The spectator., 1920-07-02
Iv ROBERT AMES BENNET

detain him. He cannot be allowed to leave town"
 No, no!-while in this state-im- | possible
 The lady turned to the young man with an air of gracious apology. "Mr.- Clinton, you hear my husband. We cannot allow you to leave the state without first having made amends to you for this-this annoying mistake" Pardon me, rather for my rude ness," he hastened to reply. Tt must have seemed to you so i'm pertinent" she insisted. "Only. you see, our friend-Will Lowrie, you know" She paused expectantly, but l his clear gaze betrayed no more than polite attention. She flung up her hand in n little gesture of bewilder- ment. You are Will-and yet your expression- Pardon me, but If only | you realized what an extraordinary re- semblance! AS l was going to say, Mir. Lowrie has been away more than half year. He was quite Ill when my husband took him east. This-it is as If he had come back to us strong and we'll"
 "A perfectly natural mistake" the young man good-humoredly reassured her. Two persons between whom there Is only moderately close re- semblance are often mistaken for one another when apart, though their diff ferences. once they are together. may be very noticeable"
 l But you and Wilt" she replied. Even after your explanation l have to refuse to believe my own eyes. have no doubt that my husband. as well as myself Pardon me. l am Mrs. Kirkland. and this is my husband. Mir. Clinton-Doctor Kirkland"
 The young man met the introduction with a manner nicely balanced between well-bred reserve and cordial warmth. He bowed to the lady and stepped for ward alongside the car to grasp the chubby hand of the physician.
 "It is happy case of mistaken iden- tity that gives me the pleasure of your acquaintance" he remarked.
 "very!" agreed the physician, mask Ing his diagnosing scrutiny under be- nevolent smile. "The pleasure is not all yours, Mr.-Clinton.'
 Indeed, no, Mir. Clinton!" viva ciously confirmed the lady. Even If 1t were for no more than your resem- blance to Will It's simply absurd how like you are. l have to keep re- minding myself that you are not he. It makes me feel quite as if you were an old friend. How long did you say you expect to remain in town?"
 My train leaves shortly before midnight"
 Not tonighty'
 "Yes."
 But that never will do! You say you are stranger In Denver. You must stop over few days at least to see our beautiful city. You are not hurried by business?"
 He hesitated. "Denver has the name of being cold town to strangers"
 That Is a baseless calumny, as we shall prove to you" she declared with redoubed graciousness. "Since we | udNc UCNoihC uNlda'hiNb III tiiS bC- lightfully unconventional manner you must pardon the unconventionality of an invitation to dine with us on such short notlce."
 "It is most kind of you" he acknowl- edged. But my trunk"
 No, no; just as you are-quite h. formal" she forestalled his objection.
 He could not resist her cordiality. "Since you are so kind!'
 Jump in," directed the physician with an urgency almost peremptory
 Smiling in response to the general cordiality. the traveller opened the door of the car and took the seat beside the lady.
 Doctor Kirkland was too careful a driver to have any glances to spare for his passengers after he had guided his car up through the business streets of the city to one of the most quiet of the Capitol hill avenues.
 They went on few blocks south and then more swiftly eastward. At last the physician brought his car to stop at the curb before residence set in a plot of emerald green that merged with the lawn of Congress park.
 Here we are-home! said Mrs. Kirkland. in a sprightly attempt to win some indication of remembrance from the young man at her side. 'No doubt Ellen will be awaiting us."
 Her companion's look spoke only of polite inquiry. The mention of home and of Ellen had alike failed to stir him. She concealed her disappoint- ment with difficulty.
 "l referred to my daughter" she ex- plained. "Ellen went on motor ride to the foothills with Amy-Miss Low rie. you know-and some of their girl friends"
 Again she looked closely into the ;. face of her companion. But the name of Amy Lowrie brought no flash of memory into his frank blue eyes. He