Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-29

good your telegram did her. although it
seemed trife cold
IT didn't think 1t was I answered de-
Tending myself against something; wha,.
l did not know.
I'VE thought So" she said.
l became medtative. Evidently there
was something back of all this. was
being mistaken for some one else. I re-
membered the Prisoner of Zenda." Per-
haps there was some one who looked as
much like me as Rudolf looked like The
king. Idiot that l was. | didn't think who.
Now, one would think that any man who
had gotten himself saddled with a baby
because of his sense of the ludicrous would
have had sense enough to explain matters
when he found the baby off his hands. But
l didn't. l saw a chance for a mixup that
would develop an amusing situation. Then,
also she was very pretty girl.
ooh! the telegram" l said arily. oh
that"
She looked at me inquiringly Isn't It
beautiful here?'' l said. Suppose you sill
''sit down." she echoed with the limit
of scorn in her voice. with Molly wait
ing to see the dear child. Why, every
minute is an hour to her. Have you any
heart? The idea! Come along, now. Or
stay here by yourself if you care to. The
brougham is waiting just by the road
there
s "Il come 1 said.
A moment later we were seated in
very comfortable equipage. and whirlinS
down the roadway. The girl seemed .oc
chance for conversation. lighted
cigarette and grinned furtively at what
would happen at the other end.
THE other end happened TO be a large
villa on the extreme edge of Mount Royal
terrace. It was evidently the home of peo-
pie of taste and culture, to Judge from the
exterior of the house and grounds. The
brougham deposited us at the foot of the
porte cochere. where l helped the girl to
afight and followed her up the steps into
the house and hall.
At the same moment the heavy honk Of
an automobile broke the silence and the
soft Whirr of rubber tires over gravel be-
came audible.
A footman came out into the hall, fol-
lowed by maid in cap and apron. The
girl handed the baby over to the maid.
ooh, the dear baby!" cried the maid. "Ex-
cuse me, Miss Lucille, but I'm so glad to
see ~
Miss Lucille smiled tolerantly Just
wash her face and hands, Mary she said,
land bring her to me Immediately, You
know her mother is ANXIOUS
"Yess'm, l know" returned the maid.
She hurried off. AS Lucille turned to me
the front door was thrown open and man
in automobile cap and goggles entered. My
face turned and was not In the light.
The footman stared. So did Miss Lucille.
The footman approached the newcomer.
We'll, sr?'' he inquired, with frigid po-
likeness.
"Well-welI. what in the devil? Don't
you know me? I've nearly broken my neck
getting here. Suppose the police are fol-
lowing with the fine notices. Well. well.
Lucille, did you get the baby? Heavens'
what's the matter?'
The man tore off the goggles At the
sound of his voice had turned. We looked
at each other. and save for the difference
In attire, we might have been looking in
mirrors.
Miss Lucille gave a little shrek. The
footman gasped | smed-for l had ex-
pected this. The other man looked as if
thunderbolt had descended from the sky
and struck him.
He finally got breath. "I beg your par
don," he choked out. But may ask you
to explain ths?'
Freak of nature. I suppose" returned
airily. l turned to Miss Lucille. 1T was
too good a joke to miss" 1 said. Il hope
you aren't offended?'
The other man came forward. you
know my name, I suppose?" he said, his
tones very frigid l shook my head. He
felt within his coat and handed me a card.
I looked at it and the explanation of the
whole affair became slightly clearer. The
card read:
''Mr. Thomas Linley Lanvale.'
I did not smile when l saw the name. l
saw that again my sense of the ludicrous
had caused me to put my foot into it.
Before / give you my card" | said, as
slowly as might, L think had better eX-
plain how I came to be here" And, with
out further preamble l told him; that Is, /
looked at him while told the story, but
really it was intended for Miss Lucille.
oh I see" he commented when l had
finished His tone was not pleasant.
IF you will give the explanation on
your side" I went on. II will tell you my
name and leave.
He eyed me- II don't know that you are
entitled to any explanation. But you may
as well see the joke since you have gone
thus far. That is, if the anxiety of father
and mother appeals to you as part of the
material from which a joke is made. Our
no, stolen II nv a girl |
received no help from the detectives. l
tried every means in my power to find the
child. My wife was Frustrated with grief.
That was two weeks ago. Then l got a clue
that led to Philadelphia. | went there yes
terday. A letter was forwarded to me there,
which | received Today. 1t said II l would
deposit a thousand dollars in a bank here
to the credit of a certain person my child
would be restored at a certain place in
Druid Hill Park. l wired the money imme-
diately, and telegraphed full instructions to
my sister-in-law here to be at the place the
hour mentioned. Then | came on. That is
the explanation of it, sir"
Thank YOU" | s&d gravely. TT is no
joke. l perceive that. apologize abjectly.
Here is my card
He took it. Then his face lighted up, and
he sprang at me with hands outstretched.
jim" he cried. "Jim-old boy. What a
fool I've been Why, l might have known:
Jim! Jim" He grabbed my hand and shook
it until thought he would shake it Off
This is my twin brother, jim" ne said,
turning to Lucille. 'Well, this is something
worth while. Do you know I've been
trying TO find you for two years. Two
years Jim! Why, don't you know that
father left you five hundred thousand
and
"what?' I cried
And he didn't say anything about it
you know him. 1 didn't find the later will
until two months after his DEATH Anyhow,
you should have known I stood ready to d.
videl Jim, old boy, you've been a fool"
81 know l have" l responded Eve done
you great injustice, Tom. I'm sorry"
And then l shook hands with Miss Luz
ellie, and she smiled at me in a way-oh!
you know that way-and--
Then the maid brought the baby out
l kissed it. Or, rather, for Mrs Lanyale's
sake, let me say that l kissed her-the baby
was a girl. And mothers don't like babies
to be called cit"
1 know, for Lucille, my wife, never al
lows me to call little Tommy 1T"
This last paragraph represents lapse Of