A TELEPHONIC TALK AND ITS CONSEQUENCES Theydon's journalistic experiences had been, for the most part, those of the "special correspondent," or descriptive writer.

He had never entered one of those fetid slums of a great city in which, too often, murder is done, never sickened with the physical nausea of death in its most revolting aspect, when some unhappy wretch's foul body serves only to further pollute air already vile.
It was passing strange, therefore, that Winter had no sooner opened the door of No.

17 than the novice of the party became aware of a heavy, pungent scent which he associated with some affrighting and unclean thing.

At first he swept aside the phantasy.

Strong as he was, his nervous system had been subjected to severe strain that evening.