The Blind Spot

and a small satchel of dark-reddish leather descended from a Geary Street tram at the foot of Market St

was outstanding, with a certain inborn grace that without the blood will never come from training. Men noticed and women out of instinct cast curious f

the man's age there was still a lingering suggestion of splendid youth. If one persisted in a third or fourth look this suggestion took an almost c

boys is wholehearted. It was merely that things were not exactly as they should be; it was not natural that age shou

He took the lower deck, not from choice, apparently, but more because the majority of his fellow passengers, being men, were bound in this direction. The same chance brought him to the cigar-stand. The men about him purchased cigars and cigarettes, and as

manner, after the fashion of one who has found something that he has just learned how to use. At the same

Yes, sir. Wha

ow I remember. And it has a little sister, the cigarette. I think

ner of men and their brands of humour; he was about to answer

een a cigar or cigarette; that you do not kn

ather resentful, but for all t

hat I am as old as that;

s remarkable man; of age melting into youth, of an uncertain freshness, the smile, not of sixty, but of twenty. The

e first time you have ever

ranger

fore this morning. If you will allow me?" He indica

a single cigarette. The man lit it and, as the smoke poured o

t was the cl

ner sex, one of beauty. His features were even; that is to be noted, his nose chiselled straight and to perfection, the eyes of a peculiar sombreness and lustre almost bur

young,

y-one,

age. It is as wonderful as your tobacco. And

s,

hole thing had been strange and to the lad almost inexplicable. The man was not insane, he was certain; and he was just as sure that he had no

at moment to be passing. The clerk

black. Watch him." Then he told his story

ere act of the cigar clerk placed the police on the track and g

ent for being queer-and if this gentleman had a whim for a certain bran

the dim shadow of a sister ferry screamed its way through the fogbank. That he was a landsman was evidenced by his way of standing; he was uncertain; at every heave of the boa

-r-r! Did you notice the Yerbe Buena yon

g much more accustomed to reading men-a queer sense of latent and potent vision. The eyes were soft and receptive but for all that of the delicate strength and colour that comes from abnormal intellect. He noted the

ing," repeate

sty morning? Indeed, I do not know,

in San F

least, I have

p to me to come to the defence of my city. This is one of Frisco's fogs. We have them occasionally. Sometimes they las

articulation-"I have never

um

d polite, of one merely stating a fact. Yet how could it be? He remembered the cigar clerk. Neither cigar nor sun! From what manner of land could the man come? A detective has a certain gift of intuition. Though on the face of it, outsi

going to

chance

ain here, I understand. Do al

ley myself. We can ride together.

Avec. I am much obliged. You

ey were seated and the electric train was pulling out of the pier the sun breaking through the mist blazed with splendid light through the cloud rifts. The stranger was next to the window wher

roke he turned his eyes full into the radiance. It was the act of a child and, so it struck the officer, o

so. This is the sun. Y

et used to it. For myself I cannot see anything strange in the 'sun's still shining.' You have been blind,

e; somehow it seemed a very superior o

st describing. So is it all, your water, your boats, your ocean. But I see there is one thing even stranger still

derstand they don't know themselves. Fire, I suppose, and a

d t

he tr

e features, and most of all in the eyes was sincerity. In that face was the mark of genius-he felt it-and of

of character and of appearance, not to say magnetism. The officer felt himself almost believing and yet restraining himself into caution of unbelief. It was a remark preposte

way. We have merely given it in some detail because of that importance. We have yet no proof of the mystic and until it is prove

his minute, however, he thought no more of him than as an eccentric, as some refined, strange wonderful gentleman with a whim for his own brand of humour. Only that could explain it. The man had an e

Lorin the officer

e you are a stranger. If I may pres

f-do you know of

At this time of the day you would be more apt to

nt him to know is ever the pursuit of a detective. At the same time the subconscious flashing

I see you are interested. After I see Dr. Holcomb I may tell you. However, it is very ur

you kn

in common, your doctor and I; and we have a great deal to give to your world.

easure. It just happens that I am on fri