The Ordway new era., 1920-12-24

dow. and again changed his purpose
In the far corner before tie rose
covered sunmerhouse. was group of
people one of them was looking up
at him. 1t was Amy. and she was
gesturing TO him. She did not wish
him to be seen. The man was turn
ing
For several moments he stood Mt the
window. his forehead gathered in a
troubled frown. Behind him sounded
shufling footstep. He started nery-
ously and spun about. Old Tlllie stood
in the middle of the room, her finger
on her lips.
what! It's your lie exclaimed.
''How the devil"
--Tssst,' she warned. Miss Ellen's
still downstairs. She'd run and tell
her pa first thing. You just missed be-
ing nabbed by Mr.. Bemni-only they
pboned him to 20 out and get you at
City Park"
''To go out for me? Who phoned?"
"The p'leece They seen you out at
City Park and"
saw me?"
Yes; that's what they phoned Miss
Amy. If 1t hadn't been for their max
ing Mr.. BENIN light out that way, he'd
sure have got You. He's 'tective,"
"Detective?-that sissy? No."
Fact. Y'ought've heard Miss Amy
toast him over the Goals. My, but
wasn't he mad He'll come back mad
der from that wild goose chase. That's
why I've come up to make your bed
and clean up and tell you TO get up
into your old robbers cave II he comes
back. I'll let you know when. Stead
of making the bed, guess I'll take the
bedding down to air"
As he turned beside the door of the
bathroom passage he caught side
glimpse of some one moving ON the far
side of the room. He faced angrily
toward the new intruder-and saw
his own image in the big cheval glass
on the opposite wall.
"Jovep' he muttered. This won't
do. Must pull myself together"
He went across to the mirror and
stared fixedly at his frownlng image.
Buck up, you idiot. - he advised
himself. LET yourself be hypnotized
did you?. ID. That's 1t, grinl It'f
time that you were grinning at youi
ut"
The word broke off in the midst He
glared into the mirror, the smile frozen
on his lips AT the left side of the
image of his face was the image Of
another face, smaller and less distinct
another image, yet his own face!
His eyes dilated with terror He
stood glaring at the second image pet
rified with horror. powerless to move.
1t was his own face. There
We're difrerenccs-.-no mustache, the
color almost white. the outline more
thin; yet 1t was his face as 1t might
be after nm illness. 1t could not be
II double reflection in the glass, for 1t
lacked the mustache-,ilso the express
sion was absolutely different. Unlike
the immobile terror of his first image.
the ghostly second face was twitching
with active fear. The mouth gnped
open.
"Insane" he gaspeu. "I-am go
ing-insane!"
He tottered to the rear window.
opChti liit StSH WIN Slluh-
ing fumbling hands, and crouched
against the sill In the midst of the
instreaming light and air.
Downstairs Amy and Ellen were
weeping in each others arms reconcil-
ed companions in misery
The doorbell rang sharply. The
weepers flew apart.
"S-some ones c-come :" sobbed FL
len. MY eh-eyesi"
Amy. regardless of her tear-,get face.
flew in through to the front hall. But
already the door. unlocked by BENIN,
was opening TO admit Or. Kirkland.
Mrs. Kirkland came in after her hus-
hand as Amy rushed TO meet them
with well-felgned eagerness.
CTO BE CONTINUED
Unconscious Humor,