The Ordway new era., 1920-10-15
He cannot be allowed to

detain MIN. lie cannot be allowed TO
| leave town"
mo. nol-while in this state-im-
possible I"
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.
at must have seemed to you so i'm
pertinent" she insisted. "Only, you
see, our friend-Will Lowrie, you
know" She paused expectantly. but
his clear gaze betrayed no more than
polite attention. She flung up her
hand In little gesture of bewilder-
ment. You are Willard yet your
expression Pardon me. but If only
you realized what an extraordinary re-
semblancei AS was going to
say. Mr.. Lowrie has been away more
than half year. He was quite III
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. 1.-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"
But you and Wilt" she replied.
Even after your explanation / have
to refuse to believe my own eyes. |
have no doubt that my husband, as
well as myself Pardon me. 1 am
Mrs. Kirkland, and this is my husband.
Mr.. Clinton-Doctor Kirkland"
The young man met the Introduction
with 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.
ut 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. 1.-THE pleasure is not
all yours, Mr.-Clinton."
Indeed, no, Mr.. Clinton" viva
clously confirmed the lady. "Eyen If
1t were for no more than your resem-
blance to will It's simply absurd
how like you are. have to keep re-
minding myself that you are not he. 1t
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"
mot tonight7"
"Yes."
"But that never will do! You say
you are stranger In Denver. You
must stop over a few days at least to
see our beautiful city. You are not
hurried by business?"
He hesltated. Denver has the name
of being cold town to strangers"
'That is baseless calumny. as we
shall prove to you," she declared with
redoubled graciousness. "Since we
have become acquainted in this de-
lightfully unconventional manner you
must pardon the unconventionality of
an invitation to dine with us on such
short notice."
at is most kind of you," he acknowl-
edged. "But my trunk"
mo, no. just rs you are-quite In
formal" she forestalled his objection.
He could not resist her cordiality.
"Since you are so kindI"
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
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 n few blocks south
and then more swiftly eastward. AT
last the physician brought his car to
stop at the curb before n residence
set in plot of emerald green that
merged with the lawn of Congress
park.
"Here we are-home" said Mrs.
Kirkland. in sprightly attempt to
win some indication of remembrance
from the young man at her side. mo
doubt Ellen will be awaiting u.s."
Her companions 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.
81 referred to my daughter" she ex-
planned. "Ellen went on a 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