Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-04-18
My Literary Double.
tOriginal,l

change and while on my return trip
In London bought some American mag
azfnes. What was my surprise to find
IN one of them a story signed by my
self. AT least the name was mine
Then l remembered that there might
be others of my name. and | set about
perusing the story to see if the author
was better man with the pen than l.
am not versatile writer, and my
stories are all in the same vein. In
deed, | consider that one element of
my success. When a reader takes "a
fancy to my work. he can get it again
and again, thus becoming more and
more attached to It, What was my
surprise to see in the story read my
style, my method. my own personality.
| wondered as | read ON if one of my
stories that had come back to me
when sent out at the beginning of my
career and finally shelved had not fall
en- into some ones hands who had dis.
honestly sold 1t. But finished It with
out recognizing a scene in it from be-
ginning to end. 1t is needless to say
IL.
| was seized with an uncanny feeling
that l had a double somewhere in the
world who was interfering with my
identity.
On reaching America l went at once
to the office Of the magazine In which
l had seen I've story and asked the ed
itor from whence it had come. He told
me that it had been received by mail,
In typewriter form. with my name at
tached. The manuscript was produced.
There was my signature. 1t was no
forgery. I knew the moment l looked
at it that I had written it. / felt a
buzzing in my ears and came near
fainting
l was now sure that | was a dual be-
ing. My family insisted on my consult
ing specialist in nervous diseases, but
| knew that | was well and of sound
mind. | had never been i'll in my life
except the once l have mentioned, and
then, far from using typewriter, l
couldn't have used a pen. A few days
after my visit to the editor who told
me that he had sent me check for the
story, it occurred to me to go to the
bank and learn If the money had been
drawn. 1t had not.
Here was a further mystery If my
! double were writing stories, using our
common brains for the purpose, he at
least had separate bank account l
inquired for this account at every bank
in the city. but 1t was not to be found.
! I was destined soon to receive an
other shock. One evening in calling for
a certain magazine my wife made ex-
cuses for not producing ii, and knew
at once that my double had been pub
fishing another story. insisted on hay
ing the magazine brought forth and
found my suspicious to be correct. 1t
contained story under my name, a
story had never before read.
Upon inquiry | found that it had
been received but few weeks before
my return to America. and a check
had been sent to my address for 1t.
The check had not been drawn.
at once notified every magazine in
the country that If any stories of mine
were in their possession | would be
obliged If they would let me know of
the fact. Three magazines sent me
replies in the affirmative. Each had a
story in my especial vein and duly
signed with pen by me- the signature
being genuine. Two of them had sent
checks. The third had not.
Since upon inquiry at the postofice
I had learned that there were no let
tiers there for me, concluded that my
double had received those containing
the checks. But why had he not drawn
the money? II he could use my brain
and sign my name to his creations he
could certainly indorse check. no.
tilted the postmaster to hold any mail
stamp Of the magazine that had not
sent me its check and to have any one
calling for a letter for me arrested.
Then I asked the editor of the maya
zine in question to mail me IL check.
The letter was received at the post
Office and held instead of being sent to
me by a postman. 1t was not called
for. A month passed. and one morn
ing received an envelope inclosing
all the checks that had been sent out
for these mysterious stories. But no
note, no word of explanation. came
with It.
was greatly relieved. My double
was an individual and an honest one
He or l, one or both of us, scorned to
take money that had not been fairly
earned. But had he or l earned 1t? He
being honest, should / be dishonest
and draw the money for the checks?
One day secured a note written in
q woman's hand. The writer offered
10 explain the mystery of my double If
I would guarantee not to prosecute her
for any illegal act. I sent a reply i'm
mediately agreeing to her terms. and
the next morning the woman called on
me- at once recognized the nurse
who had attended me duHlng my III
ness.
She confessed that when under her
cara 7 had fnaiakad IN saiNfa Ting r., haF