I will take your receipt and leave it among my papers ;
but I shall endorse upon its back that, in the event of
my death and consequent failure to return to New
York, your statement of the account must be accepted
by my executor without dispute. I will add a codicil
to my will to the same effect, so that you shall not be
involved in a lawsuit."

'I declined, peremptorily. The proposition was
quite different from an ordinary discretionary account,
because I detected the fear of death in the man's voice.
John Stirling's Story 221

My customer strode from the office, leaving the check,
and promising to return later in the day for my answer.
When one o'clock arrived, I went round into Beaver
Street, to Delmonico's, for luncheon. I was in a brown
study. Strongly as I was minded to decline the trust,
I felt an influence urging me to accept it. My judg-
ment rebelled against psychic dictation. Remember,
I had been raised a Scotch Presbyterian, and knew noth-
ing about occult science. I was at loggerheads with
myself.
^That was the strangest meal I ever tried to eat.
The restaurant was crowded, but at the small table I
occupied, the chair opposite me remained unfilled.
Several persons came my way, but after a glance at the
chair, they bowed and passed on. They acted as if the
seat already had an occupant I I suddenly recognized
that the overmastering influence came from this chair.
I left the restaurant and as I walked back to the office
repeated again and again, ''I will not 1" But when I
arrived, I went to the ledger and with my own hand
reopened a special account with my former customer.
The check was placed to his credit.
