The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-06-07
MY BROTHERS,
SUBSTITUTE
A Secret Known to Two
Men, but Not to Their
Wives
By F. A. Mitchell

49,
were young, because Jim's hair has
grown much grayer than mine and
I've a scar on my left cheek. But up
TO thirty the members Of our own fam
iy sometimes had trouble telling US
apart.
There was a breakdown in the fam
lily when Jim and l were eighteen
years old. Father died without leav-
ing anything, and Jim and l had to
hustle. | found a situation In one con-
Germ and Jim in another. Later l was
sent away TO establish a branch OF the
business in another city, while Jim re-
manned where he was. l hadn't seen
him for two years when l heard that
he was i'll and in a hospital. The news
was too much for my ability to remain
away from him longer, sc l fixed things
up in my business for an absence, took
a train and on arrival went from the
station direct to the hospital.
Jim had q private room, and | was
shown to it by an attendant. ! found
him in bed. but instead Of showing eff
fects Of an illness ! couldn't see but
that he looked as we'll as ever. He
was mighty glad to see me-, as l was
to see him. / asked him to tell me
about himself and how it was that he
appeared so well and yet confined to
his bed. He gave me n Of those
frightened looks intended to impose ST.
lence. Then. pulling me down toward
him. he whispered in my ear:
Il want to get out Of this. Your
coming IL q godsend. Get off your
clothes in a hurry and tumble into bed.
I'm going to put them on and make
my way out. Nobody will know the
difference between you and me-"
He looked so anxious and eager that
| Immediately began to hustle off my
clothes, and as fast as | got out Of them
Jim got into them. AS soon as I was
In bed and Jim was dressed I said,
Now tell me about It."
But Jim gave me another frightened
look. as much as to say that he couldn't
think Of doing so. and was about to go
when | clutched his coattail and said:
For heavens sake, don't leave me
this way! Tell me how long I'm to
stay here anyway"
II don't dare take the time. If my
nurse should find US both here it would
prevent my getting out In your place.
She's liable to come in any minute"
well, one thing you must do-attend
to my business for me-that Is, IL I'm
to be kept here any length of time"
"All right; I'll do it," he said. And
before could get another word out of
him he was o
He needn't have been in such a hur-
~, as it turned out, for his nurse didn't
come In for half an hour. At the end
Of that time the door opened, and a
very pretty specimen Of femlninity en-
tered. She was dressed in a nurses
uniform Of spotless white. This was
very becoming to her complexion. which
had a lot Of red In 1t. Then, too, her
eyes and hair were dark, and the con-
trast with her dress and cap was
charming.
She came up to my bed, looked down
upon me sympathetically -lovingly, 1t
seemed to me-placed her hand ON my
forehead-a warm, soft one-and said:
II really must report that you are
ready to be discharged. The house sur
geon will find this out pretty soon, and
I'll get myself into trouble"
Here was a pretty 60. Jim had de-
parted without giving me the slightest
hint what part to play. The only thing
| could do was to be noncommittal and
learn as much Of the situation as l
could. 1t looked as though Jim had
been making love to his nurse, had re-
covered and. in order to remain in the
light Of her presence, had fingered in
the hospital longer than was necessary.
But how to reconcile this with his de-
sire to escape without her knowing he
had gone l hadn't even an inkling. The
safest thing I could think Of to say
was:
do you really think soY'
II certainly do. Indeed, I see no rea-
son for continuing this deception any
longer, though it has been a delightful
experience. You know that l love you
and ] have perfect confidence in the
love you have both shown and have
expressed for me. We can meet as
often as my duties will permit until we
can be married"
This was the principal part Of 1t, and
II 1t hadn't been for Jim's desire to
substitute me for himself would have
been all I cared to know. Though !
was puzzled, my role was much easier
to play than before. I concluded to an
gle for time.
l based my first definite remark on
the probability that my differences
were correct-namely. that Jim had
had an affair Of the heart with his
nurse and prolonged his stay beyond
his recovery. Besides this, the situa.
ton was pleasing to me, and I didn't
mind acting IN the same idea.
THE period I have passed here In
your care" / said. has been the hap.
piest in my life. I simply can't bear Ia
end It."
1T must end some time"