The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-12-27

from MISS element ana h2d learned
with some dismay that the mission
ary's Inflated informant had left with
her no more definite Information re-
garding Cameron's transportation
than that which she had already con-
veyed to US,
We're just starting IN = taxicab,"
came at length from O'Hara over the
wire. "We'll be there in less than half
an hour"
And in less than half an hour they
came, an ignoble, vulgar quartette
against stately, poHnpous back.
ground.
met them in the great hall, stand
ing before the broad, Bcnlptured chin.
nAy'piece.
The three detectives were more or
less Of u plece-gross, coarse, red
faced men whose hands and feet
seemed out Of all proportion TO their
Size, bulky as It was. or the three
o'Hara, possibly because Of familiar
ity, struck me as the least offensive.
But after all 1t was not the detectives
who claimed and held my chief inter
est, but the shrunken, shadOw-like
creature they had in charge, whom |
recognized instantly as the supposed
! castaway the Sibylla had picked up
that warm October day somewhere
east of Nantucket-the sinking figure
I had followed through the press of
Doyers street almost to ny death.
My conjecture was thus in part Veri-
fed; John Soy and Peter Johnson
were the same, and 1t only remained
now to prove that the rest of my
guess was as we'll founded
Stepping to the door OF the recsp-
ton room, / made brief apology for
my detention and bade my two Cath
ayan visitors join the others.
81 think, Mr. Yup," observed, that
we have here the Eurasian cook OF
the Sable Lorcha about whom you
told me-"
suppose was foolish enough to
fancy that the merchant would at once
make the identification / desired. I
should have known better In sub
tlety We are no match for the ancient
race to which Yup Sing belonged, 40
was evidenced by the absolute impenS-
tration Of his manner, as, after gaz-
ing sharply at John Soy, he turned to
me with visage as blank as the mar
BILE wall, and, In a voice without a
shade OF infection, said:
II do not know him. have never
seen him until now"
Had white man dared to make
such denial, should have laughed In
his face. But the dignity Of the
Oriental, the perfect Aplomb of his
manner, including an utter absence Of
all that could be construed as telgn.
ing, forbade such rejoinder; yet |
knew that he had lied.
Come, gentlemen" said, denying
myself even the satisfaction OF a
shoulder shrug, land we shall decide
whether the man upstairs Is the viii
lain you claim he Is, or" but was
in no mood to finish the sentence.
The seven Of us, crowding into the
elevator, were lifted to the floor above,
where preceded the others to the
door Of what we were wont to call
Cameron's bedchamber. There I
paused.
Pardon me just 4 moment" |
begged, with my hand on the knob,
until see whether everything Ia
ready"
! had instructed Mr.. Bryan to have
McNish up and dressed, and / wished
to make sure that these preparations
were completed. But / was hardly
prepared for the scene which greeted
my entrance.
| McNish, clothed in the suit he had
worn when found him, was In tho act
OF closing a drawer OF an old-fash-
Toned rosewood secretary which oc.
cupied plaoa against the right wall,
beneath one Of the medallIoned win
dows. And the nurse was nowhere in
sight.
Startled by the sound Of the open.
ing door, the trespasssr half turned.
his hands stlll on the brass drawer
handles; then, at sight OF me, he
wheeled completely and stood defiant
with his back to the antique desk.
What are you doing there?" cried,
Indignantly. What we're you look
Ing for?"
Even before he spoke saw the
look Of cunning come into his small.
furtiVe eyes.
Il was looking for some papers Of
mine, Clyde" he answered, boldly,
and his voice was so like Cameron's
that, for just q moment, Shudderlng
uncertainty assailed me. Only the
crafty leer weighed for the truth.
Papers Of yours?" snarled, ignor-
ing his familiar use Of my name. II
have the only paper you brought into
this house. Donald MeNish, and that's
evidence enough to put you where you
beyond. Where's Mr.. Bryant"
But rat that moment the nurse, ap-
pearing from the adjoining ROOM an:
swered for himself. and McNlsh, with
a capitally assumed nonchalance. said,
smilingly.
Il didn't think you could be 80 cas-.
lily imposed upon, Clyde. The letter
TO Donald McNlsh was given to me by
McNish himself He wanted me to
answer 1t. It was his last request.
He"