The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-10


Don't mind me-" he said. I'm
rather-rather unstrung tonight, and
this thing gave me a Jar. To be can
did, my imagination took head In the
fog, and l got to fancying l was talk
Ing to myself
And pulled up to find the fancy in
some way real?"
Yes, something like that"
Both were silent for a moment. Chill
cote pulled hard at his cigarette, then,
remembering his obligations, be turned
quickly to the other.
Wont you smoker" he asked.
The stranger accepted cigarette
from the case held out to him, and as
be did so the extraordinary likeness to
himself struck Chilcote with added
force. Involuntarily he put out his
hand and touched the others arm.
Its my nerves!" he said IN explana
ton. They make me want to feel
that you are substantial. Nerves play
such beastly tricksr' He laughed awk-
wardly.
The other glanced up. His express
sion on the moment was slightly sur
prised, slightly contemptuous, but he
changed it instantly to conventional in
terest II am afraid l am not an au-
thority on nerves." he said.
But Chllcote was preoccupied. His
thoughts had turned into another chan
mel
How old are your" he asked sud
denly
The other did not answer Immediate
~ my age?" he said at last slowly.
"Oh / believe l shall be thirty-six to-
morrow, to be quite accurate"
! Chilcote lifted his head quickly.
"Why do you use that toner" he
asked 81 am six months older than
you, and 1 only wish it was ak years.
Six year nearer oblivion
Again a slight incredulous contempt
crossed the others eyes. oblivion"
he said. Where are your ambltionsY
''They don't exist"
Don't exist? Yet you voice your
country? 1 concluded that much in
the fog"
Chilcote laughed sarcastically.
when one has voiced ones country
for six years one gets hoarse. It's a
natural consequence"
The other smiled. "Ah, discomfort
he said. THE modern canker. But we
must both be getting under way. Good
night Shall we shake hands-to prove
that we are genuinely material"
Chilcote had been standing unusually
still, following the strangers words,
caught by his self reliance and i'm
pressed by his personality. Now, as
he ceased to speak, he moved quickly
forward, impelled by a nervous curl
osity.
"Why should we Just hail each other
and pass-like the proverbial ships2''
he said impulsively. IF nature was
careless enough to let the reproduction
meet the original she must abide the
consequences"
The other laughed, but his laugh was
short ooh, l don't know. Our roads
lie differently. You would get nothing
out of me, and r He stopped and
again laughed shortly. mo" he said
I'D be content to pass If l were you
The unsuccessful man Is seldom q
profitable study. Shall we say good
night?"
He took Chilcote's hand for an In
slant, then, crossing the footpath, be
passed into the roadway toward the
Strand.
1t was done In a moment, but with
his going sense of loss fell upon Chill
cote. He stood for a space, newly con
scious of unfamiliar faces and unfa
miliar voices In the stream of passers
by. Then, suddenly mastered by an i'm
pulse, he wheeled rapidly and darted
after the tall, lean figure so ridiculous
ly like his own.
Halfway across Trafalgar square BE
overlook the stranger He had paused
on one Of the small stone islands thai
break the current of traffic and was
waiting for an opportunity to cross the
street. In the glare of light from the
lamp above his head Chllcote saw fol
the first time that, under a remarkable
neatnesS Of appearance, his clothes
were we'll worn-almost shabby. The
discovery struck him with something
stronger than surprise The idea OF
poverty seemed homogeneous in connec
ton with the reliance, the reserve. the
personality Of the man. With a certain
embarra ssed haste he stepped forward
and touched his arm.
Look here" he said as the othel
turned quietly. IT have followed yoJ
to exchange cards. 1t can't injurt
either of rs and II wish TO know
my other self" He laughed nervouslJ
as he drew out his cardcase.
The stranger watched him In silence
There was the same faint contempt
but also there was q reluctant interes
in his glance as it passed from thu
fingers fumbling with the case to thu
pale face with the square jaw, straigh
mouth and level eyebrows drawn low
over the gray eyes. When at last tht