Page:Weird Tales Volume 35 Issue 04 (1940-07).djvu/125



N THIS issue of we introduce two writers very well known in other fields, but new to our readers. H. Bedford-Jones is, of course, one of the outstanding writers of fiction appearing in the magazines today. His name is known to readers of, Adventure, The American Weekly, Blue Book, all the writers' magazines and wherever people look for readable fiction. His association with this office goes back many years, and it is a memory of a certain series of stories that appeared under his name in that led to a correspondence which produced the stories of a Professional Corpse which will be coming along in. The next one of this series, by the way, is called The Blind Farmer and the Strip Dancer—we feel that the title alone ought to arouse your interest, and the story is just as good. B-J is not a prolific correspondent; his letters are apt to say: "Dear Mac: Here's a story. Yours, H.B.J." Actually that's all we need. The printer and our readers can do all the rest.

The other writer new to WT is Frank Gruber, author of The Golden Chalice. Mr. Gruber has had a very varied career. It began in Minnesota, continued in the army for a period where he says he was the worst soldier, but far from the worst crap-shooter—led him to construction camps, the publishing business—by way of poultry journals—and several other activities. His real interest is in writing, however, and he is the author of many magazine stories, creator of a successful movie character, Oliver Quade, and lately has been appearing regularly on best mystery seller lists with his book. The French Key, which won honorable mention in the Mary Roberts Rinehart detective story contest. In the course of a conversation one day, Mr. Gruber mentioned that he had written a short story that was in the weird category—and we didn't let him get out of the office until he had promised to let us read it. And here it is in this issue of your magazine.

RACTICALLY all the letters received in our office say, sooner or later, that the writers are devotees of Seabury Quinn. Not a bad comment on any writer, it seems to us. We are glad therefore, to have his novelette The Gentle Werewolf in this issue of where modern stories are so well represented by Gruber and Bedford-Jones. We hope to have plenty more Quinn in this magazine.

N THE last issue of we printed three personal experiences under the heading of "It Happened to Me." These drew quite a few letters from readers, among others a very interesting one from Mr. Howard Brenton MacDonald, of New York City, who has an M.A. and F.R.G.S. after his name and describes himself as lecturer, author and traveller. We print Mr. MacDonald's letter in full, his opinions and suggestions being of course, entirely his own.

" readers may be interested in explanations, according to the occult teach-