The daily Alaskan., 1904-04-14
THE CURIOSITY
 VENDER

SNON A1SA lAAs NNA1NAt A-N" ID the curio business todayy"
 Fairly good. Can 1o anything for youT
 Since you deal in old manuscripts, have thought I might sell you one"
 "Um! The prices we get for manu- Dcripts are so poor that it hardly pays us to buy them. even when we get them at our own terms. But to whom am I indebted for thls visit? l don't know that 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 pair of gray eyes. partly covered by shaggy eye brows, like those of terrier dog, on bis visitor.
 "If I could find a certain man." con tnued Damon, "I could sell 1t to him for every cent he has in the world"
 Yerier said nothing for a time. He appeared to be puzzled by the singular statement Damon was watching him closely. "Why do you come heref said Verder at last.
 T have thought you might find the man for me"
 There was another pause, at the end of which Yerder said:
 'I could tell better about that if l knew his name"
 "Itis Dealy."
 Yerder turned from the piercing glance the other brought to bear upon him, went to a desk and began to look ovef his cashboOk.
 You don't seem to know him."
 ''No. I don't. You must excuse me. l am busy today. Last night there was ah error in my cash"
 .swould you not Ike to see the bit of paper refer to?" asked Damon.
 'It would not interest me"
 Not even to know where 1t was foundG"
 The curio merchant seemed not to hear the question. He was adding a column of figures. Damon proceeded:
 ''I had visit the other day from a dealer fn secondhand furniture. He told me that he had bought desk that had belonged to an old man who was found one morning some years ago dead in his bed. Had 1t not been for some blue marks on his throat-there were three right hand finger marks, the third finger mlssing-his death would have been attributed to heart disease. As 1t was 1t was believed that he was murdered. When his estate was set tied, instead of finding S5OO,OOO in gov ernment bonds which the deceased had informed his family he had put away for a certain use none was found. Well. as I see that I am boring you l will eondense what I 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 I 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 hls 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 his right hand was missing.
 Presently he turned.
 What do you want for your-your curiO?' he asked.
 You wouldn't buy 1t without seeing it, would yOur'
 q? I wouldn't buy 1t, but I know a man who"-
 Just so. I thought you would know somebody who would take an interest fin the matter. But I think it would sharpen your faculties to see the letter or at least hear 1t read. I will read ii to you" And. taking a paper from his pocket, he read aloud:
 must have the rest of the bonds before the close of the month. If not you will not live to complete the year. IDEALLY.
 "The name is made up," continued Damon, looking up at his victim That's plain. It's the word 'de0l'-a pretty viIlaInOus deal l should say How much would your friend pay for the letterr
 ',Name the price" said verder hOarse