The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

BEFORE THE DARK. in the eye—the only blind spot, in fact, in the normal eye. A curious thing in connection with this blind spot is that if we shut one eye and look at an ob- ject—a person, for example—so as to get that object in the blind spot, we cannot see that object. Thus we may behead our friends, visually. ‘“‘ So it is very probable that Bennett had one eye nearly closed, and simply didn’t see the coin with the other, on account of this perfectly normal blind spot.” Osgood was silent for a moment. “But how about the mistake he made in giving the order for the salute?” “Yes,” said Walling, knocking the ash off his cigar and becoming thought- ful, “ that is a serious piece of evidence —the one piece, but serious. I don’t know just how to account for it.” “Neither do I.” “How does Bennett himself? ” “He doesn’t. He said very littlé on the subject. We didn’t discuss it much then because the girl was there, and I haven’t seen him since. I left them just now at the station. He has taken her home.” “TIT see. Well, what does Bennett think about the prediction? ”’ “He only scoffs. He doesn’t take any stock in fortune-telling, anyway.” ‘““Then he doesn’t connect the pre- diction with his mistake in the re- view?” “No, not yet. I don’t really know what he thinks, because I haven’t seen him alone. The colonel said some- thing to him, but Bennett passed it off lightly in the train. He was in a good humor then.” “Hadn’t he been before? ” “ Not in the morning. He was quiet and moody. But he had a visitor for the review—this girl I told you about— and that brightened him. Directly she came he forgot all about the predic- tion, and even the colonel’s calling down didn’t seem to affect him much. At least, at the time. Still, the mis- take he made must have shown him that something is wrong. When he 107 gets by himself to-night and looks back over the day, he#is bound to realize what has happened, and how serious and significant it is.” “ Bring him to see me.” “ T will if I can.” “We must correct any trouble be- fore it gets worse. And I’d like to see Bennett again, anyhow. I haven’t seen him for ages. I’ve often won- dered how he was getting on, and wanted to get in touch with him. So, the sooner he comes the better.” Osgood was inspecting his glass with care. “Yow ll give him a straight report, won't you? I mean, you'll be abso- lutely frank. Tell him the truth right out. Don't let there be any smoothing over or sugar-coating. Don’t let him go along thinking he’s all right if he isn’t, will you?” “No, of course not. I wouldn’t want to lull him into feeling secure and safe when I knew him to be in danger. I might ‘kid along’ an old lady, but not a man like Bennett. Don’t worry about my end of it. I shall give him an absolutely straight report, good or bad.”’ “That’s the idea exactly.” There was a pause. “ Say,” remarked Walling, at length, “ you're taking a lot of interest in Ben- nett, aren’t you?” Osgood leaned forward. He meant to play a bold bluff. “Well, you see, we're friends. That’s one thing. Another is that I’m thinking of his fiancée.” Which was true. Osgood was think- ing of Bennett’s fiancée, but not in the unselfish way one would have supposed from what he was saying. “Why,” said Walling, in surprise, “is he engaged? ” “Yes, to this girl who was up there to-day. Keep the news to yourself, understand. Now, those predictions bothered me a little, and since Bennett made that huge blunder in the review I have been worried about him—and her. I want to have him see you, and CoOMmicbook CO