The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-11-22


most meager idea of the emotional In.
fluence which these two brief com
munications exerted. They seemed to
breathe a grim spirit Of implacable
Nemesis far in excess of anything to
be found in the euphemism Of the
written words.
When | had finished the reading OF
them aloud, Cameron, leaning far back
in his chair, sat silently thoughtful,
his eyes narrowed behind his glasses,
but fixed apparently upon the lights
behind me. And so, reluctant to inter
rupt his reverie, / started to read
them through again slowly, this time
to myself. fixing each sentence indel'
IDLY in mind Rs proceeded. But be-
fore l had quite come to the end, my
companion was speaking.
"WellF' he said. And the light
cheeriness of his tone was not only in
marked contrast with his grave alb
sorption of a moment before, but in
Earring discord with my own present
mood. We'll? What do you make Of
them?"
My annoyance found voice in my re-
Spouse.
Cameron" begged, "for Gods
sake be serious. This doesn't seem
to me exactly a matter to be merry
over, don't want to alarm you, but
somehow feel that these" and /
shook the cracking, wax-like sheets,
that these cannot be utterly ignored"
But they are anonymous" he re-
torted, not unIustly. Anonymous
letters should be burned and forgot
ten"
There are anonymous letters and
anonymous letters" gave him back,
in turn. These are of an unusually
convincing character. Besides, they
-" And then paused. l wished to
tell him Of that elusive encompass
ment of sinister portent which had sc
impressed me; of that malign forebod
ing beyond anything warranted by the
words; but stumbled in the effort al
expression. Besides" started again
and ended lamely, 81 don't like the
look and the feel Of them"
And now he was as serious as
could wish.
"Ah!" he cried, leaning forward
again and reaching for the letters
you have experienced 1t, too! An(
you can't explain it, any more than 1
1t is something that grips you wher
you read, like an icy hand, hard al
steel, in a glove of velvet. It's al
ways between the lines, reaching out
and nothing you can do will stay 1t
/ thought at first l imagined 1t, bu
the oftener 1 have read, the more
have felt It's clutch. The letters o
J themselves are nothing. What do yol
suppose care for yelled threats o
that sort? I'm big enough to TAX
care of myself, Clyde. I've met peri
in about every possible guise, in ever,
!, part of the world, and I've never real
ly known fear. But this-this is dii
: ferent. And the worst Of 1t is, don
know why can't for the life Of m
make out what 1t is I'm afraid Of"
He had gone very pale, and hi
strong, capable hands, which toye
( with the two letters, quivered an
=, twitched in excess of nervous tension
/ Then, with finger pointing to tn
1 ink-stain at the bottom Of one Of tn
:, sheets, he asked:
:, What does that look like to your"
: took the letter from him, an
i scrutinizing the rude figure with col
}. centrated attention for a moment, vel
e tured the suggestion that it somewhs
: resembled boat.
I "A one-masted vessel, squar,
s rugged" he added, in elucidation.
e Exactly"
8 Now turn It upside down."
n did 30.
l. Now what do you seer"
"The head of a man wearing a he
s met" The resemblance was yer
marked.
II "a straw helmet, apparently" /
amplifed, "such as is worn In ii
s Orient. And yet the profile is not thu
s of an Oriental Now, look at your We
II sci again" And once more reverse
>. the sheet of paper
o Can It be a Chinese junk?" aske
1T might be sailing pToa or ba
Is ca" he returned, such as they use
d the South Pacific. But whatever 1t
1t | can't understand what 1t has to {
g with me or l with It."
IT was still studying the black dau
when he said:
m "But you haven't told me about Il
g handwriting. What can you read
Of the character of the writer"
Nothing" answered, prompt
IL st is curious penmanship. as you 81
re heavy and regular and upright, wi
D. some strangely formed letters; &
- -. % III h..A