The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-09-13

Murphy had been discharged Trom
custody, for lack Of evidence; and
though there were some desultory ef
forts making to place the blame fol-
the CelestialIs violent taking-off,
doubted that they would have prac
tlcable result.
The precautions against surprise on
the fourteenth. which had outlined
30 briefly to Cameron, carried out
with added detail For instance, in.
structed ROmney to report to me ev'
cry person who passed In or out Of
the gates, guarded by his Lodge. ]
had Kilgour, the superintendent OF
the Cameron acres, issue similar or.
ders to his men concerning any stran-
gers seen on the estate that day,
And, finally, when not fetching the
mail from the post office, myself
and four times made the trip--I sat
on guard in Cameron's study, waiting
and expectant.
But the day passed, 1t seemed,
without the looked-for incident. Ev-
cry letter, by post or by hand. which
came that day, inside the Cragholt
limits was by me personally inspect
ed, and amongst them all there was
no one which bore the faintest re-
semblance to those two baleful mis-
sives Of the two preceding four
teenths.
When l had made my last trip to
the post Office, finished my final in
spectlon, and was almost jubilant
over the significant cessation Of the
threats which, In their ultimate fulfil
ment at least, had brought my friend
so close to dissolution, made haste
to carry to Cameron the glad news.
Oddly enough, his condition In the
past forty-eight hours had materially
improved, and as Dr. Massey attrib-
uted this, In part at least, to the infiu-
ence exerted by my brief visit, was
now permitted to repeat the treat
ment at pleasure.
1t wanted but a few minutes Of
eight o'clock, and Checkabeedy
seized the occasion to inform me, as
passed through the hall, that din
ner had been waiting for nearly
half-hour; a fact which l knew quite
as we'll as he, but when | had chosen
to disregard In favor of more press
ing and important employment. New
ertheless had dressed before going
for the last mail, and as moment
would suffice to assure Cameron that
all was well, relieved the mind Of
the distressed butler, by assuring him
that dinner should not wait over Ave
minutes longer, 30 far as | was con-
cerned.
A very light tap on the chamber
door was answered by Miss Collins,
who came out into the passage and
closed the door behind her.
81 fear 1t is not advisable for you
to see him, now, Mr.. Clyde" she
said. "He has suddenly had return
of some of his worst symptoms, and
am sure DIR. Massey would object
to his being at all excited"
But | shan't excite him." | ex-
panied. 81 have the very best Of news
for him. 1t is his anxiety over GER
tain matter, no doubt, which has
brought about the symptoms you
speak of. l know l can relieve his
mind, which l have reason to believe
has been all day under an unusual
strain"
But still this eficient-looking,
whitehead woman was not wholly
convinced.
1T must be only for minute then"
she finally allowed. "You can go in
alone. But at the end Of sixty Sec
onds," she added, as she glanced at
the little gold watch she wore pinned
to her spotless waist, 81 shall inter-
rupt you; and then you must leave"
Yielding, perforce, to her condition.
l entered. And as l did so, Cameron
half rose on his elbow, regarding me
with what I thought was anxiety for
my report.
Its all right" I said, quietly. "All
right. Not 30 much as line from
the enemy. They have withdrawn,
just as l."
But he interrupted me.
"Here, quick!" he was saying. Take
thls!" And | saw then that one hand
was drawing something from beneath
his pillow. The next moment he had
given me long envelope Of that thin,
waxy texture had learned to loathe.
For a heartbeat I stood appalled,,
transfixed.
"Quick!" he insisted, excitedly.
open It'll Read 1t! She'll not leave
US long and l must know its con-
tents"
"But how" l began, as tore the
end Of the envelope.
God knows" he answered, before
had put my question into words. Il
had been DOING; about an hour ago.
stretched out my hand, unconscious
ly, and that lay beneath 1t, on the
counterpart. 1t cracked as touched
it; and l knew then, even before !
recognized the feel Of it."
Sixty seconds! Was there ever such
an interminable period? Sixty long
seconds before that door would open
with the interruption that would
spare me. l fumbled with the devil
ish paper; let It slip through my
fingers; tore bit here and a bit
thora. AnIsbad tha taarino. and then