The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-02
His Double
A Clever Scheme
By RUTH GRAHAM

man came up the steps and, after eye
ing him sharply. advanced toward him
and said
''Mr. Pierson, l believe"
"You have the advantage of me-
SIR"
II have seen you several times and
have been introduced to you. Are you
not Richard Pierson of Chicago?"
"If you will excuse me, sir, prefer
not to tell you who l am until learn
something about yourself. Doubtless
you are perfectly honest and sincere in
taking me for an acquaintance, but
you must admit that such methods are
SO often taken with sinister motive
that it behooves us to be on our guard
on the advances Of stranger"
"You are perfectly right. am Mark
Anderson and have often been in Chi
cago. There l have met Mr.. Richard
Pierson. If you are not he you resem-
BILE him sufficiently to be his twin
brother"
II confess replied the other, soften
ing, that | have often been taken for
this man Pierson. l wish that l could
say that am he, for l understand he
has fortune. When were you in Chi
cago, sirY'
Anderson told him that he had Mft
Chicago but few weeks ago, adding:
"If you are not Richard Pierson Of
Chicago will you now kindly tell me
who you are?"
Lowering is my name-Alexander
Lowering"
The ice having thus been broken, An
derson seated himself by Lowering, and
the two fell to chatting about Chicago,
a city Of which both seemed to be very
proud. Anderson asked Lowering In
what business he was engaged. Low
ering told him he was an operator on
the board Of trade. A like question to
Anderson resulted ia the Information
that he was at present out Of business
and, he said. with knowing look.
that he was hunting for a Job.
Mr.. Anderson, while he carefully re.
Trained from appearing to court Mr..
Lowering, lost no opportunity Of put
ting himself in his way. Lowering at
first appeared to be trying to avoid the
man, but gradually gave way and SUI.
fered himself to become intimate with
his new acquaintance. Finally Ander-
son mentioned certain young widow
a Mrs. Markland. Lowering pricked up
his ears.
"The man you resemble" said Ander
son, "was at one time attentive to her"
Lowering WINGED.
One morning the two men were in the
writing room Of the hotel. Lowering
was writing letter. He had finished
and addressed 1t and was beginning an
other when he was called away, leav-
ing the addressed letter on the table at
which he had written it. When he re-
turned Anderson said to him:
do you know that your handwriting
is very like that Of the man mistook
you for?'
"How do you know that2" asked Low.
ering.
II could not help seeing the address
on the letter you left on the table when
you went out"
"Are you familiar with this man.
what's his nameT'
"Pierson."
"Pierson's handwriting7"
YES"
How did you become soY"
well. the fact is that Pierson was A
suitor for the hand of woman l know"
"And she showed you his letters?,
"She did once"
Did she consider that honorableY
well the truth is had heard things
about Pierson. and. the lady being my
friend, thought it my duty to tell her
She showed me letter to convince me
that l was mistaken. but l convinced
her at last"
Lowering did not seem to take enough
interest In the matter to follow 1t fur.
ther.
i wonder" said Anderson. .'if your
signature is as much like Persons as
your handwriting is"
We &c iiot Vi tue same name.
Write his name Richard G. Pier
SON."
Lowering wrote the name and showed
1t to Anderson, who studied 1t careful
ly. i think | have a note from Pier
son. he said. I'm get it and compare
the two signatures"
Going to his room, he returned with
the note. 1t simply informed Mr.. An
derson that certain request of his
could not be granted.
Not even an expert" said Anderson
could tell the signatures apart"
He looked up at Lowering and found
Lowering looking at him with a
changed, a cunning. expression.
Lets drop this fencing. said the
latter. II understand what you are
up to-"
"Wel?
IN your man, but won't have any,
thing to do with the matter except the
penmanship."
"You mean
I'll write the check. You'll have to
do the rest"
You tumble too easily. I'm afraid
of you"
Nothing risked, nothing gained.