The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-06-21
that he was more than twenty

realize that he was more than twenty
five.
Jim Kelly took time the next day
to drop in at the Harvard club In
town n find from there something
of one John Laurence. He found that
he lived and operated, with his uncle,
a factory, some sixty miles out Of the
city. The next day was Saturday and
Jim had promised to take Kate Hick-
son, to whom he was then engaged,
to the theater. but he made his ex-
cuses and took a 2 o'clock train to
the home of the L%aurences.
He found John Laurence, and a
not fiattered at having to consider
himself his double. To be sure. they
were of the same build and coloring.
Their features were similar, though
John Laurence looked his Junior by ten
years. But while Jim Kelly was the
mirror of fashion, with affected
sprightliness of manner, John Laurence
seemed Indifferent of his appearance
was digging around some apple trees
in his orchard In a pair of old army
trouser when Jim called.
I've come on a rather curious err
rand" he began In a grandiose man.
ner. "You see, / happened to meet a
little girl-a chance meeting, but we
got rather well acquainted. The lit
tie girl seemed to take a fancy to me
asked me to call. She gave me her
address written on a card and some
how lnSt IL Nnu, 7 IiI,,& ,,ork 30
disappoint her. Being a man of re-
sources tried to work on what clues
l had. She spoke of having gone to
school with a John Laurence-said
that she thought we might be cousins
because of a slight family resemblance.
So l happened to be out here today
and thought I'd drop around and get
you to give me the little girls address.
l can't remember her last name, but
her first name Is Alice. She said she
lived exactly where she did when she
knew you. She said she hadn't thought
Of you once for ten years until some
thing In my face reminded her dis
tinctly of you"
Something in the last remark
brought the color rising to John Lau-
rence's face. You lie" were words
very near his lips. He, John Lau-
renee, had thought of Alice many.
many times and he could not believe
that his little childhood sweetheart had
never once thought of him.
II thought you'd give me the ad-
dress. l have other ways Of getting
it, but l want to get in touch with her
now so as not to disappoint her."
you'll have to use your other
sources them" said John Laurence.
And l wish you good afternoon"
Jim Kelly did not feel entirely
thwarted by this rebuff, and two days
later when he Glanced to see the
charming Alice In the subway one
evening he felt that he had been pc
culiarly blessed by fortune.
She was even more charming and
radiant than she had been the first
time he saw her.
This time I'm going to get your adj
dress, little lady," he said. 81 must
apologize for forgetting to ask you
for it the last time"
Then he noticed the circle OF dia-
monds on her left hand. Perhaps she
had drawn her glove off on purpose.
Does that ring NEAR anything?"
asked Jim awkwardly.
ut has the most wonderful meaning
In the world. 1t Is all such a won
derful coincidence. You know the time
l saw you first l thought you were
John Laurence, and l guess l didn't
give you a chance to say you weren't.
The very next day the real John Lau-
renee came to see me. He was a very
old and very good friend of mine and
now-now we're engaged. Don't you
think that was a wonderful coinci-
dence?"
"Oh, l don't see anything very re-
markable about. that" said Jim Kelly.
The subway train had stopped and he
suddenly decided 1t was time for him
to get off. who'd have thought" he
said to himself with a smile, that old
Jim Kelly would play cupid in spite of
himself! !"