The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-01
HE BEs7 1aAA SKIN
BY LUCY A. DREW.

lS0Nh V0AAOyy WAASA OSSuAASA SAA w
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 by knowledge to the public.
I came to know Jack Varney
through an advertisement which he
had inserted in the Herald. He want
ed a cheerful, congenial companion.
So I, being at that time out of en-
ployment, answered the advertise
ment.
found him a big, clean type of
young american manhood; but didn't
like the expression of his face. His
eyes we're continually shifting and
peering around beside and behind him
as If 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 decided to
accept the position Of companion, If
I suited.
After a little conversation he said
he was certain that l 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.
It 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. a 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
soul seemed to be possessed by some
evil spirit.
thought he might be mentally de.
ranged, but I humored his decisions
and assured him that was not afraid
to accompany him anywhere to be
with him at all times. So I 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! 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 a bad attack Of in
digestion" I added, jokingly. But he
was III at ease during the remainder
Of the evening.
That night he insisted upon my &C.
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 laxative, but
his conversation had taken such
morbid and depressing turn that 1t
was with difficulty that could quiet
my nerves enough to sleep.
At last I fell asleep, and 1t seemed
that I had only closed my eyes when
l was awakened by the sensation OF
feeling that some one was in the
room! Near! Bending over the bed!
/ sat up with start and looked
around. The room was dark I
reached over to turn on the electric
light. AS I 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! 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 if in a 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 if with a sharp instrument.
The skin around the spot had been
left clean and white. Not a 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 I remember
was hospital bed, and a nurse bend.
Ing over me. had been very Ill with
brain fever, for six weeks, she told
me.
In the meantime the mysterious
death or murder Of Jack Varney had
been battling the keenest scientists
and the cleverest detectives of the
country; but the mystery has never
been solved and it never can be. It
Is beyond human Investigation. !