Who's Who?

COPYRIGH IB9f BV THtAÓrHOa (Continued.) CHAPTBR IV. THE CONTRACT. "I have devoted rnore study to the Bcience of boxiug than to anything else, " explained Harold. "So much so, indeed, that, although not a strongrnan, I can best any of my acquaintances. From some words that I overheard I am satisfled that a plot is ou foot tohumiliate rae. Thereis tobe an exhibition ionight at the clubrooms for the benefit of a public charity. I have agreed to meet an nnknown boxer. Of course he is a professional and is ableand intends to knock me into the middle of next week. ' ' "And I will take your place?" "That's it. Holygee!" Andthegood fellow leaped to his feet, hardly able to restrain bimself in anticipation of the way in which the tables would be turned on his false friends. "But it vv-ill not do for each of ua to go thither in propria persona, for you will be taken for yourself and I for you, and things will be mixed." "That is easy enough. It is I who will change my personal appearance so that no one can possibly suspect you. ' ' Both of uswere clean shaven. Harold adjusted a mustaohe so skillfully that j no one could suspect it. It caused a tnarbed cliange in his appearance. Then he applied a wash to his curly hair, which did not turn it black, but of a dark brown, several shades deeper than its natural hue. The eyebrows were touched so as to correspond with the mustaohe. ' 'Nothing moro is needed. But as to i y dress?" "I have a score of snits, and there fore am uever jndged by ruy attire. W will separate just before reaching th building and takc widely separatec eeats. When a cali is made for you to go on the stage, you will do so and bt guided by circuinstauces. " At 8 ó'cloek that evening the spaciou hall of the club contained fully 500 persons, most of whom were well dressec aud inuinbers of swelldom. As I walked in and took my seat one man after another extended his hanc aud greeted ine effusively. "Good lnck to you, Westcott! I've got $100 on you tonight. " "I'm afraid you'll be a loser, "I replied moriestly, thongh well aware that the fellow was lying and hoped to see me knocked senseless. "No fear of that if you handie the mitts as you did last week, when you gave me and Robbins our quietus. " "That was more luekthan skill. But I'll do my best." Similar remarks were ictjeated. It was clear to me thafc IJarold was right. A plot was on foot to overwhelm him with mortificatiou oy visitiug au iguomiuious defeat upan him. In fact, I canght somc wcrás not intended for me. They revealed that the pugilist who had heen imported was the notorious Sid Bnxlon, generally known as the Western Cyclone, a burly giant, who had knocked out every aspiring boxer that had presumed to stand before him. The exhibition was similar in most respects to those with which every New Yorker is familiar. There were club swinging, fencing, dancing, some good singing, several pleasant exchanges of taps between amateur boxers, and finally the event of the evening was announced as a sparring bout between a gentleman, Mr. Richard Mortimer of Chicago, and the wel! known clubman, Harold O. Westcott. The audience broke into uproarious applause. There were stampinsr, ping of hands aud loud calis of "Westcott! Westcott!" As yet Mr. Mortimer had not shown himself. He was in the dressing room behind the stage. I slowly rose to my feet and with ray topcoat over my arm walked forward. As I ascended the steps at the end the applause became deafening. "What hypocrisy !" I mused. "Of the 600 men in this room four-fifths woulc give a goodly part of what they are worth to see me stretched almost lifeless before this brute that has been brought here for the express purpose oi half killing me." The man who had expressed fervent wishes for my suecess and who deolared that he had $100 upon me was obsequious in his attentions. He accompanied me to the dressing room, helped me to shed my outer clothing and to adjust the gloves to my hands, repeating his best wishes and his coufidence in my prowess. "Who is this Mortimer?" I asked, after the strings were tied at my wrists. "Some Chicago dude, I believe. He has been practicing out there until he fancies, like every one from the Windy City, that he knows it all. He has come east to give the New Yorkers a few lessons, but I reckon he'll know more tomorrow than he does now. " "Possibly, though it seems to me that we ought to have been introdnced before meeting on the stage. However, let that go. Where is he?" ' 'Iu the next room. Wonld vou like to see hini?" "Yes. Lead me to hini. " Passing through the door separating the apartnients, I was introdnced to Mr. Mortimer of Chicago. He was a prodigious brute, a mass of rigid musdes. Diajiolike legs. enormons aims. buJlet heacl, with a flat nose, Deaujjjie eyes, close cropped hair and a countenance that rcrninded me of a gorilla. He nodded with a grin that showed his yellow teeth, but did not speak. Perhaps he was afraid of revealing his persouality by his lauguage. Five minutes later we were introduced to the audieuce from the stage. The applause was tremendous. One in my position sees mncfa more than is suspectcd. I could easily read the expectaut looks and kuew that nearly every man there was gloating in advance over my humiliation. I looked at Harold. He eanght my eye and nodded. He was the happiest pcrson in the liouse, for he knew what was coming. Possibly I was equally happy, for I feit that it was to be my pleasure of baffliug a mean plot. Mr. Mortimer evidently looked npon his task as such a "dead easy" one that he feit able to toy with me as a cat does with a mouse. He must keep up the