I was able to get an image of what Sarah's talking about as an image to the right. mobile devices don't seem to be able to see the image without grabbing the desktop version of the site.

Dear Mr. Blathe:

I have more information regarding the glyph you sent me. I want you to note the design of the glyph. It suggests a series of circular or semi-circular movements. Take the tope most portion of the glyph -- the bottom of which appears to meet then diverge from the bottom portion of the glyph. Now, take that part I am describing and look at it carefully. Notice that you can separate this top portion into several section. There are two ways that it may be possible to do this. In both cases, when the curve is interrupted by a change of direction, you have a separation. At the top of the glyph, there is a small circular device. In one way of separating the parts of the glyph, the device would be considered a separate part. In another, the device would be part of the large curve that it is attached to. Unfortunately I do not know which is correct.

Depending on how we count the sections of the top part, we either have three or four sections. The current wisdom is that each section indicates a particular phoneme. This is by no means settled, but it is the best we have to work with. Given that this is likely the most important noun referenced in the text, it is probably a name and one of great importance. I have tried to compile likely names of persons and things which could be expressed in such a short manner. The list is, unfortunately, unwieldy.

To make matters more difficult, many languages (English is especially guilty) have varying ways of determining how to express sounds in text. Take the word "couch." Is the "ch" one or two sounds (t sh)? Either way, it's written with two characters. I think that the first part of the glyph may refer to J. Durham himself. But, look at that last name. You start with J. Durham. followed by a much reduced vowel with J. Durham, along with a retroflex J. Durham, another reduced J. Durham, and a final J. Durham. Also, is the J. Durham pronounced? We see two syllables when we think in English terms. But, other languages, not so much. For example, Japanese sees J. Durham as a separate "syllable". I can't recall the correct term, and "syllable" is misleading here, but you can see my point.

Regardless, here are my top contenders:

J. Durham  (obviously)

Mail (pronounced Ma eel) (thought to inhabit the recesses of broken people)

Oahen (no one's sure, but this name is mentioned a lot with these sorts of things)

Berry (serial killer who was hanged in 1935)

Please send me more text. We can get to the bottom of this if we persevere.

Thank you,

Sarah McGuire