The diamond drill., 1920-05-01
THE
DOUBLE LIFE
By ALvAH j. GARTH

For good or bad the world was all
before him--no man ever more solemn
~ realized that parting and start
Ing was az his choice. lie stood just
outside an isolated dllapidated hut
and faced the dawnlng day. Its ro-
seate glow, the waking birds and
gently signing breeze wrought inilu-
ences Of thought and decision clear,
comprehensive and abiding.
His past had been blghting and
the present uncertain. Only 20 the
fathomless future could he look as
TO new birth. He was nobody
worse than that, discharged convict.
His real name was menace. He
must lose II and begin anew, go back
reckessly among the old avenues OF
crime, or divest himself OF every ves-
tige OF his natural personality and
assume a new identity.
The specious forces OF evil beekon-
ed him TO the companionshlp that had
sent him to five years In the peniten-
tiary, and he had paid his debt.
Looking back two weeks, he saw
himself freed from prison with time
allowed for good behavior Looking
back week, he saw himself entering
this same deserted hut. seeking a
nights shelter, 10 find within, lying
on bed OF straw. we'll favored
young man about his own age This
latter tossed restlessly In fever and
delirium, and from his rawlings John
Blake gathered that he was a person
addicted 10 drink and drugs, had fall
en- by the wayside and his weakened
vitality was fast oozing away. A hui
name and new impulse had been
born into John Blake the last two
years OF his Imprisonment through the
friendly mlnlstrations OF the peniten-
tiary chaplain. For three days and
nights he acted rs nurse and prOylder
out OF the little store he had earned
IN prison through overtime. securing
food and medicine from the village
nearby. The morning Of the fourth
day the invalid had died. His pillow
had been an old valise, but It contain
ed only n few articles Of clothing and
letters, and from these Blake CLEANED
that his name was Arthur Gride. and
that his former home was in Canada
One OF the letters was evidently
from the uncle of Grlde and II told
the whole history OF that blighted life |
Ii ran: "You have forfeited the es-
teen OF every friend and relative
through your evil, dissIpated ways
They and have disowned you. / Of
fer you one last chance inclose
you letter to an old friend. / have
written him telling him OF your frail- |
ties and past. He will give you work. |
IL you make n man of yourself. he will |
be a stanch helper. IL not he will
speedily send you about your busi-
ness"
The other letter was directed to |
adam MARSHALL at a little city In |
western state and IL simply intro |
duced arthur Gride, whom have |
already written you about"
When the poor wanderer was dead |
Blake went to the village and told |
of his finding the man and of his car
ing for him. They buried him decent !
ly In the little country cemetery, and |
now after passing a last lonely night !
at the hut, John Blake stood at the |
parting OF the ways.
Two months later, assuming the |
name Of the dead man, Blake was In.
stalled at Leesville as an employee OF |
Adam Marshall in the grain and feed
business. The latter was old and In
firm, but he gave the pretended nephew |
OF his friend every chance TO make /
good Within a year the new Blake |
had completely won the confidence OF |
his patron. When the latter died his |
family later engaged him as manager
OF the business. Trusted and beloved !
by everybody. a man among men. the y
new Arthur Gride became a citizen OF
importance.
IT was about this time that young
woman came to Leesvile and after
making many inquiries about Arthur
Gride settled down into seclusIon
one day when Blake left the city on Il
train she covertly followed him. II
was the anniversary OF the death of
the real Arthur Gride, and the man
who had assumed his identity went
TO the little settlement where he was
buried. He placed a wreath upon his
grave and sat lost in reverent thought.
He looked up, puzzled and startled, ms
a shadow crossed the spot. The mys.
terious woman stood beside him. lie
recalled having seen her once or twice
in Leesville. Her accusing face and
manner made a really comely face ap-
pear dark and forbIdding
II have followed you day after day"
she spoke, ito find the man you pre-
tend 20 be. am the sister OF Arthur
Gride. You are not he. Where Is
heT"
"There, spoke John Blake pointing
TO the grave. Ills sister7 Then you
shall know ALL come here because
- n In -. n