The Press., 1904-08-17
Under Falce
Colorc
By w. w. HINES
Copyright. 1904. by w. w. Hines

Ogden could not recollect having lost
any uncles lately, and it was distinct
surprise to be greeted as a nephew by
the stern featured old man in the puff
/ ing automobile.
Come here. you young rascal" the
old man almost shouted as the automo-
bile drew up to the sidewalk.
Without knowing why. Ogden went.
Perhaps it was curiosity. perhaps 1t
was because he did not happen to think
of anything else to do. AT any rate he
stepped up to the automobile and took
good long look at it's occupant.
'Get In here at once,' said the old
man.
"Why?" asked Ogden.
'WhyY repeated the old man. "Be-
cause tell you to do so. Here l have
been looking for you for the past two
weeks and now you want to run away
when find you. That is pretty way
for an only nephew to treat his uncle!'
$50 you are my uncleY' said Ogden
quizzically. Then the spirit of adven-
ture which had been his guiding star
all his life. seized possession of him,
and he stepped into the vehicle, which
started, pulling. down the avenue to-
ward Washington square.
On the way down he puzzled with
himself as to the part which he was
acting, or rather being forced to act
AS nearly as he could gather from the
conversation of the old man, he was
his nephew Rodney. The last name
had not been introduced into the con-
versation. Rodney seemed to have come
from the west for visit and to have
left the house without warming, after
more or less violent quarrel with his
uncle.
What did you want to run away
for. you young rascal? The girl is GER
tainly as pretty a girl as you will
find in the whole country. sir. 1t was
only to be expected that she should
show some coquetry about accepting
you, but am surprised that any
nephew of mine would be such fool
as to run away from a pretty girl Why
did you do it, sir?" The old gentleman
was very irate.
Taking his cue from the fragmentary
information furnished him by these
remarks, Ogden. resolved to carry
through the comedy, Strengthened him
self up and remarked, with his most
dignified air:
Because trust that am too much
of a gentleman to force my attentions
in any quarter where they are not
wanted" He had read this sentence in
some old fashioned book and thought
it might go well with this elderly uncle
The old fellow looked rather pleased
and said:
81 should have understood it, my boy
The sentiment does credit to your blood
and your breeding, sir. But my heart
is set on this match. Just tell the girl
you won't take No for an answer and
she will come around in time. Eh, sir,
when / was your age 1 would have
been delighted with the coquetries she
has used on you" ....
By this time the automobile had
come to a stop in front of one of the
old houses along the north side Of the
square. and the two passengers alight-
ed.
Entering the house, the old man, with
Rodney in tow, made for the drawing
room, where they could hear some one
playing on the piano. The room was
rather dark. but as they entered the
light was good enough for Rodney to
make out the uncommOnly pretty girl
seated at the piano. She got up hastily
as they entered the room and ran to
greet the old man. Then she turned
to Ogden and said:
$50 you have come back, Cousin
Rodney? l was under the impression
that you had left the city"
Feeling rather ashamed of himself
for carrying on the deception, but over
powered by the desire for adventure,
Ogden sat down and Joined in the con-
versation, fencing carefully for time
whenever he was asked question the
answer to which might betray his iden-
tity. Whenever he got a chance he
stole glance at the girl. He fancied
once or twice that he detected flicker
of amusement upon her face. She was
evidently watching him narrowly. and
the conviction grew upon him that she
suspected he was an impOstor The
girl was certainly a beauty, and he
could not understand why the real
Rodney had been callous enough to
run away from her society, even if he
had found his presence more or less
unwelcome
By and by the old gentleman excused
himself upon the plea that he must
take his regular Afternoon nap and left
the two young people alone The mo-
ment he was safely out Of hearing the
girl broke into peal of laughter and
said: So
did you think he had fooled meY
She was taking it very nicely,
thought Ogden, and he braced himself
up enough to say:
mo; knew you recognized my i'm
position. But. believe me. am not an
intentional impostor. Your uncle picked
me up on the street and swore up and
down that was his nephew. 1t
would not have been proper to accuse
him of falsehood. SO just came along"
The girl grew serious and said:
"You know uncle is bit near
sighted. and he will not, under any
circumstances. consent to wear glasses.
You do look wonderfully like his
nephew. But don't you know who you
are supposed to beY'
"No more idea than the man in the
moOn," asseverated Ogden solemnly.
"Why. You are supposed to be Rod
ney Phillips. You know him. don't
your
Rodney Phillips! No; I don't be-
heve do. But stop. Why. Chesty'
Phillips that used to room with at
Yale. His right name was Rodney,
but no one ever called him by that
name. So that explains the resem-
blance. The fellows used to call us
the Two Dromios.'"
YES" said the girl, laughing heart
fIv sanH v0Y1 arsn 0Odop ua.,yoo<7