The Detroit times., 1913-03-15
A NOVELTY IN MYSTERY STORIES
TIE TIE E SSFGREI d q
By
SAMUEL, HOPKINS ADAMS
AUTHOR OF AVERAGE JONES ETC
Cepyright. 1917, Ihe LBobbe Merru Company.

the artist had spread swiftly. More
over the caller was in state OF hard
ly repressed excitement.
MIR. Kent? I'm afraid you cant see
him. sir lie isn't in his room.
| Isn't he about the hotel?"
! The clerk hesitated. Il ought moi "a
tell you. sir. for it's Mr.. Kent's strict
orders not to be disturbed; but he's in
his special room. Is II anything very
important? Any new evidence, or
something OF that sort?"
THAT is what | want Mr.. Kent to
decide
In that case | might take the re-
sponsibility But think ! had better
take you TO him myself
After the elevator had carried them
to the top OF its run, they mounted a
flight of stairs, and walked TO far
corner Of the building
| "Nobody's been in here since he
took it," explained the clerk as they
walked. Turned all the furniture out.
! Special lock on the door. Some kind
OF scientific experiments, suppose.
He's very quiet about It."
Having reached the door, he dis
creetly tapped. No answer came.
Somewhat less timidily characterized
his next effort. A growl OF suspass-
| ing savagery from within was his re-
ward.
you see, Mr.. Sedgwick. said the
clerk. Raising his voice he called,
MIR. Kent Eve brought
Get away and go 10 the devil!
cried a voice from inside in fury.
What do you mean by
ITS ]. Kent, Sedgwick. I've got TO
see you
There was silence OF some sec
onds.
What do you want" asked Kent at
length.
You told me to come at once II
anything turned up
$50 ! did sighed Kent We'll,
chase that internal bell-boy to the
stairs. and I'll let you in
With wry face the clerk retired.
Kent opened the door, and his friend
squeezed through into bare room
The walls were hung and the Moor
was carpeted with white sheets. There
was no furniture Of any kind, unless
a narrow mattress In one corner could
be SO reckoned. Beside the mattress
Law small pad and pencil Only
these peculiarities impress them.
own interests.
ITS happened" he announced
Has it?" said Kent. Lean up
against the wall and make yourself at
home. Man. you're shaking"
You'd shake, too" retorted the
artist. his voice trembling
no
way. Wait, Now, don't tell me yet.
II I'm to have report, 1t must be
from a sane man, not from one IN Il
blind fury. Take time and cool down.
What do you think of my ROOM"
1t looks like the abode OF white
silence. Have you turned Trappist
monk"
Not such bad guess. This is the
retreat of my mind. | think against
the blank walls"
What's the game?" asked Sedg
wick. interested in spite OF himself
1T dates back to our college days.
DO you remember that queer fresh
man, Berwind?'
The mindreader? Yes. The poor
chap went insane afterward,"
Yes. 1t was a weak mind. but a
sngularly receptive one. You know
we used to force numbers OF playing
cards upon his consciousness by mere
ly thinking OF them.
IL recOllect. His methed was TO
stand gazing at a blank wall. He said
the object we were thinking of would
rise before him usually against the
Darkness. Did you ever figure out
how he managed to do it?"
Not exactly. But his notion OF
keeping the mind blank for impress.
sions has its points. II you throw of
the clutch of the brain, as it were, and
let it work along its own lines, it
sometimes arranges and formulates
ideas that you wouldn't get from it
under control"
Sort of self-hypnosis
In a sense. For years I've kept a
bare white room in my Washington
house to do my hard thinking in
When your affair promised to become
difficult for me, rugged up this spot
And I'm trying to see things against
the walls"
Any particular kind OF things?"
Kent produced the silver star from
his pocket, and told Of its discovery.
The stars in their courses may have
fought against Sisera." he remarked;
but they aren't going out of their way
10 fight-to fght--to-to-'' Kent's
jaw was sagging down. His lean
fingers pulled savagely at the lobe OF
his long-suffering ear. THE stars in
their courses-in their courses
That's it," he half whispered "Sedg.
wick; what was 1t your visitor said to
you about JUPITER
she didn't mention Jupiter"
mo, of course. not. Not by name.
But what was IL she said about the
planet that she pointed out, over the
sea-"
"Oh; was that Jupiter? How did
you know
Looked last night. Of course" said
Kent impatiently. There's no other
planet conspicuous over the sea at
that hour. from where you stood.
That's not important: at least, no,
now. What did she say?'
/ "Oh. some rot about daring to follow
I her star and find happiness. and that
/ perhaps 1t might lead me to glory or
something"
4 kind Of snort came from Kent.
where have my brains been.' he
cried He thrust the bit OF embroid.
cry back into his pocket. Then. with
an abrupt change OF tone:
We'll, is your temper in hand?"
For the present"
Tell me about II. then"