Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-08-09

I HE
Captain S Double
BY LILLIAS CAMPBELL DAVID SON
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cry moment, should suppose, is Of
importance" Again the chiefs look
was dark
The society arranges place and
time" he said, coldly There is no
Intention to delay The present mat
ter is to provide for the absence of the
principal while the other takes his
place"
And is it permitted to know how
that it is to be arranges? 1t will affect
the management of the case"
He will be removed for the evening
or the day, or whatever time is agreed
on, He will not be harmed, for his re-
turn is necessary to avoid suspicion OF
other agency than his own in the mat
ter. He will go with his own free will
and return in the same manner. But
he must be kept away by our will. not
his"
and am empowered to arrange
that also?"
Not So You do the work you have
been given, no more, 1t win probably
be by the skill of Countess Ilka that
he is detained-the silken net spread
by a woman holds when a fetter of
steel would break"
Indeed" There was nothing but
respect in the tone, but it managed to
convey a surprise that bestowed a sIur
on the powers already displayed by
that trusted tool of the chiefs, as per
haps no spoken words could have
done. There was no answer. The
society rose and voted amid silence;
the uEal proceedings were gone
through, and silently, softly, the mem
bers dispersed. The man who had
beard again at the corner of the main
street was overtaken presently by an
other sOft-footed. silent pedestrian.
They walked together, conversing in
whispers, for the thoroughfares were
empty and they were unremarked by
any spies.
ut is a strange cnance, as the chief
said this likeness" said the second,
in voice of curiosity q am student
of likenesses, and | hold that the opin-
ion of some that every man has his
double is a mere fallacy. There is al
ways some point of difference between
two human beings, however much it
may escape the unobservant eye
could point you out dozen different
ways by which the difference could be
noticed between these two now; they
might even escape your notice, sharply
as you look"
The other smiled confidently
would you like to see him for your
self" he asked, with a tinge of pride
"That next corner IS mine; l have my
key, the house is asleep, and SO will he
be. I did not give him beer without a
drug to quiet him.
The other nodded. They turned in
at the narrow street, and took their
way to the door of the vulgar little
house The key was noiseless and
well oiled; they crept up the narrow,
evil-smelling stair in the darkness, and
| halted before the door of the bolted
| room The man who lodged there
| drew a noiseless match from under
| his cloak, and lit a dark lantern that
| stood on a broken bracket at the head
of the stair. He mOtiOned the other to
| pass inside the door, which he I'M
bolted and then followed him with a
swift and stealthy step. On the mar
row bed his head thrown back, his
eyes closed, lay the man who had
| come down by the late train from
| Wateloo. His heavy, regular breath
ing sounded peaceful in the silent
room He had thrown off the long
| thick coat and the mufIlings that hid
his face. His hair was close cropped
and he wore a mustache. Flushed and
sullen as he looked, there was still a
curious air about him of superiority tC
his surroundings. One would have
said he was a man of gentle blood
who had strayed into this strange at
| mosphere, where all was so incongru
GUS The man who was the others
guest took the candle from the chin
ney-piece, and silently lit it at the
lantern the other carried.
The face of the sleeper was still il
the shadow, but the sight of his figure
relaxed in sleep, and his profile against
the dingy pillow had made the mar
with the pillow start Now he shaded
it with his hand and bent eagerly
nearer. leaning over the bed closer
and closer, with stifed exclamation
of amaZement. The man who owned
the cynical smile watched him,
CLEAN of amusement and triumph II
his eeyes. He might have been {
clever workman showing off new bi
of his own manufacture to a fellow
artisan who could appreciate its work
ing. He held his peace till the othel
had done his scrutiny. Over the sleep
ing head the candle passed and re
passed, leaving no line, or feature un
searched. When the whole had beef
looked at the man put down the can
die with a long breath and shook hi
head slowly, to express his amaze
ment.
MY dear friend!" he said, but it il
the man himself! ! will not believ
but that you have dressed him so, ant
made him sleep to take me in! hav
studied the face for more than thirt.
years, and l never yet have found on
man so like unto another! 1t must b,
the work OF magic, or it Is the maj
himself"
The bearded man smiled He like,