The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-01-26
A Mistaken
Identity
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

and on entering the house turne:l into
the room where the coffin rested on
supports. 1t had been left open, and
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 sent and whispered to
Mrs. Martin beside her:
"ITe looks very natural"
do you think SO? wouldn't know
him"
Mrs. Gonigle leaned forward and
remarked in a subdued voice that she
had been asked to go to the hospital
where he had died and identify him.
She was In doubt ut first. but as she
looked the features seemed to throw OF
the death look and take on lifelike
appearance. She would stake her life
on his being Parker.
Nathan Parker had left home sew
eral days before to 60 to work at his
trade-he was plasterer--and had not
returned. He had complained OF diz-
illness and was seen to stagger as be
walked down the street. Night came
and he did not return. His wife was
worried about him aud fearful that he
had collapsed. She would have gone
to inquire Of his employer, but her
husband had told her that he was go
ing to do n job on his own account
that day anu unfortunately did not in
form her where it was.
That night was one Of great anxiety
to Mrs. Parker. She went to the
grocery and called up every hospital In
town, asking If Il 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 so 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 n po
liceman 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 it 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
er Of what he had found. After she
had given way to the first Outburstsi
Of grief she asked John IL 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 it. Stephen
Parker, the deceased's brother, went
to the hospital and expressed doubt
that the corpse was that Of Nathan.
Then Mrs. Gonigle, an intimate friend
Of the family, went to the hospital
and confirmed Johns report.
At the hour appointed for the fu-
neral the family and relatives came
into the room where the burial rites
We're 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-
ceased. When I'LL was over the under
taker put the lid on the coffin and
screwed 1t down. While he was do
Ing SO man, very pale, staggered in
ut the door.
What's all this?' he exclaimed.
"GOod gracious" cried Mrs. Parker.
"Who are your" asked the minister
starting forward to head of the inter
loper.
"Who am L? I'm Nathan Parker.
Who's that in the coffinY
'Oh, Nathan" cried the wife, rs 1t
really you?"
"Really me? Who else should be?"
',Irave you come back from tho
dead?"
II haven't been with the dead."
1T looks like you, but I can't be
sure"
Johnny went up to the intruder. looR-
ed him close in the face. then threw
his arms around him, crying: Il made
Il mistake! made mistake!N Then
Mrs. Parker took her husband away
from Johnny and Rugged HIM.
Meanwhile Parker. who had just got |
out Of bed after several days. being |
either unconscious or delirious. sue
cumbed to the shock of arriving just |
in time for his own funeral and would
have fallen to the floor had his wife
and son not supported him to sofa.
Johnny ran for stimulant, and Mrs. |
Parker chafed his hands.
! "Take that thing awayr' he cried |
family.
Parker was put to bed and the
corpse removed. As soon as he be.
came sufficiently composed to give an
account Of his absence he said that |
while going to work the sidewalk and
his head seemed to come together-hd |
knew not how-;:nd lie was uncon- |
scious till he found himself in bed in
n strange house He called: Il woman
came into the room and told him that |
she had seen him fall, had gone out |
and had instructed several persons who |
gathered about him to carry him into
her house. She had not the heart to
send hi:r to a hospital, but had sent |
for doctor to attend him.
Parker asked how long he had been |
there. and when she told him 1t was n |
a =