Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Beetle-Hunter
Itisessentialthatheshouldbeamanofstrongphysique,ofsteadynerves,andofaresolutenature.Mustbeanentomologist—coleopteristpreferred.Apply,inperson,at77B,BrookStreet.Applicationmustbemadebeforetwelveo’clocktoday."
Now,IhavealreadysaidthatIwasdevotedtozoology.Ofallbranchesofzoology,thestudyofinsectswasthemostattractivetome,andofallinsectsbeetleswerethespecieswithwhichIwasmostfamiliar.Butterflycollectorsarenumerous,butbeetlesarefarmorevaried,andmoreaccessibleintheseislandsthanarebutterflies.Itwasthisfactwhichhadattractedmyattentiontothem,andIhadmyselfmadeacollectionwhichnumberedsomehundredvarieties.Astotheotherrequisitesoftheadvertisement,Iknewthatmynervescouldbedependedupon,andIhadwontheweight-throwingcompetitionattheinter-hospitalsports.Clearly,Iwastheverymanforthevacancy.WithinfiveminutesofmyhavingreadtheadvertisementIwasinacabandonmywastoBrookStreet.
AsIdrove,Ikeptturningthematteroverinmyheadandtryingtomakeaguessastowhatsortofemploymentitcouldbewhichneededsuchcuriousqualifications.Astrongphysique,aresolutenature,amedicaltraining,andaknowledgeofbeetles—whatconnectioncouldtherebebetweenthesevariousrequisites?Andthentherewasthedishearteningfactthatthesituationwasnotapermanentone,butterminablefromdaytoday,accordingtothetermsoftheadvertisement.
