Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1912-09-11

I to me, he asked:
"But what has happened to Mr.. Cam
eron, sir?"
Il wish I could tell you Checka-
beedy," was my unguarded reply. Il
wish he could tell US himself"
But he is so wasted, sir! And his
clothes. I never saw Mr. Cameron in
such clothes.
1t was quite true. They were OF
what is called, believe, a pepper-and-
salt mixture, coarse of texture and i'll
cut, yet not much worn.
"He does not recognize u.s." Checka-
beedy went on, "and still he is con-
scious. May l ask you, sir, where you
brought him from?"
l chose to ignore the question, in
sudden realization of the necessity of
caution.
"And he has been missing month,
they say, sir. Is that true, Mr.. Clyde?'
"Missng!" l repeated. who says
he has been missing?"
1.-THE servants all say so, sir"
"Then the servants must get rid Of
the idea, at once" said, sharply. MIR.
Cameron has merely been out of town
for while He went away for his
health, and now he has returned, bene-
flied. Do you understand, Checka-
beedy? He has returned, benefited.
And now, you and Louis will get him
to his room, while l telephone for Dr..
Massey"
Checkabeedy bowed, asserting, and
Louis, still whimpering, wiped his
eyes.
1t was nearly four o'clock when the
physician left his patient and joined
me in the library downstairs. His face
was very grave.
Il have examined Mr.. Cameron thor,
oughly," he said, "and | can assure
you that he is not seriously injured
The phrase opened UP a new line Of
thought to me.
Seriously injured?" repeated. II
don't understand, Doctor. Do you
mean that"
81 mean" he interrupted, chat the
blow on the back of the head caused
no fracture"
"Then he was struck"
Undoubtedly. Probably with a
sandbag. Hence his present dazed con-
dition. Had the blow been delivered
with more force, it might have result
ed in complete loss of memory. You
| have heard, of course, of instances
where men have forgotten even their
| own names?"
| nodded.
"Mr. Cameron will regain his mem
DRY. It's merely a temporary matter. |
have telephoned for man nurse for
| hm-one who understands such cases.
He will be here in twenty minutes AT
| present Mr.. Cameron is sleeping. l
am in hopes that when he awakens his
mind will be comparatively clear"
He was about to bid me goodnight
when l checked him.
Doctor" I said, 81 am glad to find
you so optimistic. Before you go
want you to write me a bulletin of Mr..
Cameron's condition and sign it. I
want no mention in it of the injury,
since it is not serious. If possible,
would suggest that you use the word
indisposition' and be sure to employ
the temporary you called into play a
moment ago"
DR.. Massey gladly acceded. Seated
at Cameron's writing table he scrib-
bled bulletin of even more encourag-
| ing and confident tenor than l had in
dic&ted. And I used it to turn the tide
of speculation in Crystal Consolidated.
But neither the spoken nor the writ
ten words of the physician held for
me any considerable measure of So
lace. My friends condition was des,
perate. I knew it and my heart ached
for him; but it ached more for Evelyn,
his ward, who loved him, and who
must be given the gladness of good
news only to be crucified the next mo.
ment on the cross of anxiety.