The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-06-29
ALICE GRAHAM'S
DOUBLE.
NJ ". c. DOUBLEDAY.

has sought the metropolis from a
small city and struggled for weeks
against the horrible impersonal-
ness OF life in boarding house
where nobody knows anybody
else, and don't want 10.
Ny glum thoughts were inter
rupted by a CHEEKY voice and my
footsteps impeded by most hope
lessly big masculine figure.
"Alice Graham, upon my life"
spake the CHEEKY voice, and found
both my hands in two great paws.
"When in the world did you come
here, and why didn't you let me
know you were here?"
The voice was an honest one
there could be no mistake about
that. And the great, kindly, frank
blue eyes, which looked down into
mine were honest eyes, tool
could stake anythingonthat. How
ever, ! noticed these things me-
chanically, for ! was struggling
desperately for an opening to let
my interceptor know OF his error
in identity.
II am afraid, sir" ! started.
"Fear not" he reiterated, with
. hearty laugh, as he tucked my
hand under his great strong arm
and started down the street with
a great chuckle. Don't you re-
member that we agreed last sum
mer at the lake not TO be afraid
that fear was the one hopeless
thing in the world? Ofcourse you
do. Now. look here, | heard all
about your leaving home TO study
art, and that you proposed TO lose
yourself TO your friends and your
old world until you had achieved
something-0r some other tom
foolishness. But ! did think Won
would LEI me know where YOU
were, especially as was morally
certain YOU had come 10 New
York, aud you knew ! was here,
and that wouldn't interfeT> with
your confounded ambition -
might even help you some"
Then il was that the tempter
whispered in my ear: Why not ac-
cept the situation and become
Alice Graham, whoever she was,
Tor a time2 was so helplessly
lonesome that the warmth Of the
mans friendship was very CRATE
full, albeit il was meant for an
other. Besides, what lark il
would be. The voice Of the tempt
er shocked me, but l needed hu-
man companionship and sympa-
thy so badly that l hesitated-
and fell. Anyway, l was to re.
main in the city but a short time,
and he need never know of my
deception unless he should meet
the real Alice Graham and by that
time / would be safely away. So
l said nothing.
Been to lunch? ~
I | bad not.
Good said he. "Come with
me, and We can have nice. quiet
talk
In few moments found my.
self seated in quiet corner in an
exclusive restaurant vis-a-vis with
my handsome stranger. The first
tumultuous fear at my audacity
over, began to enjoy the excite
ment and danger Of the adven-
ture. BY using the utmost tact
and diplomacy ! avoided betray.
ing myself, and succeeded in get
ting quite a comprehensive idea Of
the relations Of my new acquaint-
ance with Alice Graham.
He had met her at a house party
during the previous summer. fall
en- in love with her, courted her
desperately, been assured that
she cared for him d great deal, but
had determined on a career, and
would engage herself to no man
until she had attained some sue
cess as an artist.
There were two rocks upon
which I almost wrecked my case.
! could not, to save myself, find
out his name. / dared not ask
him, althiugh ! adcoitly left many
openings which he blunderingly
overlooked.
The other rock was when he
said he would see me home. 1t
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