = what!" the other
asked, visibly startled.
Before 1 died." repeated Demming.
81 must have had heart-failure or
something and didn't know it. It all
events, l 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. / see that you are re-
luctant to leave me. 1t is very lnd
of you, indeed
The other gazed at him, affrighted-
/ ly. 1t was quite evident 20 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 be
had been fumbling in his fingers,
dropped to the floor.
Demming stopped and picked it up.
1t was a>Roman piece of ancient COIN
age. and through the edge hole had
been bored.
For a moment Demming gazed at the
piece of metal in fierce wonder.
"In 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 1 am of the earth, earthly l
have had that coin for years-ever
since 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 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
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 2"
'T 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, cit is as feared. 1 am dead"
His companion laughed.
mo-" he replied, you are not the
, late lamented. You are only mistaken
in your identity. You have been
. known, practically all your life. as
Archibald Demming. when in reality
you are Ferdinand Randolph. Do not
interrupt me, but listen:
"You and 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 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 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. 1t was
good arrangement and was spoiled
only by our maternal sires very care
fully leaving both our chains at home.
"The expected happened. When oul
mothers returned from that picnic
each had the others child. From thai
day to few years ago, when learned
: of my true identity by reason of fail
ing eyesight, which is hereditary il
, the Demming family. I have beer
known as Randolph. Since that have
been searching for you. That we are
| recidantS of the same city is a COIN
cidence Of which did not dream. But
it is fortunate"
There was a violent jolting of the
cars, the sound Of brake-beams lock.
ing tightly, the noise of screening en-