Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-21
THE DOUBLE CHANCE
Faseans Wrongly Aeeased Hero and Loyal Stthto
BY j. S. FLE1 CHER
a.arsfe Asthos Of ~RSynsy-SLads Amalgdmaton,"
a.rsf Astho, Of ~Roynsy- Slide Amagdntdfion," etc.

indeed, the whois OF the upper story
Of the cottage. The noor OF plain
wooden piankS was bare Of carpet
or rug save in places, but was as
scrupuIously clean as soap and
water could make it. The walls,
color washed in a pale lilac tint,
were destitute of picture or orna-
ment save for q few texts printed in
the midst Of noral designs On strips
Of cardboard. The furniture was
piain but neat. There was a scent
Of lavender In the room which SEEM
ed to add to its LONELINESS.
But Stead was noticing none OF
these things. He tiptoed across the
floor TO the side Of the bed, which
stood between the door and the
window, ana looked down. Seeing
that the occupant was asleep. he
remained perfectly quiet, watching
him with speculative eyes. -. D.
The man who lay on the bed, NUT
tering incoherently in his uneasy
slumbers, was apparently Of middle
age and OF over medium height.
His head, well formed and hand
some, was covered with q mass Of
hair which. originally dark In color,
was now thickly shot with gray. His
beard, somewhat thin and struggling.
was also rapidly grizzling. and had
here and there white hair in it,
The face was thin. especially about
the nose and temples: and the eyes,
around which were many wrinkles.
were deeply sunk. AZ for the
and intellectual. One hand, which
lay outside the coverlet, was long
and hapely, with the slender. taper
ing fingers of the artist or the in
ventor of delicate mechanism.
Stead remained at the bedside In
an attitude of. perfect quiet, until the
man in the bed stirred restlessly.
and at last opened his eyes with a
murmured who's thereT'
He seemed as II meditating ris-
ing movement. The cashier laid q
gentle hand on his shoulder.
Don't try to RISE" he said. sooth-
ingly. you've only just awaked.
Lie still a minute or two"
The man turned his eyes on him
with something like frown. and
then let his head drop back.
"Ah, yes" he said, in a half-weary,
half -ifritable tone. Il remember
now. This COMPOUNDED broken leg
and ribs. too! Let's see. you're the
doctor. aren't you? No, no--you're
tHp UlHeE OHc, tIit OIC WIN pVCIA
kind I'm much obliged to you, sir
you're very good"
Not at all--not at ALL" said
Stead. I'm glad to and you so much
better tonight. See, have brought
some grapes for your acceptance.
Let me break some off for you,
they'll cool your mouth"
Phillipa Acts
The sick man eyed him wonder
ingly as he gave him some grapes
one by one. and at last he passed
his hand over his forehead with a
half-impatient gesture.
You're very kind" he said again.
ITS queer that / can't-of course.
| know that I've got n broken leg.
and broken ribs. and that I'm among
strangers and being very well and
kindly looked after-but I can't re-
member how / got here. How did I
get here, and where am II"
THE doctor has given strict
orders" said Stead, "that you are
talked to, on that subject. You are
to rest and be nursed, and you will
be all right"
The mans fingers toyed restlessly
with the bedclothes. II expect I've
injured my head somehow" he NUT
tered. "Otherwise I'm alb right"
"Oh. you're all right" said the
cashier, reassuringly.
THE last thing l remember" said
the man, dreamily. az II he were
half asleep 1.-The last thing I remem-
ber-"
He paused. and Stead made no
comment. although he was listening
keenly, for what the other might
say. Buzz the man laughed gently.
40 IL amused at his own discom-
future.
IT'S queer" he said but I can't
remember what Is the last thing that
1 remember. Anyway. I've got smash
ed up somehow. Those are very good
grapes. Thank YOU"
Just then the nurse came into the
room, and. after O. word or two with
her, stead quietly took his de-
parture. He said good night to Mrs.
now dark night. And Perrett. who
had kept patient watch behind a
convenient bush. once more logged
This time stead went straight
home. He lived not far away from
the cottages he had just left, in an
old house which stood near a disus-
ed lime quarry. He passed within it's
portals, and for that night Perrett
saw him no more.
Once at home. stead went to his
private room and ate the simple
supper set out for him. And that
over, after some striding about the
room. he went to q safe set in the
deep wall, and unlocking 1t with a
combination key, took from 1t a
brown paper parcel. from which he
drew an object that would have
seemed Of no significance to any one
but him, but which he knew to con-
tain the real clue to the Mannersley
mystery.
That object was--a mans deer
stalker hat.
when Marshall Stead left Phillipa
Mannersley in the morning room at
the castle, he left perhaps the IN
happiest young woman in England
behind him. For fully a quarter of
an hour Phillipa remained where
she stood by the table, drumming
upon II ceaselessly with her fingers
and staring at the vacant space
where the cashier had stood.
She could not realize what had
happened. She had never liked
Stead, but she had never actually
disliked him. She knew that her
father liked and trusted him, and
that had been enough for her. But
she had always had an uneasy feel
ing, an instinct, that there was
something behind Steads smooth
and quiet manner. Now that he had
revealed himself to her. she knew
him nnf ontv fbY q srhAft,er hut for.