The San Francisco call., 1913-07-20

again anu IcdCuluS LOT the lSttcIS.
You have experienced it, too: And
you cant explain it any more than
II 1t Is something that grips you
when you read, like an icy hand, hard
as steel, In = glove Of velvet. It's al
ways between the lines, reaching out,
and nothing you can do will stay It.
| I thought at frst | imagined 1t, but
the oftefer read the more have
felt its clutch. The letters OF them
selves are nothing. What do you sup
pose care for vdiled threats Of that
sort? I've met psril in about every
possible stise IN every part Of the
world, and I've never really known
fear. But this--this IL dialcult. And
the worst OF II n, don't know why.
| can't for the life Of me make out Of
what 1t is I'm afraid"
He had grown very pale, and his
strong, capable hands auivered and
twitched in excess OF nervous tension.
Then, with . finger pointing to the
Ink stain at the bottom of one OF The
sheets, he Asked:
What does that look like to your
took the letter from him and
serutinizins the rude figure with con-
oentrated attention for moment, ven-
tured the suggestion that 1t somewhat
ressfnbled boat.
"A one nastsd vessel. square
rugged" he added In elucidation.
Exactly"
Nov turn IT upside down.
did SO.
NOW what do you seer
The head Of man wearing 4 he'll
met The resemblance was very
marked.
"A straw helmet, apparently" Ne
afnplinsd, "ssich as is worn in the
orient. And yet the profile is not that
Of an oriental. Now. look at your ves-
sci again" And once more reversed
the sheet OF paper.
Can 1t be a Chinese junk?' | asked.
ut might be sailing proa or
banca," he returned, "such as they
use in the south Pacific. But whatever
It 10, can't understand what 1t has to
do with me or with IT.
was still studying the black daub
| when he said
"But you haven't told me about the
handwriting. What can you read Of
the character Of the writer?'
Nothing" answered promptly.
"It Is curious penmanship, as you say
heavy and regular and upright, with
some strangely formed letters, espe-
cially the rs and the p's; but Il tells
me nothing. The writing is as arti-
fetal as though you. for example, had
| printed a note in Roman characters.
Were they addressed In the same
hand!'
Precisely"
What was the postmark?"
They bore no postmark That Is
another strange circumstance. Yet
they were with my mail. How they
came there | have been unable TO as
certain The people at the postofiice
naturally deny that they delivered any
thing unstampsd, as these we're. and
Barrie. the lad who fetches the letters,
has no recollection OF these Nor has
Checkabeedy, who sorts the mail here
1T the house. But each OF them lay
beside my plate at breakfast--the first
on the 14th Of August, the second this
morning. the 14th OF September.
And they we're not delivered by
messenger
so far as | can learn, no.
'you examined the envelopes care
fully?"
more than carefully he answered.
But you shall see them Ii you like. y
A the words seventh day hence.
fell again under my eye, standing out,
as II we're, from the rest OF the script
which ley uptufned on the table be-
fore me. was conscious OF 4 stimu.
lated concern.
Il wish you would tell me frst," l
said, whether anything really did
occur on that seventh day"
II was coming to that he replied,
but II seemed to me that, prompt
though his response was, there was Z
shade OF reluctance In his manner.
Then he rose abruptly and, saying.
Suppose we 20 into my study. Clyde, .
led the way from the dining room
across the great, imposing, groined
and fretted hall TO that comparatively
small mahogany and green symphony
wherein be was wont to spend most
Of his indoor hours. 1t was always i
rather gloomy room at night, with It's
hixh, dark ceiling, It's heavy and volu-
nainous olive tapestry hangings, wholly
out Of keeping. It seemed to me. with
the season. II impressed me now, In
conjunction with Cameron's promised
revelation. az more than ever grin
and awesoms.
Il want you to sit in this chair" he
said, indicating one of sumptuous
leather upholstery which stood facing
the low. long bookcases lining the op-