The Blind Spot

o go

neering. We were both successful. There was not a thing to foreshadow that either of us was to

lor. It was a subject over which he was never done joking. It was not my fault. I was in

ears and ten times as many angles. I pulled one of her pigtails, kissed her, and told her I wanted her to get pretty. When we came home next summer I went ove

the i

nner that day with his family, and then came up to San Francisco for a last and farewell bachelor night. We could take in the opera together,

idence. The old myth of age to youth and the subcurrent of sin with its stalking, laughing, subtle Mephistopheles. It is strange that we should have gon

September. Into its sombre depths the crowd disappeared like shadows. The lights upo

tion. It was cold and miserable, a chill wind stirring from the north was un

brr, some coffee or s

ing under the lights had the effect of drizzle. I to

d, "and some wine. Notice

e street before he ans

His stop was sudden and suggestive. Just then a passing taxicab almost caught us and we were compelled to dodge quickly. Hoba

was saying, "now we ha

on his head. His favourite trick when bew

arry! Didn't you see h

to notice; I did not know

? You don't

was p

; but it was he, just as

finity for the fog mist. To come out of "Faust" and to run into the Rham

king about that fellow tonight. Strange!

he tale had clung with reiterating persistence. Perhaps it was the weirdness and the tremulous intoxication of the music. I was one of the vast majority who disb

usic. A few young people were dancing. I sat down; in a moment the lightness and jollity had stirred my blood. Hobart took a chair opposite. The place was fu

n should control his own destiny. A great man does. Perhap

hed the dancers; or it may have been the utter forlornness of his expression. I noted his unusual pallor and his cast of dissipation, also the continual working of his long, lean fingers

one, and it seemed to me rather pitiful. Then as suddenly his glance wandered to the door behind

hat fellow? I know th

have seen him m

ile. He nodded. And again he glanced over my sho

at any rate

e anyone coming or going. Following the young man's glance he looked

ed; "take it easy. As I sai

on many times; I had seen his likeness drawn by certain sketch artists of the city. They did not do him justice. He had a wonderful way and presence-you might say, magnetism. I

ng about him that could not be put to paper, be it strength, force or vitality; he was subtle. His step was prim and di

rt n

! What say! Ah, ha! He has busines

Somehow one had a respect for this weak one; he was not a mere weakling. Yet I was not so sure that he was not afraid of the Rhamda. He spoke to the waiter. The Rhamda began talking. I noted the poise in his manner; it was not evil, rather wa

light followed the movement of his fingers. The older man pointed. So that was their contention? A jewel? After all our phantom was material enough to desire possession;

but was cut short by the other. For all of his weakness there was spirit to the young man.

g on the young one. Too much s

ughed. He lit a cigarette; from the flicker and jerk of the flame he was trembling. But he was still emphatic. The other rose f

Rhamda had brought us both back to the Blind Spot. Was there any connection? Who was the young man with

gist of that conversation. That was t

has to do with

know. Wonder what's the time." He gl

or a minute, taking a dull note of his surroundings. In the well of gaiety and laughter coming from all parts of the roo

I said. "I wonder-by Ge

wly, line by line his features became familiar, the underlines of another, the ghost of one departed. At first I could not place him. He held himself up for breat

was bef

imed. "Chick Watson! Here, have a seat. In

body that had once been so powerful was a s

a whisper. "Not much like the old Chick,

e waiter. Could it be Chick Watson? I had seen him a year

ght I would come out for this one last night, hear some music, see a pretty face, perhaps

" I said to Hobart.

suddenly. There was fear in his eyes; then on see

ick, don't y

inly are,"

, I'm

e. I glanced at Hob

, old boy," I said. "I'm going to see that you

seemed to jerk

e to think. Mother, mother! That's why I came downtown. I w

take you to her. What

shook h

's no use-not after tonight. All the doctors in the wo

t spo

k? I have a suspi

up; he clos

bart, what's y

e that he was peering into the oth

know. But tell me. Am I r

e and wonder, for a moment, and then, as suddenly of a gre

ed, "I am dying-