The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-07-15
Selert Shry.
THE SCRATCH Of A PIN.
TALES OLA RETIRED LAWYER

All day / had wandered through the
house unquietly. Strange 'faucies had
come and gone, through my brain; with
these, anxiety and depression and wea-
riDess. 1t was not for the lack of money.
Oh, no! had been poor-wretchedly
poor-and / had large sum of money
now. But ] was feveled, excited and
miserable. There was an eye watching
me; / could feel, not see it. Some one
was dogging me as moved. Who was
it2 i could not tell of course, but
knew there was some one ON my track.
At length at nightfall, ] made up my
mind to stroll through the town, to look
at the shops on Broadway by gaslight,
to drop in at the ltbeater, to give up the
whole evening to enjoyment.
l took the roll of bank bills from my
pocket from the deep inside pocket on
the left side of my coat and counted
them over. There we're just,twen.g -four,
each for one hundred dollars. need
not disturb them. | had sufficient money
loose in my vest pocket, so I returned
them to their hiding place, and then drew
on my gloves. AS l was putting on the
glove on my right hand / observed in
the palm thin, red mark. 1t commenc-
ed at the junction of the haud and wrist
on the right hand and ran diagonally to
the base of the little finger. 1t looked
as though it had been made by pin !;
how it came there I could not tell.
/ went out. 1t was a clear and cold
night, and every one seemed to be in the
streets. met people carrying turkeys,
and toys, and all sorts of bundles, and l
overlook others loaded in the same way.
Then there we're strollers like myself,
carrying nothing and buying nothing,
but looking at the windows and the peo-
pie. Decidedly it was gay evening,
and l forgot my anxiety and depression.
Suddenly, however, the feeling that I
was being followed by some one came
over me again. I threw my glance over
my shoulder uneasily, but eould see no
one whose attention was directed toward
me. Ny quick glance took in one man,
however, whose general appearance was
unfavorable; and he struck another in
the came way, for / noticed that the po-
liceman who had just passed me, half
turned to look at him, too. The man
was respectfully dressed, and there was
nothing remarkable about him, either,
for his manner was vacant and passive.
Still there was some one following on
my track.
/ was then on the sidewalk opposite a
theater. The front of the house was
lighted up 50 brilliantly that it attracted
me. l crossed the street and obtained a
ticket at the box-oftice. As | handed
the card to the gruff door-keeper, my
right hand being ungloved, the man
said:
GA smart scratch, that"
Hooked at my hand; the scratch had
infiamed so that there was little ribbon
of pink across the palm, with deep red
line in the center. 1t smarted little,
too.
The house was crowded, and I obtain
ed seat with difficulty. l surrendered
myself entirely to the scene on the stage.
Suddenly, felt myself checked in the
very midst of a burst of laughter. A
half shudder came over me, followed by
vexation and annoyance. The whole
house turned its gaze from the stage to-
ward me. The audience concentrated
its look into one immense eye that gared
at me. Some one was watching me also
from behind. glanced over my shoul-
der, and there, within few feet of me,
looking intently at the stage, was the
man in the green spectacles whom ! had
seen in the street an hour before. When
| looked again he was gone.
1t was absurd! What had this man
to do with me or with him2 looked
down in thought, and then noticed the
scratch upon my hand again. Itwas sim
gular that could not remember how ii
came. Perhaps, I thought, that myste-
rious man in green spectacles can tell
me. l chuckled to myself at the absurd
fancy, and raised my eyes to look at the
play. All the characters seemed to wear
green spectacles. All had scratches
across their hands, great red, deep CASH
es. The absurd impression deepened.-
l was overwhelmed with it. Even the
fall of the curtain did not relieve me,
and rose and left the house.
Out of doors it had grown colder than
when / entered-the sky was overcast
and keen wind cut me sharply in the
face as l passed from the vestibule. The
people had mostly left the streets, but
the shops were still open.
] walked down Broadgay, thus receiv.