The Argosy for May — page 89: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Nate ol Misra Homa By STEPHEN BRANDISH, Author of “ Gordon's Getaway,” ‘* When Suspicion Struck Hard,”’ “ At the Mercysof the Unseen.” The astounding experience of a business man who thought all his troubles were over just as he was on the eve of the greatest calamity in his career. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. Martin HorrMan, in charge of the Galpin Manufacturing Company during the ab- sence of young Dick Galpin, finds the concern imperiled by the rival Dalton Company. He is in despair when Theobald Thomas, a former member of the firm, offers to take over its four-hundred-thousand-dollar debt. The papers must be signed by Hoffman on the next day, when the debt falls due. A man named Gulick, of the Dalton Company, tries to bribe Hoffman to leave town until too late for this transaction. That evening, in his rooms, during a visit from George Wellingford, vice-president of the rival firm, who offers him an increased bribe, Hoffman is suddenly stricken blind. Exhausted by strain and worry, and crazed with horror at his loss of sight, he hears, as in a dream, a number of men discussing his case. He is hurried off by them in an automobile to some house, where he is carried up-stairs and laid on a bed. He feels a sudden prick on his arm, and sinks into unconsciousness. CHAPTER —V:; IN THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY. paths) of all, the pillow was soft. Hoffman felt: over it with sleepy fingers. Yes, and so far as his capacity for judging went, the cover was fine linen. ‘The bed, too, was distinctly soft and comfortable—even a little bit more comfortable than usual, if that were pos- sible. His head ached a trifle, to be sure, but that was to be expected. He had had a bad day yesterday, and to-day he was going to have a fine day — the biggest day in the history of the Galpin Com- pany. It must be about eight now. He'd doze for perhaps fifteen minutes more. Then he’d get up and have a cold plunge and. a breakfast, and after that get to the office in time to meet Thomas, and settle up all details. Oh, it was glorious! Exhilaration fairly surged through him; and still— what the dickens /ad happened last night? Certainly something had gone wrong —radically wrong! He had a vague recollection of wild dreams—of an auto- *Began April Arcosy. mobile ride—of doctors and judges and Heaven only knew what else! He re- membered dreaming of raving and rais- ing Cain generally and— Well, it was over, and he must get up now. He rolled to his back and opened his eyes, and—there was nothing there! His breath stopped! With a choke in his throat, he sat up and stared, or tried to stare, about him. - Why, there was nothing in sight at all! So far as his eyes were concerned, they told of abso- lutely nothing save an increased light- ness when he stared to the left — the direction from which the faintest of breezes was coming! Then he must actually be blind! He gasped, and reached for the button be- side his bed, the button by which, at times, he ordered breakfast. It was gone! Instead of the tapestry paper, his fin- gers encountered a bare, painted stretch of wall; instead of the push-button, there was—paint! Then it was all true! The whole affair which he had just imagined to be a dream was actual fact! He was blind! An extremely soft footfall approached him, and a low, respectful voice said: Single copies, 10 cents. 276 NOOLK (C@