The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-10-23
CHAPTER I

The events to be related began
upon a certain afternoon and early
evening when Doctor Breeding be-
came for almost the first time in
his life furiously angry. Call these
events coincidence; yet it is per-
Missile to suggest that if human
passions be supposed sometimes to
have a force of their own, so that
violent emotion in one individual
may without any physical action on
his part project itself and impact
upon other individuals, then these
occurrence will fall into an or
dered pattern.
Doctor Greetings own expert
ence had persuaded him that Incl
dents do occur, and conditions do
arise, for which there can be no
natural explanation. Certain cpl
sodes in his life, certain unique
traits which he recognized in him.
self had long since convinced him
of this.
Thus his sense of smell was far
more acute than normal. If he
came into an empty room, he knew
instantly who had last passed
through that room. In the same
way, perhaps from a popularity of
structure which his oculist early re-
marked, he could see with some
precision in the dark. incidentally,
his eyes sometimes shone like those
of an animal; and Mrs. Breeding
might be startled, when they both
awoke at night, to see her hus-
bands eyes thus cleaning.
Doctor Breeding cultivated these
unusual capacities-taking care, for
instance, not to smoke, lest he blur
his sense of smell; but this was
matter as much of inclination as of
choice, for he had a dogs distaste
for tobacco. Mrs. Breeding, and
his daughter Nancy, respected this
feeling on his part. Mrs. Breeding
never smoked at all, Nancy never
when she was near him.
But he had other gifts not so def
initely physical. For instance, he
sometimes knew what person was
about to say before the word was
uttered. Or when he approached a
street-corner, or a closed door, he
might find himself perfectly sure
that when he turned the corner, or
opened the door, he would discover
a certain person or scene.
Also, he had had occasionally the
experience of wishing very much
that something entirely out of the
ordinary run of expectation would
happen-and having the wished-for
event occur. But this he attributed
to his luck. Doctor Breeding was
in fact child of good fortune. Life
ran well for him. He had married,
with the deliberate intention of fur
thering his career, the girl he
chose; and their life together had
been all that he had hoped. He
had desired one child, daughter;
Nancy was their only child. He had
sought material and professional
success, and found it.
And in other ways, in the small
incidents of daily life, luck was
likely to break in his direction. His
mother-she was simple woman
once told him that he had been born
under caul. $50 you'll always be
lucky" she explained
The thing began with Ira Terrell,
a wealthy business man near Doc
tor Greetings own age, whose life
the Doctor had saved by a difficult
operation. From that day, as not
unnatural consequence, their friend
ship had steadily deepened.
Today Terrell had telephoned DR..
Breeding and made an appointment
to lunch with him, at their club.
During the luncheon they spoke of
casual matters. Afterward, Terrell
started to light a cigar, then hest
tated.
Light it, Ira," the Doctor babe
him, smiling "The windows open;
and if any tobacco can be tolerable
to a sensitive nose, it is yours"
So Terrell scratched a match. He
was a man physically fit, lean and
hard. His thick hair contributed to
the youthfulness of his appearance;
but there were betraying lines at
the corners of his mouth. He said.
after moment, quietly:
II want to have a talk with you,
Ned-about Nancy" There was q
slow color in his cheeks.
The Doctor nodded. "Yes, l
KNOW"
Terrell looked at him curiously.
How can you known" he asked.
Doctor Breeding only smiled, and
Terrell said: Ned, always have
a feeling, in talking with you. that
you know what I'm going to say.
You're curiously understanding
man." He chuckled II should not
like to try to keep business secret
from you"
IF ! could read your mind, I'd
have been able to retire long ago."
Doctor Breeding remarked.
You don't-speculate. do your"
JerrelI inquired He had never IN
vited the other to participate in any
business affair
Breeding shook his head. mo
. I -,