Evening star., 1927-12-15
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
BY EDWARD EVERETT HALE
HOW MY DOUBLE UNDID Me

and slept late. When he came for or
ders he wore a red silk bandanna tied
round his head, and overalls and no
spectacles No one could suspect we
were both Frederic Ingham.
His first assignment was a meeting
Of the enlightenment Board, much
like welfare or uplift board any
where He succeeded wonderfully. AT
such meetings. under my orders. he
always voted with the minority. This
got me quite a reputation for careful
thought and Cautiousness in dealing
with vital questions.
After this he went to several com,
mpncements for me- and ate the din
ners provided. He especially liked to
eat dinners in my place. He sat
through three of our quarterly conven
tions for me. Consequently | also got
reputation for having real interest
in everything, being always on hand
Even my SilenCe-in the person of my
double-was in my favor.
Polly, being more rash than I. even
riSked Dennis one night under the
eyes of her own sex. / went i'm first
and started the ball rolling | knew
that after the preliminaries at a So
cial fete of this kind | would be left
pretty much alone. Then | sneaked
was waiting in a dark lane, and he
returned to take my place under Pol
ly's guidance.
That should have been a warning
to me, for Dennis sprinkled Il am
very glad you liked it" and Very
well, thank you" all over the eve
ning's conversation. But l would not
be warned
Things went well for almost -
months Dennis went to all the dull
things and [ performed my we'll liked
duties in my parish as / ever could
have done otherwise. I caught up on
my reading and had time to pay court
to my wife. ] began. you might say.
to know my wife. by sight at least
And then Dennis was overtasked and
undid me-
1t was at an annual county meet
ing. l had been asked to speak, but
begged off. Finally, some one else was
obtained and l was asked merely to
come and sit on the platform. This
was a job for my double, who was
we'll trained in just these things, so
sent him. l told Dennis to hold his
peace under all circumstances. In
half an hour he returned. wild with
excitement. He had undone me.
A thousand people had come to-
to speak was late When he came he
said that some one following him
would make the real speech. The next
man passed it on to the next, until
we'll Frederic Ingham, in the person
of Dennis. was called upon.
Our friend, Mr.. Ingham. is always
prepared-and though we had not re-
lied upon him, he will say a word
perh ps," it was announced.
Applause followed which turned
Dennis head. He rose and tried No
3: There has been so much said. and
on the whole so well said, that I will
not longer occupy the time. He sat
down, looking for his hat, for things
seemed squally.
But the people cried. Go on! Go
on
Dennis, still confused. but hattered
by the applause. rose again and tried
No. 2: II am very glad you liked it."
My friends stared. All the people
who did not know me personally yelled
with delight. A boy in the gallery
hollered. IT'S all an Internal hum
bug" And Dennis just then waved
his hand and tried No. 4: Il agree. in
general. with my friend on the other
side of the room" The chairman
doubted his senses and tried to stop
Dennis, When the BOY IN the gallery
shouted. "How's your mother?" Den
mis-. now completely lost, tried, as his
last shot. No. /: Very well. thank
you. And you?"
l think l was undone at this point.
But Dennis was not through. The
audience rose in a whirl of amaze
ment, rage and sorrow. They called
Dennis names or something-and he
in pure Irish. delivered himself of an
address to the gallery, inviting any
one who wished to fight to come down
and do so. stating that they were all
dogs and towards and that he would
take any five of them single handed
"Shure. l have said all his riverence
and the mishtress bade me say" he
said in defla nee.
Well, that is why. dear reader,
am now in voluntary exile in one of
the new towns of Maine. where the
first settled minister gets 100 acres of
land free