Phantom Fingers
Four days before the play was to open the management of the piece received a curious note. It was written on an ordinary sheet of typewriting paper, such as every stenographer is familiar with, and which is usually used for second sheets. The typewriting was a trifle inexpert, but otherwise undistinguished. It read:
Do not try to continue with your play, “The Leopard’s Spots,” or it will be the worse for you. It will be well if you heed this warning.
Pro Bono Publico.
No particular attention was paid to this message, of course, for every office that is much in the public eye is in receipt of crank letters. The next day, however, the office received another one from the same source, and in the same typewriting. This one read:
Cease rehearsals of “The Leopard’s Spots” on receipt of this friendly warning, if you wish to avert a tragedy. You will never be allowed to continue with the play. If you wish to save trouble, disband the cast and abandon the play.
Constant Reader.
It was puzzling, of course, but nothing particular was done about it, for they were busy with a thousand and one details and had no time to bother with a halfwit who was taking this safe way of amusing himself. The signature on the letters was peculiar, of course, but even that was explainable. The letters must have
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