to me when he was informed that I had written of him in a book, he may be in the other place, who knows! I recall it with a tremor. We were in a restaurant some time after the first threat, but at that time, he appeared to understand that I had written nothing bad concerning him, and we were quite friendly. He told of himself and his travels, relating a trip abroad, to Liverpool and London. In the course of his remarks, he told that he used to run down from Liverpool to London every morning, since it was just over the hill a mile, and could be seen from Liverpool whenever the fog lifted. He advised me a bit remonstratingly, that, since I had written of him in the book, if I had come to him in advance, he would have told me something of himself to put into it that would have interested the world. I suggested that it was not then too late, and that he should make a copy of it. He intimated that it would be worth something and I agreed with him, and told him I would give him fifty cents. He said that would be satisfactory, but he wanted it then in advance. I wouldn't agree to that, but told him that he would have to give me a brief of his life, where and when he was born, if he had been, also where and when he expected to die, etc. first. He got "mad" then and threatened to do something "awful". Took himself outside and opened a knife, the blade of which had been broken, and was then about a half inch long, and told me to come out, whereupon he would show me my heart. As he waited vainly for me, he took on an expression that made him appear the worst man in all the world. I did not, of course go out, and told him so--through the window. That was the end of it--and of him, so far as I know. But you can understand by this how near I have been to death in your Dixie Land. When I come back it will not be for "color"; but--well, I guess you know. New Orleans, La., August 1, 1915. O.M. [Illustration: He awakened from a strange dream. The Bible had fallen to the floor, and lay open at a chapter under which was written, "_THOU SHALT NOT STEAL!_"] BOOK ONE WHICH DEALS WITH ORIGINALS CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE BARRIER 15 II ATTALIA 31 III NEXT DAY--DISCOVERIES 40 IV AND HE NEVER KNEW 47 V B.J. DICKSON 51 VI "OH, YOU SELL BOOKS!" 59 VII IN THE OFFICE OF THE GRAND SECRETARY 63 VIII HENRY HUGH HODDER 67 IX "SWEET GENEVIEVE" 74 X "DO SOMETHING AND YOU'LL FIND OUT" 78 XI "JEDGE L'YLES' CO'T" 84 XII A JEW; A GENTILE; A MURDER--AND SOME MORE 93 XIII "'CAUSE NIGGA'S 'S GITTIN' SO RICH" 105 XIV AND THEN CAME SLIM 111 XV "SHOO FLY!" 124 XVI "WHY DO YOU LOOK AT ME SO STRANGELY?" 130 XVII "I'LL NEVER BE ANYTHING BUT A VAGABOND!" 140 BOOK TWO THE BEAST AND THE JUNGLE CONTENTS I EFFINGHAM 149