, 1904-03-16
CURIOSITY
VENDER

tGC (aAbO AADAAAiGo lOdu1
Fairly good. Can 1 do anything for
you?"
'Since you deal in old manuscripts,
l have thought might sell you one."
I'm! The prices we get for manu-
scripts are SO poor that it hardly pays
us, to buy them, even when we get
them at our own terms. But to whom
am [ indebted for this visit? l don't
know that l ever saw you before
Call me Damon. | don't care to be
known just now, especially in this
transaction. If the police should get
hold of the matter, they might make
trouble for me-"
The shopkeeper turned a pair of gray
eyes, partly covered by shaggy eye
brows, like those of a terrier dog, on
his visitor.
IF | could find a certain man." con-
tinued Damon, Il could sell it to him
for every cent he has in the world"
Verder said nothing for a time. He
appeared to be puzzled by the singular
statement. Damon was watching him
closely. "Why do you come here?" said
Yerder at last.
Il have thought you might find the
man for me-"
There was another pause, at the end
of which Verder said:
81 could tell better about that If I
knew his name"
at is Dealy."
Verder turned from the piercing
glance the other brought to bear upon
him, went to a desk and began to look
over his eashbook.
"You don't seem to know him."
mo, | don't. You must excuse me-. I
am busy today. Last night there was
an error in my cash."
"Would you not like to see the bit
of paper l refer to?" asked Damon.
at would not interest me-"
mot even to know where it was
found?"
The curio merchant seemed not to
hear the question. He was adding a
column of figures. Damon proceeded:
81 had a visit the other day from a
dealer in secondhand furniture. He
told me that he had bought a desk that
had belonged to an old man who was
found one morning some years ago
dead, in his bed. Had it not been for
some blue marks on his throat-there
were three right hand finger marks, the
third finger missing-his death would
have been attributed to heart disease.
As 1t was it was believed that he was
murdered. When his estate was set
tied, instead of finding 100000 in gov
eminent bonds which the deceased had
informed his family he had put away
for Il certain use none was found.
Well, as | see that l am boring you l
will condense what | have to say. The
furniture dealer who bought the desk
was putting it in order when he came
upon a secret drawer in which was a
letter. That's the letter l came here to
SELL"
Meanwhile the curio dealer had ceas-
ed to add figures and was listening
breathlessly. When the speaker had
finished he turned his face to a fire.
place fitted with a colonial mantel,
brass andirons and fender. He placed
his hands on the mantel, bowed his
head and groaned. The third finger on
MS right nanu WAS mlSSlHS.
Presently he turned.
"What do you want for your-your
eurio?" he asked.
"You wouldn't buy it without seeing
it, would you?"
81? I wouldn't buy it, but I know a
man who
"Just so. l thought you would know
somebody who would take an interest
in the matter. But | think it would
sharpen your faculties to see the letter
or at least hear it read. | will read it
to YOU And. taking a paper from his
pocket. he read aloud:
I must have the rest of the bonds before
the close of the month. If not you will
not live to complete the year. IDEALLY
1.-THE name is made up" continued
Damon, looking up at his victim.
'That's plain. It's the word 'deaP-a
pretty villainous deal, l should say.
How much would your friend pay for
the letter."
name the price," said Verder hoarse-
ly.
1.-THE missing bonds"
"If you will come in tomorrow, l will
tell you what | have done"
81 must know today"
well, remain here. l will be back
within half an hour
IF you need to send a messenger,
call one, but Pm a timid man and
wouldn't like to be left so long alone
"What guarantee has this-Dealy-
that he will not be prosecutedT'
"Ah! Now we are getting to some
thing that interests you. Look at this"
He drew from his pocket a paper,
which he handed to Verder. Nerder
read it and put it in his own pocket.
1t was an naturalization
"Now you're acting like a sensible
man. But l want to explain to you
that the estate of the man who was
bled of his bonds turned out a shell,
and his family are impoverished. That's