The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-02-05
THE WRONG
MAN
BY NJ. QUAD
1914. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

the first night of my arrival when u
man whom | clearly saw was a PO-
lander edged along to me on the We
randa Of the hotel as | smoked my
cigar and said:
You are discretion itself, Mr.. Gre!l-
ing. You have registered under an
other name. How were matters in
London when you !eft:"'
Il don't exactly understand YOU" |
replied as | looked him over and made
sure that we had never met before.
The others will be here inside Of
two days. and we will have a meeting.
| have been here three days, and | find
nothing to alarm me. | trust matters
in London are all right?'
AS far as | knuw," replied as
| returned his card and wondered
whether he Was trying to cheek me or
had really mistaken me for somebody
else.
Three hours later us | retired to my
room the stolid faced and wooden
headed waiter who carried my light
hung about in a queer WAY after set
ting the candle down. and 1 finally
gave him a small coin and waved him
out. Instead Of going he whispered
to me:
II wish to WARN you! Strange men
have been here for Il week. | think
they are waiting for you!"
Next morning at breakfast the same
+, ,,-oi+rI u,' ~ bnl +, 1itfl, ~
Bile by myself. and While bringing my
dishes the waiter whispered in my ear:
The two strange men are at the
fourth table. am sure they are Rus
sian spies and will watch you!"
Now l had the key to the mystery.
There WAS some sort of conspiracy
on foot. probably against the peace of
the car. and the conspirators were to
meet at Stockholm.
For the. next, two days | was closely
Swallowed; After the first day Of this
spy business the same stolid, faced
face and wlisperingly exclaimed:
Those spies are following you every
where. For Gods sake be careful!" :
See here. Hans | said us | put my
hand On his shoulder, you J. evil
IDENTIFY on the inside of this affair. and
| wish you would tell me what the
dickens it all means!",
He looked at me open mouthed for
half Il minute. and then Il broad grin
stole over his face. He thought | az
playing Off OH him to test his prudence
and loyalty
You will carry it through all right"
he finally said. with many heavy, mods
of his head. and he went away iook-
ing very well pleased
At the end of another t%wenty-fonr
hours l got Il further insight into the
mystery. | had strolled into another
hotel three or four blocks away to eX-
anime the register. rs Il globe trotter
invariably does for no reason he can
explain. when. | saw a traveller who
might have been my twin brother as
far us outward appearance went. He
was of my height and weight. had the
same colored eyes. hair and mustache.
and | believe our w mother would
have wondered which was which. He
stared ut me. and | stared back. and |
!. wandered back into my own hotel.
Knowing that the real man from Lon
don had arrived.
The Russian spies must have had Il
bad time of it trying to settle ON the
right man. but they finally decided i'll
my favor. The Englislman "a free
from surveillance. while was logged
closer than before.
At the end Of a week. and while they
were still logging me and was rath-
er enjoying it. there was a.fire aboard
OF a ship in the harbor. 1t was about
8 o'clock at night. and a great crowd
gathered on the wharf to watch the
conf1agration. | made one of the num-
good view l mounted the bows Of a
smart looking brig lying at a wharf.
was hardly " the rail before two
men followed. and seized me and hus-
tied me down into the cabin. | found
the captain OF the brig, the two spies
and a Russian government. official
awaiting me.
have told you that the English
nan and ! looked to be twins. but I
had not had time to look for little de-
tails. AS | sat down opposite the Rus
sian official be began comparing my
description and appearance with q
written description. and at the end of
five minutes he rose up and Numbered
at the two spies:
.Dolts. idiots. blunderers! You have
arrested the wrong mani"
IF not too much trouble" I said to
the official as he got through storming.
would you kindly explain why an
American citizen has been made pris.
oner in this fashion?"
I was told that it was Il mistake. but
got no other satisfaction. The brig
was put about, but as the wind fell we
did not make the harbor until after
daylight. Then l was dumped on the
wharf without apology. ! walked
straight to the American consul and
told him the story, and his reply was:
why. man, you had hest thank your
stars instead of looking for an apology!
When the Russian officials get hold Of
the wlonE man by mistake he is gen.
orally Sci { to Siberia to cover up the