The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-11-23
THE DOUBLE
By A. E. THOMAS
Copyright, By
Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc.
w. N. u. Service


"Perhaps he has-l told you the
house is full of them"
Waterman shook himself slightly, as
II to get rid of an uncomfortable gar
ment. He rose and walked to the
desk. Accounting machine? Why.
it's nothing but an audiphone."
at looks like one," agreed Stanley,
but before we're through with II
think you'll admit that Il has some
thing to do with accounting. "YOu
see." he went on. easily, "this thing
stood on my desk In the office the
last day | was there and had II sent
down here that night. had been
never used one, did you. Rolly?"
"NO."
"No, you prefer-stenographe
Well, I'd been debating. as say, and
| thought I'd clear up lot of work
over Sunday. So | sent this thing
down to the house. But | never came
here again for over q year, for rea.
sons that you know very well. The
day | entered this room for the first
time, here stood that machine. Out
of idle curiosity | started the thing,
and-well-you shall hear what
heard. It's extraordinary-an audible
recreation of the past, after a-year
Remarkable"
He sat down, lighted q fresh cigar
meditatively, and appeared to fall in
| TO muse. After time, unable long
err to endure the silence, Waterman
said sharply:
swell, well-go on, go on"
Aren't you a little impatient to-
night?" asked the other.
Sorry"
81 wouldn't be In any hurry, II ]
were you"
"What the hi do you mean by
that?" cried Waterman with the
abrupt violence of a crash.
"Why. RollinI' Stanley reproached
him gently.
The other controlled himself with
an effort.
81 beg your pardon, I'm little un-
strung tonight haven't been very
| we'll"
Perhaps you smoke too much
Well. TO get on with our little enter.
tainment, and that last afternoon in
| our Office" He rose, and went back
| to the machine.
"Why are you always harping on
thatw cried Waterman, his irritation
mounting.
"Eh?" said Stanley, In bland sur.
prise.
"You made a proposal" snapped
| Waterman. 81 accepted 1t. You lost,
won. For Gods sake, forget It'll"
Stanley turned and cast upon the
other glance of sudden savage pene-
tration-a glance which froze Water.
man into silence and immobility.
"Listen" he cried. He bent over
the machine, and touched lever.
With strained attention, waiting for
| he knew not what, Waterman heard
| these words:
"Of course, there is always the pos
sibility of error in these calculations.
| and ii would be wise to allow q con.
siderable margin of safety therefor;
but on the whole we are in position
to say that we think well of the prop
| ositiOn. If you wish. shall be glad
to discuss the matter at length and
in detail. Very sincerely, yours"
Again Stanley bent over the ma.
chine. and the voice ceased He smiled
at Waterman and inquired easily:
Recognize the voice?"
Waterman had recognized it "It's
yours, of course" he said.
"Swear to II In a court of law,
wouldn't your"
Waterman rose. He had feeling
that he had best be on his feet. "Sure.
| What of til"
"Walt-there's little more. Elk.
traordinary, isn't It? After all these
months the faithfulness of this ma.
chine. Sit down. sit down. This will
| interest You, promise you"
There was no doubt about Water.
mans being interested. He sat on the
edge of his chair, his hands gripping
its arms. and glared upon the ma
chine.
Again Stanley bent over the desk
and touched the lever Instantly the
machine went on:
"Don't worry about that I'll attend
to the details"
"Splendid-splendid have only
one slight suggestion to make as TO
the construction of your scenario"
"And what's that?"
81 don't like the name of your
villain"
"You ought to. it's your own"
"What the HI is this?" cried Wa.
terman. leaping to his feet.
Stanley stopped the machine
whats the matter?" be inquired
gently.
Waterman took grip upon himself
Nothing, nothing-Only-"
"You don't recognize the voices, do
you?"
"No. no, certainly not"
Stanley was casualness itself. "You
see." he explained, 81 am naturally Gu.
rious and thought you might be
able to satisfy my curiOsity-let me
give you little more of it."
Again fhe machine continued:
Yes, that's the point"
."What are you getting att"
81 suggest that you strike out the
name of ROllin Waterman. and substi.
tute the name of James Stanley"
With a suppressed exclamation, Wa.
terman again leaped from his chair.
wait" cried Stanley sharply. with
a commanding gesture, and the ma
chine went on:
"What?"
Precisely"
you want me to tell Miss Colby