The Crack of Doom

rsation was a jargon fitting only for lunatics, had proved that they could read my mind with the ease of a telegraph operator taking a message off a wire. That they, further,

both unworthy and unwise. For whither should I fly? The ends of the earth would not be far enough to save me, the

ey practised upon her. My diagnosis of the strange seeing-without-sight expression of her eyes was then correct. And it was clear to me that whatsoever or whomsoever Brande and Grey believed or disbelieved in, they certainly believed in themselves. They might be relied on to s

t I must stand b

in a diary which Brande kept desultorily. He wrote this up so irregularly no continuous information can be glea

ce him? You say he cannot help with mone

a member was the only safe way of keeping him so much about us. But Natalie is the main reason. I am afraid of her wavering in spite of my hypnotic influence. In a girl of her intensely emotional nature the sentiment of hopeless love will creat

s day si

hivered. Heredity ha

I did not read the words until t

y overlooked, and which really called me away. But it would have called long enough without an answer if it had not been for Brande himself, his friend Grey, and their insanities. My mind was fixed on one

hips which had been interrupted. The chain of connection had been broken and the links would not weld easily. So, after some futile efforts to return to the circle I had long deserted, I desisted and accepted my exclusi

a street into which I had turned to avoid a more crowded thoroughfare. It was that in which Miss Metford lived. I knew

uld not matter very much, when the girl's own ideas were so unconventional. She had independent means, and lived apart from her family in order to be rid of domestic limitations. She had told me that she carried a latch-key-indeed she had shown it to me with a flourish

usual. In lieu of her out-door tunic she wore a smoking-jacket. When I entered she was sitting in an arm-chair, with

she asked, concerned.

d, "and they have not been good company. I was p

d. Then she opened a bottle of soda-water with a facility which suggested practice. I was relieve

the glass. Now smoke. Do I allow smo

without my once noticing how deftly they had been introduced by Miss Metford. I never thought of the flight of time until a chime from a tiny clock

I was now restored. She was no longer useful, therefore I left h

d. I cannot tell you how gratefu

uld like to hear it. And what is more, I like you." She said this so carelessly, I did not

han you admitted when I last spoke to you about it?" I

venings. Brande shows one beautiful experiments, which, I daresay, would be amazingly instructive if one were inclined that way, which I am not. The men are mostly long-haired creatu

more th

ing m

ur of nine, the warning chi

han that?" Miss Metford a

an a great risk of sharing George Delany's fate if I remained where I was much longer. And suppo

l you. I am a

I suppose it would not be fair to ask you. Anyhow, you will

wrote it down on a silver

right. I'll look y

and Grey, had now assumed its true proportion. I laughed at my fears, and was thankful that I had not described th

met me i

Just arrived a

ar overcame me. I dared not open the envelope. I knew beforehand who the sender

with Miss M. this evening might have been disa

and

where I had thrown the telegram. It was not there, nor in the room.

ram you gave me j

an interrupted, "I did not give

ou spoke to me

t you took no notice. Excuse me, s

else. And I remember now, it was

eft yester

y I was thinking of.

mpressed by another mind "otherwise than through the recognised channels of sense," had supplied the