The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-04-09

urgeons-they're pretty clever. Yes
they're clever!" billiards. eyes were
needle points. "They make man over
from his own photographs In my own
case preferred It differently. So
when they asked me for something to
use as pattern in remodeling me /
gave 'em this" He tossed out a pic
ture postcard, soiled and frayed.'
well, that's where the trouble began.
They cursed me up and down for
still that part of it WON'T interest
your His eyes were blazing now, and
his voice shook with passion. "Natu-
rally 1 hadn't meant 1t as ID
hteral as all that but they had
me under ether before could help
myself and they went through
with 1t and cursed me some
more afterward They couldn't
copy 1t exactly, of course, but they did
the best they could. Gloated
over it! Took infinite pains to make
1t perfect and sneered at me
while they did it! Sneered-and
laughed. Well. you've got the
results In front Of you. That's what
l was-and that's what am! What's
your opinion now?" The last sentence
came snarling through set teeth.
The brokers' pupils had dilated
grossly; his eyes wandered vacantly
from the photograph to the postcard
and back to billiards. face. His whole
imagination was pinned down and
crushed; he swore softly under his
breath and wet his lips.
IT'S a miraelel" he STAN
mered. "a miracle! :"
'The photograph" said billiard
harshly, sis the way they remember
me up in Syracuse. Do you think
they'd ever recognize me now?"
''It'S a miracle it's paralyz-
ing! :. :" Harmon swallowed hard,
and looked down almost fearfully at
the time-worn postcard. "There's so
much difference :. nobody'd ever
think of 1t. without knowing /.
but when you see the originate :.
1t it knocks me all In heap!
It's staggering! And they did that to
you! Just to think they could do that
to you! =. I've got to have
drinkr'
billiard motioned impatiently, but
his fit of rage was slowly going down.
There's no miracle about 1t at oil.
1t was good plastic surgery. If they'd
sent me out looking as 1 used to you
wouldn't call it a miracle, would you?
No. It's only what they did do that
makes it staggering. But it's clever
oh, yes-clever! And you can see for
yourself how few marks of it there
are" He drew long breath and man.
aged to smile again ;-but the effect was
shocking, for while his features were
composed and kindly his eyes were
venomous. "Well, I certainly never
intended to go to Syracuse again for
pleasure, but If there's enough COM
pensation to pay for the risk I'm not
afraid to try 1t on -. business"
His accent sent cold chills coursing
down Harmon's spine. "In fact now
that l think of 1T, 1t ought to bo
rather amusing!"
The broker was striving to pull him.
self together.
"But why on earth didn't you have
'em use your own picture for a copy
IL they're as clever as (. :.
Ohw He stopped short and his chin
dropped. "Ohi Is that the answer?"
eyes," said billiard, reclaiming the
two photographs. "That's the answer.
1 didn't mind starting over again,
only" He sighed and inhaled might
lily. "Only take my advice, Mr.. Har-
mon, and don't lose your temper Just
before an operation"
Harmon breathed more freely. but
he was still in violent intellectual dis
tress. He round face was vapid with
awe, and he was tongueing his lips in
constant nervousness, for the complete
possibility of the situation was creep
ing over him.
eff that's the case" he ventured.
''why they surely needn't rec
ognize your name either, Mr.. Hilliard,
need they2 I mean, If you had any
idea of going back to your home town
incognito. as it were"
'They wouldn't recognize anything
about me-" said billiard dryly. His
teeth. showing at the moment, were
white and regular as a young VOLTS.
"We won't discuss that side of 1t Just
now, though. But II go back. I'm
incognito-and don't make any mis-
take about 1t. Is that quite clear"
Harmon swallowed again,
They'd recognize your voice,
wouldn't they?P
81 had to get used TO this one my
self. Something went wrong with my
vocal cords, and the antrum on both
sides was hurt; it seemed to have an
effect like changing sounding-board."
$50! And you used to be fatter In
the face, didn't you? How about your
general size, and so on?'
'Tve taken on twenty-five pounds
my face is n lot thinner, but there's
reason. 1t hasn't grown on me; 1t
was manufactured. Incidentally, while
1 think of 1t my strides shortened six
inches. That's another Identification
gone. Bullet in my knee. I don't ex-
actly limp, but"
Harmon was beaming now, and
flushed with excitement.
That's great. Oh! that's wonder
full Wonderful Nobody'H know You
from Adaml Thunder and lightning,
what a chance-what a chance! Hold
on--how weIh do you know the big