The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-23
MY BROTHERS.
SUBSTITUTE
A Secret Known to Two
Men. but Not to Their
Wives

/ S1AAaA,aAAAAA;AA sA@AxA@
Jim and / are twins. We don't loo
as much alike as we did when w
were young, because Jims hair ha
grown much grayer than mine an,
I've a scar on my left cheek. But u
to thirty the members OF our own fam
lily sometimes had trouble telling II
apart.
There was breakdown In the fam
lily when Jim and l were eighteen
years old. Father died without leav
Ing anything, and Jim and had I,
hustle. / found a situation in one con
Germ and Jim in another. Later | wa.
sent away to establish branch of tn,
business In another city. while Jim re
NAMED where he was. / hadn't seer
him FOR two years when l heard that
he was i'll and in hospital. The news
was too much for my ability TO remain
away from him longer. so 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 private room, and was
shown to 1t by an attendant. | found
| him in bed. but instead of showing ef.
fects OF an illness l couldn't see but
that he looked as we'll as ever. He
was mighty glad to see me. as was
to see him. l asked him TO tell me
about himself and how 1t was that he
appeared so well and yet confined to
his bed. He gave me one 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 Is godsend. Get off your
clothes In 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 was
IN bed and Jim was dressed 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 coattaiI aud said:
FOR heavens sake, don't leave me
this way! Tell me how long I'm to
stay here anyway"
Il don't dare take the time. II 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 gone.
He Dccda't have been In such bur-
~, as It turned out. for his nurse didn't
come in for half an hour. At the end
Or that time the door opened. and n
very pretty specimen of femininity en-.
tered. She was dressed in nurses
Uniform Of spotless white. This was
very becoming to her complexion, which
lad lot Of red in It. Then. too her
Eyes and hair were dark, and the con-
rast with her dress and cap was
charming.
She came up to my bed, looked down
lpon me sympathetically-lo il
eemed to me-placed her hand on my
orehead-a warm, soft one-apd said:
really must report that you are
eady 10 be discharged. The house sur.
'eon will find this out pretty soon. and
ii get myself into trouble"
Here was pretty go. Jim had de-
arted without giving me the slightest ,
INT what part to play. The only thing ,
could do was to be noncommittal and ,
earn as much of the situation as
ould. 1t looked as though lin had
cen making love to his nurse, had re-
overed and, In order to remain I'm the :
gnt OF her presence. had fingered I'm
lie hospital longer than was necessary h
ut now to reconcile this with his de- y
re 10 escape without her knowing he =
nd gone hadn't even an inkline The
'test thing could think of to say Y
as: =,
DO you really think SOP"
Il certainly do. Indeed, see no rea. O
"a Tor continuing this deception any s,
niger. though 1t has been a delightful k
Iperience. You know that ] love You
III have perfect confidence I'm the j
We you have both shown and have
pressed Tor me. We can meet as cl
ten as my duties will permit until we X
N be married" q,
Ihis was the principal part of IL. and te
IL hadn't been for Jim's desire to IN
bstitute me for himself would have d,
en- all / cared to know. Though I br
Is puzzled. my role was much easier IT
play than before. concluded to an IN
, for time. I'D
based my first definite remark On
probability that my differences il,
re coirect-namely. that Jim had M
q an AFFAIR Of the heart with his
rise and prolonged his stay bevond ",
recovery. Besides this. the situa. l
was pleasing to me. and I didn.t In
nd acting on the same idea. qu
The period have passed here in ca,
lr care" said. has been the han. be,
SC IN my life. simply can't bear to wi
It." 10,
IL must end some time" bel
Give me another day. Tomorrow ! du