United labor bulletin., 1913-11-29
PIECE Of HUMAN SKIN
BY LUCY A. DREW.

Doubtless readers of the daily pa
pers 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, l, the only person who
knows the subsequent events which
led up to his death, have decided to
disclose by knowledge to the public.
l came to know Jack Varney
through an advertisement which he
had inserted in the Herald. He want
So /, being at that time out of en-
ployment, answered the advertise
ment.
l found him a 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 I decided to
accept the position of companion, If
/ suited.
After a little conversation he said
he was certain that I 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 a companion.
1t seemed that he was a medical
student, ana 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 a purse
made. The skin had been taken from
the left hip OF one of their most inter-
esting subjects. an old Hindoo.
From the time that the purse had
been made Jack varney's 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 by horrible dreams. His very
evil spirit.
I thought he might be mentally de-
ranged. but ! humoTed his delusions
and assured him that was not afraid
to accompany him anywhere to be
with him at all times. So ! was en-
gagged.
We were at dinner at a downtown
cafe. when the attack came upon him.
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, I almost feel some ones breath
on my neck,"
why. there is no one there" as
sured him. Your Imagination is run
ming away with you tonight You
have probably got bad attack of in
digestion" l added. jokingly. But he
was i'll at ease during the remainder
OF the evening.
That night he insisted upon nv oc-
cupying his bed with him. and it
was not until after two O'Clock
that was able to get to sleep. Var
ney had been unusually talkative, but
his conversation had taken such a
morbid and depressing turn that it
was with difficulty that I could quiet
my nerves enough to sleep.
At last I fell asleep, and it seemed
that l had only closed my eyes when
was awakened by the sensation of
feeling that some one was in the
room, Near, Bending over the bed,
sat up with a start and looked
around. The room was dark.
reached over to turn on the electric
light. As / did this my other hand
pressed against varney. How still
and cold he seemed: Then I
turned the switch and flooded the
room with light, God, the sight
that met my eyes, I can see it yet
There lay Jack varney, dead, His
eyes were wide open. glittering. awe
some. horrible, His features were
distorted with terror. as If he died in
mute agony. his hands clenched.
AS IL in trance. threw back the
| covering on the bed. and examined the
body. 1t was perfectly free from any
marks of violence. except that on the
left hip where the discolored spot had
been. the skin had been cut away,
neatly. as II with sharp instrument
The skin around the spot had been
left clean and white. Not drop of
blood had been shed,
The room was undisturbed the
| windows and doors locked as they had
been left the night before. The hands
Of the clock pointed to $3.50.
Again I turned to the bed, but a
sense of giddiness filled my head. my
vision blurred-then-
The next thing that remember
vas hospital bed. and a nurse bend
ng over me. had been very ill with
brain fever. for six weeks. she told
ne.
In the meantime the mysterious
ieath or murder of Jack varney had
been battling the keenest scientists
md the cleverest detectives of the
country; but the mystery has never
been solved and it never can be. 1t
s beyond human investigation.