The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-26

That is occasionally the case, un-
derstand."
IL am told so. Yet believe that very
few are as sorely afflicted as /. / can
read only with a very powerful glass,
as you may see
And he now displayed his reading
glass. a thick lens nearly six inches In
diameter, having a silver rim and an
ebony handle. Boyd merely glanced at
it, then turned to Colepnan, who had
risen.
Drop in a little later, Jimmie said
he. II imagine that Mr.. Dickson will
not long engage me-
mo, Mr.. Boyd, not very long" said
Dickson, when they were alone. 'I re-
ceived in my mail this morning a let
ter which gives me great uneasiness, if
not serious alarm. / took it to my
bankers for advice. scarce knowing
what else to do, and they advised me
to consult you. / wish you would ex-
anime the letter: here it is, and tell me
I'what you think of it, and how seriously
I should regard it. 1 am tempted to
place 1t in the rhands of the police for
investigation
Boyd examined the letter with inter-
est, and was Immediately struck with
it's peculiarities.
It neither was written nor printed in
the ordinary way. Instead. each word
newspaper, evidently with a penknife,
and then pasted on a blank sheet of pa
per.
Plainly the work had been very care
! fully done, yet it had been found so
the separate words differently spaced
| delicate that the completed lines pre-
sented considerable irregularity, with
and slanted at various angles.
The communication thus conveyed
xKrDcs rtrrff lN~f,f
Nathan Dickson. Maiden Lane: You
lcok out for yourself. Persons / dare
not name are about to execute a design
/ against you, the character of which
cannot safely disclose. l am a friend
to you, and this is a warning you will
not wisely ignore. Heed it. Guard
yourself ard that most dear to you"
Boyd twice read this curious missive,
then looked UP at the grave face Of his
waiting visitor.
Have you the cover in which this
was mailed ?" he asked
Yes. here it is" bowed Dickson. ten
dering the envelope.
Printed with a pen" observed Boyd;
land dropped in one of the street
boxes late yesterday afternoon Evil
IDENTIFY the sender designed this method
to prevent being traced by his hand
writing"
IL,
nervously. But what of the letter it.
self? It has given me a dreadful shock.
/ Ny nerves are completely unstrung 1t
is so indefinite, yet in a way so threat
ening. 1 don't know whether my life
is in danger, or my property. or what
l am all Of a tremble from head to
foot"
Which really. is very foolish of you.
said Boyd, indifferently. 81 do not
! iC N n,
Dickson. Are you a man of much
pTODerty?'
"Bradstreet rates me at a hundred
! thousand. which is rather more than
! 1 possess" replied Dickson, more com
posedly. IT own a modest summer place
near Jamaica bay, where I dwell for
about six months of the year. renting a
house in town during the winter"
AT present you are where?"
II am still living in town"
You do large business in dia-
monds?"
quite so. As agent for foreign
houses; moreover, ! carry a valuable
stock"
I'm part consigned to you. pre-
sumo" observed Boyd. raising his
brows.
Eyes. certainly"
do you consider your quarters in
Maiden Lane, and the safe or vault in
which 700 store your goods. perfectly
secure against burglars" inquired
BOYD.
Indeed, yesi" exclaimed Dickson. 81
never felt otherwise"
Boyd smiled, and again glanced al
the patchwork letter.
who among your friends. Mr. Dick
son. is a practical joker?" he asked, a
bit dryly.
Really I recall none"
Yet this letter is. in my opinion the
work of such a person
"A joke-a practical jokei Sent only
TO annoy or alarm mel" exclaimed Dick
son. with much eagerness. DO you
really think so. Mr.. Boyd? Indeed, !
shall feel greatly relieved If that is
your opinion. Do you really think so
Mr.. Boyd?"
Plainly. his relief already was great
and Boyd at once proceeded to further
assure him.
81 think. Mr.. Dickson" said he. de-
cisively. that any true friend, so anx-
iOus TO warn you of serious danger
could easily have found a way to in
diligently do so without imperiling
himself The greater your danger sir
the greater probability OF such q steu
on the part of a friend. who surely
would have left you i'm no such uncer-
tainty as this concerning his meaning.
Il had not thought of il in that
light cried Dickson. Really. Mr.
Boyd. begin TO think you are right
ITO go a step farther" added Boyd;
eff knaves contemplate any secret de-
sign upon you, certainly no such warn
ing as this would have prefaced the ex-
ecution of their project. Such a step or
their part would be absurd.
Surely"
That, Mr.. Dickson, Is my opinion OF
this piece of indefinite patchwork"
You believe ii to be a practical
joker
Nothing more serious. sir
What would you advise me to dc
about it?"
Nothing at ALL declared Boyd
promptly. II should give it no further
attention. l am convinced that nc
friend sent it TO you; and such a com
municatiOn from an enemy surely
would be unworthy ones serious con-
sideration. II I were you, Mr.. Dickson