Show HIS WORSE NATURE it Is each mans double and becomes harmless when conquered dy by ALTON EDWARDS nobody except the governor know knew that lie ho had a double not ovon even the governors wife who know him perhaps better than anybody olbo else tho the two men resembled each other so completely that it would have boon been impossible for or their most intimate acquaintances to distinguish them it there was waa any distinction it was waa that the expression of character and sincerity upon the face of the states chief ox executive was waa replaced upon the face fico of tho the other man by a certain furtive cunning from his earliest years governor In vernor haines had been enfA engaged ged in a constant fight against this man ile iio had intruded into his life had bad placed him in invidious positions bad in general committed actions which had needed all the governors ability to nullity and he had followed him even to the executive chamber blackmailing him offering ott ering compromises threatening the executive mansion was totally unguarded in that sleepy litle capital town formalities had not come into favor the double strolled quietly across the lawn entered tho the mansion and made his way to the governors office hla his secretary nodding at his bis desk bowed to him unconscious that this could be anybody but tho the governor haines he ha know mr searles has telephoned that he will be here in halt an hour sir said 4 ive finished with you tho the secretary the double nodded passed into the executive chamber and sat down at his bis desk that he had an intimate knowledge ot of all the governors Goyer nors business was evident for he began scrutinizing papers and emptying pigeon holes and reading moranda memoranda m c but he was awaiting the arrival ot of searles the state boss with ill III concealed impatience lie ile knew that the man was interested into rested in the proposed street railroad franchise that he had bad been pestering governor haines for or weeks to sign siga the bill now awaiting his decision and he badnow omitted to threaten it meant the governors political future the de cislon which was impending the secretary looked in mr searles Is waiting to see you sir he zaid said the state boss entered he was evl evi dently III at ease tor for he held hla his hat bat tightly and sat eat down nervously in the chair which the double offered him I 1 the double swung round in his bla own chair and faced hla his visitor you have called with regard to that railroad franchise bill ho he asked searles cleared his throat threat and nodded q ed then placing his hat down on le the governors desk lie ho began now governor haines we have threshed this matter out among others for a long time I 1 have tried to ally you with the bettor better interests ot of the state but I 1 have failed I 1 have pointed out to you that I 1 may speak plain lyl surely answered the double smil ing and something in the tha doubles expression sent new hope into searles heart hitherto he be had always been up an impermeable barrier ot of character and rectitude now this man seemed almost to cringe before him had not ruled men tor for thirty years for nothing ile he know knew that this was the moment to terrorize to bully these means would succeed where others had failed you got my letter governor he asked his bis lips parting in a wolfish smile well it amounts to this it if you dont sign that bill you wont have the next year that of course goes without saying but im going to do more than that im going to drive yo you u out of public life altogether twenty five years a ago go when you were a young man an you were w ere involved in a scandal you know what hat I 1 mean the people of this state wont stand for anything ot of that kind in their chief magistrate will you sign the bill or will you bo exposed the man who was involved enthat in that scandal was not 1 I it was a double ot of mine thought the double but at 0 course it was war not to his interest to bo be tray himself he merely looked at searles with a taint faint smile and searles understood that smile let us come to the point governor he its no use shilly sh allying or beating about the bush he 11 0 drew a poper paper from his pocket bearing the Gov governors ernoes signature this Is your obligation tor for five thousand dol lars lare 11 lie he said may blair I 1 tear this tutu into pieces and throw thorn them into youa houi wastebasket waste basket it was strange tho the extraordinary rca aulsion that camo came over tho the double hel he h had d his enemy at his more mercy V thlu governor haines who had hated big aln since their boyhood and on whom ha ha could now take effective revenge sudi sud donly denly ho he felt that his whole mental at was changing ila ho thought og of the man bravely and silently fighting down tho the scandal of 0 hl his past ast life of his uncompromising battlo battle for purer politics lie ile stretched out hla his hand impulsively and took hla his pen and in largo letters wrote at tho the bottom of tho the bill vetoed 1 ile ho hold bold it out toward searles So arlos searles seemed completely non plus sed for a whole minute ila ho stared at the vetoed bill then lie ho got up and out his bis hand governor haines alnes II he be said bald 1 I think tho the world of 0 you you have won tho the fight and im man enough to recognize it havo have tho the people on your side now and I 1 dont kick against tho the pricks youve bested me and havo have tho the entire searles organization with you when wo we offer you the nomination lie ile shook haines by tho the hand and walked slowly out ot at tho office shaking his head the double at the desk however was oven even moro more disconcerted disconcert al than searles why had bad ho be dono done thin thing ho he whose choso whole aholo life had bad been dominated by hatred of oe his enemy ile ho must have dozed for some minutes later when he be looked looke dup up he saw baw hla his enemy before him governor haines was waa looking steadily at him but he evinced no surprise lots lets fight this thing out right now he said bald ive finished with you I 1 shall never temporize with you again I 1 havo have compromised and feared you henceforward it la is war be tween us tor for ever it you y ou had told me that twenty ovo years ago I 1 should never havo have troubled you at all answered the double hum bum bly rising governor haines halinea did not answer him but watched him leave the room the sleepy secretary outside did not not notice cc h him m pass pasa nor would he have seen him oven even had he looked for him each man has his double his worse nature dut but when he has conquered him tho the double becomes a harmless harm leaa wraith transparent as a breath ot at marsh air that Is disper dispersed sod in the tha sunlight copyright 1913 by W G chapman |