Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-05-10
My Literary Double.
IOriginal.l

| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
[Originall
l am short story writer. After a
long illness I was ordered abroad for
change and while on my return trip
In London bought some American mag
az1nes. What was my surprise to find
In one Of them a story signed by my
Then | remembered that there might
be others Of my name, and set about
peruslnS 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 81
my success. When a reader takes
, 1ancy to my work, he can get it again
ana 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 l 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 it, But finished it with
out recognizing scene in it from be-
| ginning to end. It is needless to say
that was puzzled-more than puzzled.
/ was seized with an uncanny feeling
that 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
had seen the 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. It was no
forgery. l knew the moment l looked
at it that l had written it. l felt a
fa1nting
was now sure that was a dual be-
Ing. My family insisted on my consult
ing specialist in nervous diseases. but
knew that was we'll and Of sound
mind. l had never been i'll in my life
except the once have mentioned, and
then far from using a typewriter,
couldn't have used pen. A few days
after my visit to the editor, who told
me that he had sent me a 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 a separate bank account.
inquired for this account at every bank
In the city, but it was not to be found.
l was destined soon to receive an
other shock. One evening in calling for
a certain magazine my wife made ex-
cuses for not producing it, 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. Il
contained a story under my name, q
story had never before read.
Upon inquiry l found that 1t had
been received but a few weeks before
my return to America, and a check
The check had not been drawn.
I at once notified every magazine in
the country that if any stories Of mine
were in their possession I would be
obliged If they would let me know Of
the fact. Three magazines sent me
replies in the affirmative. Each had
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 postoffice
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? If he could use my brain
and sign my name to his creations he
could certainly indorse check. 1 no
tilted the postmaster to hold any mail
for me at the Office bearing the official
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 it's check.
The letter was received at the post
Office and held instead of being sent to
me by a postman. It was not called
Tor. A month passed, and one morn
Ing I received an envelope inclosing
MI the checks that had been sent out
for these mysterious stories. But no
note, no word Of explanation, came
with it.
I 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 earned it, He
being honest, should be dishonest
and draw the money for the checks?
One day secured note written In
q woman's hand. The writer offered
b explain the mystery Of my double II
/ would guarantee not to prosecute her
Tor any illegal act. 1 sent a reply i'm
mediately agreeing to her terms, and