Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-08

SWGFS lO llal si1dHiG auu lG, GlSO, llVCS in Paducan.
 He paused 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, "I did have an Uncle Charlie Bashford--be- | fore I died"
 Before you what?" the other asked, visibly startled.
 Before I died,'' repeated Demming. II must have had heart-failure or something and didn't know it. At all events, am dead. I died very sud- denly in bus. I 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. It is very Alnd | of you, indeed" .4.., ..u.. The other gazed at him, affrighted- ly. It 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 coin, which he had been fumbling in his fingers, dropped to the floor. t... .
 Demming stopped and picked it up. It was 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 'fIn 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?'
 ."I assure you," the other replied, calmly, that I am not your spirit; that I am of the earth, earthly have had that coin for years-ever since I was a babe. To the best of my knowledge it is the only one of it's kind in existence-save one. But why do you ask?"
 For reply Demming thrust his hand into his pocket, then drew 1t out, and the other saw coin upon the open palm. sse-4te t.
 He laid his own beside it and com pared the two. They were precisely alike, even to the small hole in the edge.
 "I 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. ..
 Tn heavens name!" he cried, hoarsely; what are you-man or devil?"
 "I am a man." the other, answered, his eyes twinlzling; whether or not am devil is as men judge me. My name is Archibald Demming." For moment, Demming gazed at him, helplessly. Then a gleam of pa thetic hopelessness crept into his eyes, and he bowed his head. ..- Then he said, tremor. in his voice, 'it is as I feared am dead" a
 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 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.
 "One day there was a church pie nic, 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 that day to a few years ago, when I learned of my true identity by reason of fail- ing eyesight, which is hereditary in the Demning family. I 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 a violent jolting of the cars, the sound of brake-beams lock- ing tightly, the noise of screeching en- zines, and then
 Demming heard roar like the, crack of doom, the snapping of timbers, the hissing of steam, the grinding of steel on wood. And he felt the sensation of falling, of tumbling, of rolling, over and over. Then all was darkness and chaos, and the air was filled with the voices of men, women and children raised in agony-voices pleading, pray ing and cursing.
 It was several moments before he realized that the train had plunged down a bank and that he was pinned beneath the wreckage, but was unin- jured. He struggled to free himself, and touched human hand that seemed reaching to him from beneath