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read it to the 'to be continued' line before he realizes that it is not complete. A magazine to which I am partial displays prominently both in both the index and the heading of all serial stories the legend 'A four-part story—part I,' or II, or II, as the case may be. The reader who starts it knows exactly what to expect when he gets to the last page, and for how many issues the story will run. I commend this to your attention.

"THE CRAWLING DEATH is fair—a little too illogical to be good.

"THE CLOSED ROOM is a good story, logical when the fact that Norman's mind is diseased is taken into consideration.

"THE PHANTOM VIOLINIST is a space filler only—neither good nor bad.

"LUCIFER is excellent. Well written and convincing, and, very properly for this kind of a story, no attempted explanation. In my opinion purely ghost stories are not complete without a rational explanation, while stories based on the occult, or on well-known superstitions, are stronger without any attempt to explain.

"THE SPIDER is not even a good space filler.

"THE AMAZING ADVENTURE OF JOE SCRANTON is a good idea, fairly well handled, but would have been a little more satisfying with a happy ending. This particular story needs it.

"THE IRON ROOM is a good average detective story, but has no place in WEIRD TALES—it is not in any way a weird tale.

"PRISONERTS OF THE DEAD is very good—contains a good plot, logically worked out and satisfyingly explained.

"THE DEATH PIT ranks next to 'Lucifer' in excellence among the stories in this number. The plot is good, the required element of horror and tragedy is there, and the story is not spoiled at the end by the police and Tim's arrest for murder.

"THE WAX IMAGE is also very good, and in line with my idea regarding stories based on popular superstition, makes no attempt to explain. A very good story, and well written.

"POISONED is good, but would have been better had not both of the principal characters been given the same name. This confuses the reader, who has to stop and think as to who is who, and detracts from the interest that should be given to the plot. The ending is good.

"THE MAGIC MIRROR is a delight-