The Project Gutenberg EBook of His Other Self, by W.W. Jacobs

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Title: His Other Self
Night Watches, Part 10.

Author: W.W. Jacobs

Release Date: April 26, 2004 [EBook #12160]

Language: English

Character set encoding: US-ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIS OTHER SELF ***

Produced by David Widger

NIGHT WATCHES

by W.W. Jacobs

HIS OTHER SELF

"They're as like as two peas, him and 'is brother," said the night-
watchman, gazing blandly at the indignant face of the lighterman on the
barge below; "and the on'y way I know this one is Sam is because Bill
don't use bad langwidge. Twins they are, but the likeness is only
outside; Bill's 'art is as white as snow."

He cut off a plug of tobacco, and, placing it in his cheek, waited
expectantly.

"White as snow," he repeated.

"That's me," said the lighterman, as he pushed his unwieldy craft from
the jetty. "I'll tell Sam your opinion of 'im. So long."

The watchman went a shade redder than usual. That's twins all over, he
said, sourly, always deceiving people. It's Bill arter all, and,
instead of hurting 'is feelings, I've just been flattering of 'im up.

It ain't the fust time I've 'ad trouble over a likeness. I've been a
twin myself in a manner o' speaking. It didn't last long, but it lasted
long enough for me to always be sorry for twins, and to make a lot of
allowance for them. It must be very 'ard to have another man going
about with your face on 'is shoulders, and getting it into trouble.

It was a year or two ago now. I was sitting one evening at the gate,
smoking a pipe and looking at a newspaper I 'ad found in the office,
when I see a gentleman coming along from the swing-bridge. Well-
dressed, clean-shaved chap 'e was, smoking a cigarette. He was walking
slow and looking about 'im casual-like, until his eyes fell on me, when
he gave a perfect jump of surprise, and, arter looking at me very 'ard,
walked on a little way and then turned back. He did it twice, and I was
just going to say something to 'im, something that I 'ad been getting
ready for 'im, when he spoke to me.

"Good evening," he ses.

"Good evening," I ses, folding the paper o