TROUBLES OF A DOUBLE.

Northland Age, Volume IV, Issue 42, 22 June 1908, Page 7

TROUBLES OF A DOUBLE.

AN ACCUSING TALE OF HOW ,* Harris was harassed, Harris has a double, who has been double-shuffling, so there is trouble. At present Harris is hunting—that is to say, hunting for his double. You see, whilst Harris has discovered that ho has a double—a a double who looks, and acts, and W talks, and oven dresses exactly as he does—he has not yet tracked this troublous double down. \\> to two years ago Harris had led an uneventful life—a life absolutely devoid of all exciting incident. Lost time in this direction has been more than made up since then on account of the advent of his double. Then was it that Harris himself was discovered by his double. It is evident that the double, up to that 'time, had imagined himself •alike all other men, Just as everyone else on earth does. Also it is ivident that he made the discovery that Harris was as like him as a • twin at least. In fact, people have laid, after being deceived, that the touble looked moro like Harris thaii Harris looked himself. The first manifestation of trouble, •o far as Harris can now recall, wns U> connection with his tailor, who k hud been trying to persuade him to jn w order another spring suit. Harris ~ however, had decided to moke one stiit tast until he wanted lighter summer clothing. One day he was surprised when the tailor called him op on the telephone and informed tim that the suit was ready. "But I didn't order it," protested Harris. * ‘You must have, Mr. Harris," expostulated the tailor. "You gave the order to me personally, and my assistant took the measure.” The conversation waxed rather warm, and Harris, not desiring any trouble, walked around to see the tailor. He explained that he certainly had not ordered the suit or been measured. He was ready, howler, to accept the suit and pay for It, prowded the fit and texture suited him. When he saw it he was even more surprised, for the cloth was of a pattern he had decided upon first »nd then changed his mind. Both he and the tailor were vexed at the •ccurrencc. , "Now," said Harris, who was nettled, "I did not order or want this * *uit, although I can use it. But do not take any more orders of the same kind—for I shall not patronise rou again." Just two months later the tailor cn? od up and said : "I’m glad you changed yoUr mind. Mr. Stebcrt • *a>B you ordered your summer suit to-day."

*T haven’t beeri near the place." protested Harris, "and I won’t be held up again;" , . They came near quarrelling, and they parted each with the idea that the % ,t! er was working some sort of crooked game. It wus three months later, perhaps, that the trouble with the church came. Harris is a sober man and a teetotaler, although he never urged prohibition. He was surprised one Hunduy to see one of the leading men of the church cut him dead Sunday morning Tho same thing was rerouted later, and Harris, angry, the reason. He was informed that he (tho deacon) did not like hypocrite*. Further argument brought out the statement that the deacon had Been HarrA drunk and hlarioui tho previous afternoon. Har i is denied. .Shortly afterwards a member of the firm which employed Harris called him in and remarked : "Jimmy, it's all right to drink ft bit, but, if I were you, I’d cut out that ffist crowd—and not got drunk •o often." Harris, dared and half convinced that tie was going crazy, denied that he dunk. The employer was a bit puzzled, too, for he remarked : "It struck me queer at tho time. I certaifily saw you drunk—yet I wondered how you could have got so drunk in so short a time." But those things, while annoying, were easy compared to what was to come. One day Miss Luykins called him up on the 'phone and said : '‘Why didn’t you speak to me when I met you?" "I ditin t see you," he expostulated. "When was it?” "Ten minutes ago, in Wellinever Street."

"I wasn’t in Wellincver Street ten minutes ago." That evening they came near quarrelling. He insisted that he had not been on WeHinever Street that day. She insisted that she mot him, bowed and started to speak to him, and that he only half smiled and passed on, leaving her shocked, hurt, and angry. After that the same thing happened about once a week. Miss Luykins finally told him that the next time he passed her .without speaking ho cquld cons der the engagement at in end, and that if he was ashamed to speak to her in public she wanted to l now it. That led to the broken engagement, for only a few days later he received the ring and a curt note. He tried to explain, to protest, and prove his :nnoo nee, but she refused even to •re him. ,

Then, except for minor annoyances, Harris wns left unmolested. At times «c was half persuaded that his mind wus going and that he was doing it’&nge things while unconscious of his movements. Still, he argued, it wan impossible for him to be in two places at once, and certainly he cot4d not be in his office and on Wellincver Street at the same time, or in church and in a downtown hotel. Yet not until a fortnight ago did he discover the facts. One afternoon he dropped in at a barber's shop to get his hair cut. Ah he entered the door the barber icowl' d, and said angrily : "(Jet out of here unless you’re looking for more trouble." "More trouble?’' asked Harris. *'l haven't had uny trouble."

"The you ain’t," said the man. "Didn't I throw you out five minutes ago ?" • ' "Not me," said Harris, ungram- - mutually but earnestly. "1 haven’t leen in rince Tuesday." t "Well, that’s funny," admitted the man. "You ought to know ; but I’d swear it was you." "But," he added, "come to think flf it. that man had on a blue coAt. ✓ mm:-'. ' I ..

m s enougn irxe you to he a xwtn. - "Look hare," said Harris, "I've been annoyed for two years in that way. People always are accusing me of doing things I never did. I believe I have a double." "Well, if you have, he’s in the hotel bar at the next corner," said tho barber. [ Harris started in pursuit, deterj mined to run down and have an ao- ! counting With the man. As he step--1 ped into the saloon the bartender grabbed a beer mallet, and, without asking any questions, smote Mr. Harris upon the #iead. He was i taken to a hospital. The bartender, in police court the next day, vowed ! that Harris had made trouble in his place and threatened to assault him. That he had left, and immediately returned by another entrance. The barber testified that Harris had gone in pursuit of his double. From that day to this Harris has been hunting his duplicate, and without success. He has heard of him a dozen times, but never has been able to get near him. Apparently the double knows Harris' habits and haunts well, and, for some strange reason, is annoying him purposely. That he intentionally | caused the break between Harris and his ’fiancee’ there can be little doubt, j Apparently he knew her and put himself in her path to deceive her and cause her to think Harris was ‘ 'cutting" her. At any rate, if Harris can find his j mysterious double, he promises to eveh up the score— and he has beI gun taking boxing lessons with a definite object in view.—" Chat."