Natalie Sumner Lincoln

The Man Inside Natalie Sumner Lincoln

On a dark and stormy night, Senator Carew is found dead in his carriage; a sharp letter file piercing his heart. The state of affairs looked complicated enough to Brett the detective and Douglas Hunter the dead man's protege, but soon the mystery was increased by a few words impressed on a blotter, the abrupt action of the Japanese Ambassador, the strange occurrences at the Navy department, and the sudden appearance, and yet even more sudden disappearance of the stranger with very blue eyes and very black hair... Excerpt from The Man InsideAs he passed the building with the long French windows, the tinkle of a guitar roused his attention, and he stepped inside the front door and glanced furtively at the few men who lounged about the tables which dotted the long room. Passing by sev eral empty tables and chairs, the stranger seated himself in the corner of the room on the side fur ther from the street, near a window which opened on a neglected garden. A tropical vine thrust its branches against wast had once been a wood and glass partition which formed the end of the room, the branches and leaves twining in and out among the broken panes of the window. Some of the occupants of the room had glanced indifferently at the stranger at his entrance, but his haggard, unshaven face and worn clothing did not arouse their curiosity, and they again turned their attention to their wine.