semblance of fairness and not be too rough from the start. We had sparred a few minutes, when he landed lightly on my chest. It sent me backwaid a couple of paces, for I was not expecting it. Itwas apparent to me that the fellow was a skilliul sparrer, and it was important to be ou my guard, for, although my streugth was prorligious, I was as vulnerable as ordinary mortals to attaek. If I suffered hini to land ono of bis terrific blows, I should be laid out. My only safety, therefore, was iu mticipatiug him. Sparrera, like fencers, look straight into each other's eyes. It is a fatal mistake to do otherwise. We contiuued secsawing round each other, I landing a blow Dow and tben, which was not hard enough to trouble hini, while I stopped one or two ugly thrusts. Suddenly tliere was a peculiar wbistle and cali from several quarters of the house. The people were becoming impatieiit. They did not wish to wait any longerfor my overthrbw. I saw a look of hideous devilishne.ss come fnto the gorillalike face before me. The brute was gathering himself for the knockout blow, and while doing so an extraordinary thing took place. The Western Cyclone was seen to rise abruptly froni the stage and then speed Suca a "dead casi" onc. ontward and through the air, like an enormous bullf'rog. He shot half way across the room, sprawling in the aisle directly behind where the astounded Harold Weatcott was sitting. The blow wbich did this was planted squarely in the middlo of the hairy chest. Had it 8truck his skull it would have been smashed like an eggshell. Had he boen an ordinary person, his trunk would ïave been ground to pulp. As it was, ie lay as if dead, and nearly eveiy one believed him fatally injured. At the end of ten minutes of indecribable confusión the physician annonnced that the stricken pugilist was eviving and would rally from the blow. Then sonwthing like order settled upon he house, and the master of ceremonies announced that the bout had been won by Mr. Westcott. "And I would add," I said, advancing to tho front of the platform, "now that the Western Cyclone lias beeu disposed of, that I will be pleased to meet any oue who would like to take hia place." The only answer to thia challenge was a renewal of applause, amid which I withdrew to the dressing room, soon resuming my seat. But the exhibition was over, and, escaping the tiresome congratulations, I sauntered homeward, Harold joining me in front of his apartments and accompanying me to his rooms as the guest of myself, or perhups of himself. He wrung my hand and capered with joy"Yegods! It was the most glorions sight on which I ever looked. What a wonder that you did not kill him!" "So I would had I not restrained the blow just as I was launching it. " "Bestrained the blow I It was as resistless as the stroke of a piston rod. At any rate, it settled the hash of Mr. Eichard Mortimer, the Western Cyclone. ' ' "But," said I seriously, "what is to be the end of all this? I cannot masqueradc es Harold O. Westcott while you sink yonr individuality. " "Why not?" "Why," I said wonderingly, "it must end some time. " "True, but not yet awhile. See here, Harmon!" exclaimed my friend, dropping into a chair, drawing it up in front of me and leaning over. ' Tve a proposition to make. " "I am listening. " "I wish you to become myself, while i becoáe someoociy eise. "I don't quite catch on. " ' ' With your consent, I shall disappear for one year. No one bnt us shall know tbe fact. I will go to Enropc. I will be utterly lost to theworld for that time." "And at the end of that period?" "If alive, I return and resume my identity. Meanwhile you are to be Harold O. Westcott. Our initials are the saine, so there need be little trouble. " "What is the object of this prank?" "I wish you to take my place for one year, in order to scrape oflf the barnaoles that have gradually attached themselves to me. I can 't do it. Your task is to free me wholly of those parasites, so that when I come back it will be like beginning life over again, with everything srnooth sailing. " It was an extraordinary proposa), and I bent rny head in thought. In shouldering the name and charactor of Harold Westcott what responsibilities would I assame? Suppose he had committed some serious crime and was arranging that I should incur the penalty? ButC (lisniissed the last thought as an uèrworthy ojie. "You havenothing tofear. There are some amioyances, but you are at liberty to treat them as you choose. I only ask that everything shall be smoothed out to the best of your ability against my return. I will pay you $50,000 for the favor. ' ' "Fifty thousand dollars!" Instead of explaining, ho said: "Take the pen there and let me see your handwriting. " I signed my name underneath several words. He scrutinized it earefully and then did the same alongside it. There was scarcely a hair's difference in the peninanship. Neither of us was snrprised. We expected it. "That's good. Yon will sign your checks 'H. O. Westcott, ' which is my cnstom, so there will be no forgery on your part. I shall draw out all the money I can possibly need for two or three years to como and leave sometJiing like f100,000 in the bank subject to your order. You niay need more than the amount I have named and must feel free ♦o draw upou it. But if all goes well you are to receive $50,000 for personating me for one year from date. ' ' "I foresee a good many embarrassments and complications" - "Were it otherwise I should not make you the offer. Do you accept?" "Yes, even though it is taking a leap in the dark. " "Give me your hand on it. " We shook hands. (Coiitimied next week).