The daily tribune., 1907-07-18
THE SKIN
PURSE
Scopyrish,, by Daily story PUB, Col
sy LUCY A. DREW

Doubtless readers uf the daily pa.
psrs recall, the mysterious death Of
jack Varney, which occurred three
years ago. Although the mystery OF
his death has never been solved and
never can be, I, the only person who
knows the subsequent events which
led up to his death, have decided to
disclose my knowledge to the public.
l came to know Jack Varney
through an advertisement which he
had inserted in the Herald He wanted
a cheerful, congenial companion. So
/, being at that time out of employ
ment, answered the advertisement.
1 found him big. clean type Of
young American manhood; but didn't
like the expression of his face His
eyes were continually shifting and
peering around beside and behind him
as II in fear and there were dark cir
cles under the lower lids that told OF
sleepless nights. However, there was
something In the man that awoke my
curiosity and interest, so l decided to
accept the position of companion, II |
suited.
After little conversation he said
he was certain that | would be per,
fectly satisfactory. but before he en-
gagged me he wanted to tell me some
thing of himself and the reason why
he had advertised for companion.
1t seemed that he was a medical
student, and somewhat of a collector
Of curios of different kinds. In his
capacity of collector he had obtained
after much trouble, piece OF human
skin. from which he had had purse
made. The skin had been taken from
the left hip Of one CO their most inter.
esting subjects, an old Hindoo, who
had been found dead in the steets,
and whose body had been left un.
claimed.
From the time that the purse had
been made Jack Varneys life had
been haunted. He lived In constant
dread of some unknown evil He had
the sensation of being followed by an
unseen being. His sleep was uneasy,
broken bg horrible dreams. His very
soul seemed to be possessed by some
evil spirit.
l thought he might be mentally de-
ranged. but / humored his delusions
and assured him that | was not afraid
to accompany him anywhere to be
with him at all times. So | was en-.
gagged.
For week he seemed to improve.
He slept well and lost the deep cir
cles around his eyes, and felt as.
sured that he had only been af-
flicted with some mild form Of in.
somnia Then the trouble began
again, worse than before.
We were at dinner at downtown
cafe, when the attack came upon him.
We were discussing some event of the
day, when suddenly his eyes dilated
and that wild, hunted look returned to
his face.
Look" he gasped, hoarsely. Can
you see anyone behind my chair?
That same feeling comes back to me
the sensation OF some one close to
me! ! almost feel some ones breath
on my neck!'
why. there is no one there" | as
sured him. Your Imagination IL run.
ming away with you tonight. You
have probably got bad attack OF in
digestion" ! added. jokingly. But he
was i'll at ease during the remainder
of the evening.
That night he did not sleep, but
walked the floor insisting that he felt
some unseen presence in the room. At
times he would tremble violently, and
half cry out, saying that some one
had touched his arm At last /. In
fuenced by his terror could almost
feel the presence. But did not admit
this to him.
The next morning. while at his bath,
he discovered that the skin on his
left hip for space Of about four or
five inches in diameter was badly dis
colored. and IT seemed then remark
able coincidence that this spot wal
the exact location from which the
skin for the purse had been taken
from the Hindoo's body.
varney was almost paralyzed with
terror. In vain | tried to quiet his
fears by telling him that II was only
flesh bruise which would be gone In
few days he would not listen to me.
anu tHe Win bhttSi III NIB tSee IN
creased
The following day the discoloration
had become Of dark purplish hue.
Though | knew that medical sci.
cnce could not explain that peculiar
spot, | called in a physician. thinking
that this would at least prevent my
own fear from becoming apparent to
varney.
had talk with the physician my.
self before ] took him to see my pa
tient, and ! told him the unnatural cir.
cumstances. asking him to treat the
matter in an apparently light manner
In Varney's presence, and to tell him
that the discoloration was flesh
bruise. az ! had done.
However. In spite OF his assurances.
Varpay shook him hpnd