The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1915-09-17
A Mistaken
Identity
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

supports. 1t had been lert open. anu
any one who wished to have look at
the deceased was permitted to do So
Mrs. MacElroy looked down upon the
corpse with melancholy visage, then
went to her seat and whispered to
Mrs. Martin beside her:
"He looks very natural"
'Do you think 80? wouldn't know
him."
Mrs. Gonigle leaned forward ana
remarked in subdued voice that she
had been asked to 60 to the hospitai
where he had died and identity MIN.
She was In doubt at first, but as she
looked the features seemed to throw on
the death look and take on a lifelike
appearance. She would stake her lie
on his being Parker.
Nathan Parker had left home sew
eral days before to go to work at MS
trade-he was plasterer-and had NOT
, returned. He had complained OF dlz-
illness and was seen to stagger as ne
walked down the street. Night came
and he did not return. His wife was
worried about him and fearful that ne
had collapsed. She would have gone
to inquire Of his employer, but her
husband had told her that he was 60
ing to do a job on his own account
that day and unfortunately did not In
4 form her where 1t was.
| That night was one Of great anxiety
! to Mrs. Parker. She went to the
grocery and called up every hospital In
town, asking IL a man of the name OF
Parker was there. They all replied
that they had no such person among
their patients. The next day passed
without bringing the missing mans
return. Mrs. Parker sent out a police
alarm, but nothing came of it.
Then one day the missing mans son
concluded to go the rounds Of the hos
pitfalls in search OF his father. At one
of them he found that man had died
who had been taken in unconscious
and no name obtained. He had fallen
on sidewalk, been picked up by po-
tliceman and brought to the hospital in
an ambulance. He had died the day
before.
John Parker went in to see the
corpse, dreading to find his father. He
no sooner looked upon 1t than he COW
!, cred his eyes with his hands. There
lay the man he had feared to see. Then
he went home and informed his moth
err Of what he had found. After she
had given way. to the first outbursts
. of grief she asked John If he was sure
that the body he had seen was that
of his father. John said he was, but
there would be no harm In sending
some one else to identify 1t. Stephen
Parker, the deceased's brother, went
to the hospital and expressed doubt
!: ! that the corpse was that of Nathan.
l Then Mrs. Gonigle, an intimate friend
. of the family, went to the hospital
and confirmed Johns report.
! At the hour appointed for the fu-
e neral the family and relatives came
] into the room where the burial rites
: were to take place and took seats be-
= side the coffin. A minister appeared,
who conducted the services and dwelt
. at length on the virtues of the de-
t ceased. When all was over the under
taker put the lid on the coffin and
screwed 1t down. While he was do
Ing so a man, very pale. staggered in
at the door.
4 whats all this?' he exclaimed.
"Good graciousF' cried Mrs. Parker.
"Who are your" asked the minister
d starting forward to head off the inter
loper.
al "Who am II I'm Nathan Parker
!, Who's that in the coffin?"
"Oh, Nathan" cried the wife, ''is II
e really your"
Il "Really me2 Who else should l Der
"Have you come back from tht
s dead?
% ~ haven't been with the dead"
Z att looks like you, but can't b,
II sure"
e Johnny went up to the intruder, look
ed him close in the face. then threw
his arms around him, crying: 81 mad
mistake! ] made a mistake" Thel
r Mrs. Parker took her husband ava!
from Johnny and Rugged him.
Meanwhile Parker, WHO had just go
out OF bed after several days. beinI
" either unconscious or delirious, sue
+ cumbed to the shock of arriving jus
,e in time for his own funeral and woul'
= have fallen TO the floor had his wifi
\. and son not supported him to sofa
Johnny ran for a stimulant, and Mrs
" Parker chafed his hands.
r "Take that thing awayp' he erie
"a family.
To Parker was put to bed and tn
!, corpse removed. AS soon as he bt
came sufficiently composed to give n
account of his absence he said tina
while going to work the sidewalk an
his head seemed TO come together-h
knew not how-and he was uncoI
: scious till he found himself In bed
y strange house. He called: woma
: came into the room and told him tha
she had seen him fall. had gone OF
and had instructed several persons VIII
gathered about him to carry him int
her house. She had not the heart
send him to a hospital, but had SCI
for doctor to attend him.
nr Parker asked how long he had bee
- there, and when she told him 1t was
:. week he jumped out of bed declarin
~ that he must go to his family, wi