"I wrote a story 'way back in college days, which three editors have proclaimed the best horror yarn they have read. The story I have with me now. It has been most thoroughly declined—and now, myself, I see many amateurish spots. I cherish the yarn, however, for of all the millions of published words I have written I consider this idea and its development my most finished work.
"I'll write that story for you—thus far called 'The Square of Canvas'—again from start to finish, and polish it as I would polish a jewel. The amount of money involved is no spur; I'd like to have it printed, even gratis. My honest hunch is that, when all is said and done, you'll like this yarn as well as any of your choice five.
"Please put me down as a subscriber to the new magazine. I am buried deep in the heart of piney woods, 36 miles from the nearest news-stand selling even a Sunday paper, and I want to make sure of seeing each issue of Weird Tales.
"It's a corking title, and it will get all the boosting I can give. Herewith a clipping of my last platform appearance. I told 'em of the coming magazine, and that it offered a field of reading unique. At Atlanta and Montgomery, where I speak later in the winter, I'll give the sheet a hand. I have two more dates in Mobile, and I'll mention your project.
"In a month or so I'll fix up 'A Square of Canvas' and shoot it in for consideration for Weird Tales."We got "A Square of Canvas" and promptly read it—and it will appear in the next issue of Weird Tales. Don't miss it! It's all that Mr. Rud says it is, and more besides! It's a terrifying, hair-raising tale, and no mistake! It's a bear! You can read it in twenty minutes, but those twenty minutes will fairly bristle!
Of "The Dead Man's Tale," which opens this issue, Willard E. Hawkins wrote us:
"……The idea for that story came to me in a flash one evening when my wife and I were returning from the theatre. I outlined the whole thing to her, and followed that outline without deviation in writing the story later. It struck me that I had never seen the Dr.-Jekyll-and-Mr.-Hyde type of situation developed from the point of the obsessing entity, and I was fascinated by the attempt to do it."
And we think you'll agree that Mr. Hawkins did a mighty fine job.
We assume you've read the stories in this, our first issue, before arriving upon this page back here, and we are eager to know what you think of them. Why not write and tell us? Mention the stories you liked, and those you didn't like, and tell us what you think of our attempt to do something new and different in the magazine field. We shall be delighted to hear from you; and we will print your letters on this page—unless you decree otherwise.
If you get the next issue of Weird Tales—as we hope you will—you'll read some strange and remarkable stories. Elsewhere in this number we've told you something about these stories, and we need only add here that each is a striking example of unusual fiction. Whatever effect they may have upon you—whether they make you shudder or set your nerves tingling pleasurably—we can emphatically promise you this:
You will not be bored!
THE EDITOR.
