The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-04-18
The Two
Vaug ham,
fOriginai.1

see my desk open and a man sitting In
my place. There was something IA
miliar In the clothes IL. wore. which
were Of the same pattern as a suit
often wore. But what was my aston.
ishment when he turned and-great
heaven. there sat myself!
The first thought that darted through
my brain was that l had received
some physical shock which had bereft
me of my mental equilibrium. but
upon CHANGING at the clerks l saw they
were as much astonished at my en-
trance as | was at the appearance OF
the man at my desk. who appeared to
be equally surprised.
"Well. sir" | gasped.
"Well. sir" echoed the man.
"What are you doing at my deskT
"Your deskT"
"Yes. sir; my desk"
WHO are you sir? Your appearances
Is remarkably like NINE"
~ am John Vaughan, the proprietor
of this office"
"John Vaughan
"Yes. sir; John Vaughan. And who
are your"
II am he whom you claim to be-
John Vaughan"
grasped ut the back of a chair to
steady myself. while a cold sweat
stood on my brow. My double sat
staring at me. with something Of the
same evidences Of terror In him that
were In me. Partially mastering my
self. turned TO the head bookkeepcr
and asked:
"Who Is this person. FraZer!"
Frazer stood with mouth and eyes
wide open. staring first at me. then at
the man at the desk. but answered
never Il word.
who he is?" | repeated. addressing
young Curtis. q clerk.
1--WE supposed lie was you, sir" he
replied ~hesitatiDgly.
My double turned to the persons ad-
dressed aud repeated my questions
verbatim. Had | gone daft? II so,
how account for the establishment OF
the employees?
How long has he been here?" l
asked.
HE came in ten minutes ago.. SIR"
Curtis answered. "Iie was earlier than
you usually are"
Where do you liver I asked the
nretender.
AT 3943 Chestnut street"
Again | clutched the back OF the
chair convulsively. The man had
named my own residence.
Sir" he said. rising. "if | had had
q twin brother I would surely think
you were he. AS | have no brother I
am inclined to think either that | have
lost my senses or you are pretending
10 be me for a purpose"
A panied expression passed over his
face as though he had begun to doubt
his own sanity. Then. turning to the
gaping clerks. he said:
Come. Decide between us. and do
Il quickly or we shall both go mad.
Am | John Vaughan or notY"
The clerks continued to cape.
Decided" I said on the verge CT
frenzy.
Decide" repeated my other self.
land If | am not myself I will leave
this otfif and betake myself to a mad
house."
At this point Miss Towpe. the type
writer. arose and with far more pres.
eoce OF mind than the others surveyed
us both. Then. pointing to me. she
gaid:
You are Mr.. Vaughan"
With a Shrek. my double sprang
past me. down a tight OF stairs and out
OF the building. | fell into a chair In a
dead faint. When | recovered. all the
clerks were bending over me with
anxious faces.
What does II all mean?" l asked.
"Have | beer dreaming something ter
ribie or was the scene real?"
at was real" said the head book
keeper. land the strangest experience
! have ever had in my life"
"Where Is Miss TowneT"
"Herc."
The circle opened and I saw her
standing before the safe. which | now
for the first time noticed was open.
"WhO opened that safer" l asked.
astonished.
Il. sir" said Frazer. 81 opened II
on your-I mean the other ones order"
HOW mucn money was there In IT."
asked Miss Towne OF me.
"Fifteen hundred dollars and over.
Is 1t thereT'
There's no money here that I can
see."
Something began to dawn on US all
at the same moment. The safe had
stood open all the time that I had
tzn,, tcIt.t,, - .r- I.sAto h,.A Z IA
been too disturbed to notice 1t.
Frazer" said. you've been vic
tfmized. We've all been vjctimized.
But ! gladly lose my money to know
I'm in my right mind. Telephone the
police. BE quick!'
My double was finally caught and
most Of the money recovered. He told
4 very interesting story of how he had