New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-02
PART I.


To begin at the beginning; to go back to the date
or my first acquaintance with the mirror is to re-
TURN IN memory 10 the afternoon OF a miserable
January day. II had rained since early morning
"a me- close rain which seemed TO have d subtle
way or making every one uncomfortable. Fleet
ST ran with liquid mud which the ornnibuses as
they passed. spashed literally across the pave
ments; a thin gray mist hung like "a pail above the
dripping houses. My chambers, in Middle Temple
Lane. held out to vista of dry comfort as l
made my way through the umbrella laden throng
down Fleet-st. that depressing afternoon
was turning into the Temple. when some
hailed ME loudly from the direction of the Strand.
stopped. and with surprise recognized Morrison
He came bearing down with long swinging
strides tall and his head very much forward
In sort OF craniug attitude peculiar to him. As
usual, he had neither coat nor umbrella, though il
was raining, and noticed that he carried a brown
paper parcel under his arm My acquaintance
with Morrison has always been OF 4 SpasmOdic
character. he was very extraordinary man. At
the time of his call to the bar. great future
predicted for him; the grasp subtlety of his
mind were quite wonderful, and, combined with
more solid qualities. must soon have placed him
in tbs front rank But he proved failure of the
completest kind. The drudgery and idle life in
Chambers soon sickened him OF the profession
He spent most of his time the British Museum
developing craze for research into the wonders
and mysteries of the past. About that time he
wrote an article on some very abtruse subjects
read 1t with little understanding-whi created
something of a sensation among a few savans:
ana then ne disappeared altogether from London
and years passed without a word sign. Now
we met as though We had seen each other the day
Delore; morrison dld not even so through the
iorLnahty OF shaking hands; he merely slipped ms
where we had broken 1t on three years ago We
sat for hours before tho blazing fire in my cham
strange, jerky way OF his adventures and of the
life he had been leading. He told me of many
things he had done and seen-of his adventures
war correspondent. as mining engineer and in
half dozen other professions lower down the
scale.
The hours passed like minutes to me- when
He told me that he was doing nothing just then:
ne had come that day to town TO attend sale
cared to put my sister took the buik She 1 lived
He SPOKE aa A though the maor was of small
consequence but could not help noticing that
SfqsnGe The light OF the lamp BETRAYED the In,
clean. but it was Shabby. His trousers showed
signs OF wear. and his boots had seen the cobbler
degree depressed. however. and his conversation
gave no hint OF poverty. He stopped in the middle
the brown paper parcel which he had placed on
He stretched out his hand for it and began to tug
at the Knots In the string with his long white mn,
he said; you connoisseur in such things and
you might like to see IT. have hardly looked
told you about my uncles sale Well! Somehow
OT Sh f he G Tars EXACTLY say Any d @ up my
trife so small as TO seem almost Ironically intended
little tribe TO remind me OF the old gentleman I
Was fond Of hin, many years ago.
rooms, ard soon tired Of the noise. and the dust.
ping of the hamr So ent 10 an% the sa5g
the catalogue with me. and for one reason and
think I half went to Sleep after lunch. At ali
events when 1 got back TO the rooms. the affair
and only two or three job lots remained unsoId.
~ went in for one OF them at random. and re,
n Of
candlesticks. a pair Of fredogs which. together
brought away this He removed the brown pa
per as he spoke and held UP little ebony framed
mirror have seen don't suppose il meas
ured more than twelve inches square. and the
frame was deep so that the glass-or what took
10 be the glass-was tiny 1t was very dirty. and
keen polish OF the ebony had long ago disappeared.
and the mirror within was blurred with long
state 1t was impossible TO examine it properly but
little rubbing and busting soon put it In fairly
have certain superficial knowledge OF curios
ror. I felt no doubt whatever that Morrison had
stumbled on a treasure from a collectors point
seen before. and in many ways il puzzled me
The wide ebony frame was beVeled back and
perfectly smooth and the removal OF dirt and dust
revealed a curious and Irregular pattern inlaid
round ' it, At the bottom Of this was large
and at the top OF the mirror the letter ~ was
Apparently the wood was one piece. cut out of
The solid block for no Joint OF any kind was yisi
completely baffed me- could not suggest the
period TO which IL belonged. the nationality
OF the workmanship
All the Information could give was that It was
Curo 10 its owner. Morrison took thu mirror from
me. and moving closely TO the light began care
fully to examine the pattern the frame with a
little magnifying glass which he always carried
craned forward like great bird He grew very
Interested in his examination; so interested that
he quite forgot my presence and mutteTed mar
tiCulately under his breath. I was becoming i'm
patient, when at last he looked up and put away
the glass.
What do you make Of ftp" I asked
What do l make OF it?'' he said. slowly. and
his manner seemed to me, 10 become suddenly
about such things l will take 1t dealer. 1t
is Il funny old curiosity"
He rose as he spoke. and. looking at his watch
took up his hat. 4 few minutes before he had
was of Importance to him. he had an appointment
which he must keep. l did not try 10 dissuade
him. for knew my man, I took the mirror
from the table and prepared TO make parcel OF
looked into the glass, clean and clear and be-
came aware of strange thing
MY eyes looked into black, shining void. like
n smooth, deep pool under a bright moon. ''Iorrf-
son." called out sharply. this is a strnge mir
rCr 1t doesn't throw reflection" He did not
seem astOnished and interested. as 7 thought he
would. but he came and looked over my shoulder
in an absent minded way and began 10 button his
last. Il noticed II before you spoke. I want 10
examine II carefully. And look here Hill. don't
mention this to any one. have my reasons. Tho
thing may be OF value I rather think IL Is, and I
don't want a lot of dealers coming round TO worry
me GOodby." he added quickly. making FOR the
door with the mirror in his hand so glad TO have
seen you Look You up again soon"
The door slammed and he gone.