The herald., 1914-10-22
TROUBLES OF A DOUBLE
BY CARL SHLOMON.

Blair had just pulled on his overcoat
and was on the point OF leaving the
cafe, when a heavy hand fell on his
shoulder and a hearty voice shouted in
his ear, Hello. jenkins. Going to
meet with the boys tonight"
He turned and faced jovial looking
man whom he did not remember hav-
ing ever seen before. Who do you
think am" he snapped. My name
is Blair"
The other looked surprised, then
sheepish. "'Scuse me-" he apOlogized.
Il thought you were a friend of mine
You're just his build. But. come
10 look closer, your hair is darker than
his"
Haughtily Blair stalked out, having
gathered an unfavorable impression OF
his double from the unpublished man
ner of his professed friend. Further.
II rather CALLED him not to be able to
choose his own double, for Blair prided
himself on the irreproachable char.
acter Of his friends, as well as on his
own impeccability.
He soon forgot the matter, however,
and was thoroughly surprised a few
days later. when he was again accosted
by stranger. He was hanging by the
strap OF a crowded elevated train.
when some one at his elbow muir
INJURED. Say, Henry, could you lend
me a tenspot? I'm broke"
Now, Henry is Blairs first name. He
looked about sharply, but when he saw
the man who had spoken he paid no
further heed. But the voice persisted.
You amt goin' to turn down an OIL
friend are you?" There was reproach,
nay, grief, in the tones.
Blair looked down and into the plead
ing face of a shabby little old man who
was evidently a down-at-the heel.
musty old sport.
What do you mean," he exploded.
"by asking me to lend you money?
never saw you before?"
The sporty person opened his red
trimmed eyes wide with surprise. Say,
homes, ! thought you was Jenkins" he
explained. You're the dead image OF
him. ONLY guess, his face is kinder
redder'n yourn."
Blair's opinion of Jenkins immedi-
ately grew many shades darker, and to
the same extent he felt himself insult
ed. From the several encounters and
from the various greetings he had re-
ceived he surmised that Jenkins and
his friends were not of the elite, as
Blair liked to think that he and his
were.
One day at noon he entered one OF
the parlors of downtown hotel, where
he had agreed to meet Mrs. Blair. Be-
fore he even caught sight OF his wife
In the opposite corner of the room a
too fashionably attired young woman
arose from a davenport near the door
and addressed him.
Now, Henry, you might We come
sooner. I've been waiting"
Blair looked unrecognizingly at her.
His discomfort lasted but moment.
however, for she interrupted herself
with an exclamation of distress. "Oh,
beg pardon. thought you was Mr.. Jen-
kins, a gentleman friend of mine.
StoOpid of me, for his eyes are brown"
There was a fash of annoyance In
Blair gray eyes as he crossed over to
his wife. Il seem to have a double"
he told her, though his hair. eyes and
face do not quite match mine. Besides,
unlike me, he's not punctual. I'm GO
ing to wait here and find out wherein
my double and l resemble each other"
Shortly thereafter burly but quiet,
inoffensfve looking man hastened into
the parlor and greeted the damsel on
the davenport. She took his arm coyly,
and whispered something that caused
her escort to look inquiringly over to-
ward Blair. II he expected genial re-
sponse from the latter the cold glance
that met him must have been a disap-
pointment.
We'll, do we look anything alike?"
Blair asked his wife.
Certainly not" Mrs. Blair held her
aristocratic head high with indigna-
ton at the idea. Il suppose it's Just
a stupid story that you invented"
"If were trying to be funny could
think Of something more humorous
than that" said her husband. as they
went on into the dining room.
81 should hope 30. Yet, come to
think Of It, there Is a certain likeness
in your bearing. Besides, he wears
the same peculiar cinnamon brown
overcoat that you do"
I'll give mine to the janitor to-
night" declared Blair, as a load was
removed from his mind.