The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-09-01
[lll4 zNINIK


ent.
Jean Naidermere made many calls
at our camp during my convalescence.
ana his wonderful personality and
magnetic influence grew upon me
with each successive visit. His vast
treasures of knowledge, his brilliant
ultra-scientific treatment of abstruse
problems amazed and fascinated me.
as did the CLEAN of his singular eyes.
IN height he did not exceed five feet
nine; his weight was slight. his figure
graceful, and his carriage princely.
he looked more like prince than
sage. more like flatterer than a
philosopher; and while l suspected
that some great motive, perhaps in
herent ambition, had driven him into
such ultra paths of scientific specula.
ton as his conversation indicated. I
could not reconcile his youthful face
ana perfect form with the professors
chalr, the laboratory, or the library.
such words as he uttered would bet
ter ut the mouth of the lean. atten-
uated, long-bearded alchemist-th
ogre OF musty study, living among
ancient volumes, charts and crucibles.
he told me of many wonderful
countries he had explored, and the
sights he had seen. He had visited
the palaces of all the crowned heads
OF the earth. and his wonderful men,
ory for detail was marvellous in its re
tentiveness
Then all your wonderful kDowl-
edge is not wasted" | cried: "you
| ;,,
pllshment of which requires such re-
search as You have undertaken?"
Yes, my purpose is fixed. un.
changeable, and will soon be fortified
with every requisite necessary to is
accomplishment. so that I-we-can
act with every assurance of infalli-
bility"
'We?' | inquired.
Yes" he said, Il am but one of an
| organization whose personnel includes
some of the greatest scholars on
sarth"
THE name of this societyo"
"ls known only to its members"
Its purpose, them"
rs at present a secret"
Again | noticed that strange look
III aluerHIere eyes, which were
fixed upon my own, as though to read
my inmost soul-and felt the force
of that gaze as | never had before.
His wild beauty, augmented by his
great magnetic force, inspired me at
times with feeling of fear-not phys
ical terror, but the same sentiment
one feels when being followed az
ui9ht-a sense of some ones pres
ence, known but not seen. Behind
his charm of speech and manner there
seemed to lurk a certain sinister
something-that magnetic power
which would often repel. and. in a
small degree, darken the sunshine Of
his presence.
Wnen all, or any. of my comrades
were in camp, Valdemere never
called: but as soon as found myself
alone | began to look for his coming,
and he never failed. yet seldom re.
mained long after they came again
into camp.
One night shortly after Valdermere
had left me and my comrades were
preparing our evening meal | noticed
| that HughS wore a troubled look |
could not account for the change, as
he was Il man of exceptionally even
| temperament
What is it, now" said to him, as
| he came near my cot.
"Oh. nothing he replied. with
! show of indifference-but the shadow
on his face deepened.
Nothing often means son. lthing." |
said, come now, old man, your face
is easier to read than your words Is
it Vandermere?"
why. damn it, man. how could you
| know that" he cried, drawing a stool
near my cot.
| smiled, but said nothing. allowing
him to think his own thoughts
Yes, Castleman, it is 'aldermere-
that man has completely upset me in
fact, he has spoiled the whole thing.
and"
But, you forget, owe him my
life" | answered with some warmth.
True, Castleman, but when he had
done this great deed. why did he
stay y?-what does he want here ?-he
takes no part In our sport-and, have
you noticed, he always comes when
you are alone. and departs when your
friends arrive?"
We'll, is that all?"
THAT is not all" said Wigmore,
who had approached, there is some
thing else"
what else?" said
"That is just what We can't tell.
That man is either lunatic or
devil"
Ja; =. 2
said. as they had to man gathered
around me, as though to hear some
| wonderful story.
I'VE leave that to you, Castleman,"
| said Hughs.