The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-22

The Missing Man
Copyright by Lee & Shepard
A Thrilling Tale Of Mystery. Dealing with Startling
Hspnosie Inauenee and Double Personality

You saw the person the other day-yes-
"Mr. Hammerly, Constance. that man
looks exactly as l used to look
Yes: but his name is. not Hammerly
Mrs Fry told you so 10 quiet you. He says
his name is Hamilton"
Then, as sure as you live. he is my twin
brother. A minister, and 1 thought him
theft
II simulated. his tone Of. intense relief
was done.
But he is not a minister. He claims to
be Nane Hamilton, my husband
Your husband? What do you mean?'
II mean that he came TO Grovedale last
February, stated that he had been suffering
from loss OF identity, and that was the rea-
son he was absent so long. He progressed
70 know nothing about the bank defalca-
ton. but, after an examination he felt, or
so he said, that he ought TO pay the 5000,
as there seemed TO be indications which
pointed to his having presented the altered
notes at the banks. although he is far from
being satisfied that he was the one. He has
WORRIED and a ays ine seems t he s y9e
that he is the real Vane Hamilton-all but
me-"
The sick man who had listened to her
statement with real or affected astonish-
ment that seemed to rack his very soul
with torture, started UP as IL relieved some
what by her last words.
You did not receive him, then; you knew
he was not the true vane Hamilton" he
cried.
II did not feel sure that he was; but he
lives In the same house with US. and the
children are greatly attached to him, par
ticularly Clare
What does 1t all mean? The villainl"
and he raised himself in bed and glared
wildly about him; then sank down ex-
hausted, but his hands worked convulsively,
and nc continued to gaze at Constance with
a look of mingled horror and reproach.
Nv hat does il all mean?" he repeated, I'm
a whispered tone.
81 don't know I don't know" said Con-
stance, stretching out her clasped hands in
deep misery. why must this come upon
not trust either of you, and my uncle is
but reed to lean upon. What can l dor
But don't you know am your husband?
''You do not look as much like my hus-
band as he does"
II grant it; but there are other means
or Judging"
There is none. none, except this vague
impression that he is not, and
And that | am. Bless you. my dearest
for these words. With them | can be brave
L Will wrest you from him. / will get back
my home, all he has stolen from me, and
you shall help me-"
81? oh, l can do nothing"
AT least you shall not stay under the
roof with him another day. You shall not
Constance trembIed at his authoritative
words and bent her head obediently
II Will do as you say in that respect. I
VIII leave the house, with my children, until
the matter is settled
and It shall be settled soon. just as
soon as L can leave this bed, and I am get
ting strong very fast now. 1 could almost
rise now. walk to the mill and confront
that man."
'Heyday! you are getting we'll fast.
Edes, said Dr. Peck walking in, and bow
ing courteously to Mrs Hamilton Whom
would you confront at the mill?''
mat scoundrel who has taken my name
and place"
We'll, you must get a little stronger
first, and the worthy doctor looked at Mrs.
Hamilton with a sage nod as If there was
DIR. Peck" said his patient irritably,
Il am as sane as you are | knew you per-
fectly well, too, long ago. Have YOU forgot
ten giving me the wrong medicine and
pumping ii out of my stomach afterwards %
The doctor looked bewildered
- Tecollect giving the wrong medicine to
this ladys husband
Exactly, and l am her husband"
A burning blush stole over the face of
constance. and she arose to go without
so much as a glance at either man.
DR.. Peck stood staring until she was
gone and for some time afterward Then
| he said, sternly, You have driven her
from the room with your rawlings Mrs.
Hamilton is a most estimable lady"
L ought TO know as much about my wife
as anybody, DIR. Peck. There Is a most foul
conspiracy afioat TO rob me of my wife,
family and fortune, such as Ii is But
now am myself il shall go on no longer
The shot which l firmly believe was fired
to end my life was beneficently ordered to
restore me my faculties instead I am
myself again, doctor / am Vane Hamilton
and L shall so declare myself and appeal
TO the courts to restore me my rights
My man, you forget we all knew Mr.
Hamilton, and that he was a different look
ing man: His hair was light and yours
is dark"
ct care not for that NV hair was lieb,
once. | did not know ii was dark until
yesterday" and then he explained each cir
cumstance as he had done to Mrs. Hamil-
ton who listened with grave. distrustful
| amazement At the close he said:
| "A madden scheme 1 never knew or heard
/ of. Let me advise you. Say no more about
| it, for no one will believe you, and it will
| Hamilton returned long ago, is re-estab-
| llshed among us firmly in the confidence OF
all. There is no doubt. none whatever. that
/ he is the true Vane Hamilton. Your claims
would be looked upon as absurd. to say
nothing Of their wickedness You are vel
| known as Prinlus Edes a man of GOOD
character and a good workman. Let me
advise you again not to jeopardize your
interests by mad act founded on your
admiration for married woman"
admire no woman but my wife. sin
/ and as Tor my interests and character as
| Primus Edes they are Of no account to me
any more than the shell of caterpillar i.
to the butterfly. My experience for the las
months strikes ME very similar | know
nothing about it and care nothing about il
except that it has separated me from my
family and changed my personal appear
something, my good sir. Constance know.
| that | am her husband"
| Has she said so?'
| Not exactly, but she might as we'll anC
| furthermore, she has never believed in thi!
man calling himself by my name"
Rumors OF this sort had come to the ear.
of the busy doctor as well as concernint
| the interest said to exist at one time be
| tween Edes and Mrs. Hamilton; but he hat
| not thought much about the matter be
| lieving ii gossip with little or no founda
ton in fact. But no he saw. or fancied h
getic man was a faI different person thar
he had supposed him to be- He was ma
| clearly capable of making and supportin;
claim of a nature so astounding that. i'm
probable as ii was, it could not fail {
! create wide disturbance. If Mrs 9amilto
joined with him it would be far more seri
GUS still, and the results could only b
guessed at, not foreseen.
The hint that he had been shot to b
got out of the way was, or would be
doubtless, strong feature in the man
case, and there were complications relat
doubt. could be brought to bear upon
likewise. Moreover, the man before him
DR. Peck considered, might be Ashle
himself, who by some strange mistake wa
believed to have died. 1t was not unlikely
In the light Of these astounding claims
was very probable. he thought
A man such as Ashley was proved to hav
beon-fOr the story of his adventures wa
well known iii Grovedale-was the man
any sJch could be found, to prosecute sue
claim like this; his adventures evipcin
a most daring nature and great nerve an
determination. Granted he had fled I
GrOvedale 10 evade pursuit, disguised him
self to appear as slightly demented and a
a common workman, it was not too nucl
TO believe of such man that he had be
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