The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-09-27

BAu no answer READY.
Fortunately, however. none was re-
luired OF me, for at that moment
Iteps were audible crossing the hall,
md when our eyes turned downward
hey encountered the dapper fig1re OF
-ouis, Cameron's French valet, halt
ng respectfully on the threshold.
".Mademoiselle," he said, bowling,
mails voici des lettres qul jal trouye."
And we saw, then, that he carried a
In despatch box.
Evelyn directed him to place 1t up
IN the table by which size sat. It
seemed that she had not given over
he idea that the letters for which we
rad searched SO diligently on Sunday
we're somewhere in the house, and
lad directed Louis to bring to her
lnything in the way of writing that
lie could lay his hands upon.
He had found the despatch box. he
old us, hidden away behind some sell
iom employed volumes in the library,
md thinking 1t might contain that OF
which Miss Grayson was In quest, had
coed the lock, to discover several
'arefully-ied packets of letters.
| wish could give even half ade-
luate idea Of the way she thanked
Louis. 1t would add so much to a
realizing sense of her sweetness with
,ut detracting at all from the enyis.
Igement of her dignity. No one could
rave heard her "bon garcon" and not
Aave felt impelled to consecrate his
'ndeaVors henceforth and foreVermore
% her service. AS for Louis his re.
'Dectful homage and fidelity were al
most pagan. verify believe he would
willingly have suffered martyrdom to
serve her.
AS he withdrew we fell avidly upon
The contents of the box. yet with small
hope OF finding what we sought; for
the letters 1t contained were all, ap-
parently. Of distant date; letters, for
The most part of private, personal
nature, carefully assorted, and ar
ranged In red'taped or elastic-banded
bundles.
1t was no mere Idle curiosity which
Impelled us to read many of them
We were In a position which may best
be described as anomalous, Though
Cameron was my dearest friend I
knew little of his life prior to our
meeting, and Evelyn, his niece and
ward, was scarcely less uniformed
than myself In the letters just
brought to light there might, we de-
clded be found some clue of meal
culable service in the task now before
u.s. And so we united the tapes and
stripped off the bands and set our.
selves to careful painstaking examina-
ton.
Seldom have l engaged in labor 80
deadly embarrassing at one moment
and so keenly engrossing at the next.
There was correspondence here which
meant nothing to us whatever, and
there was correspondence which threw
search-light upon portions of Cam
eron's career, barring good deeds and
iollies alike. without discrimination
1t was only natural | suppose, that
we should dig up romance-a gem
Of luster shining amidst dun, sordld
surroundings. Evelyn and came up
on two of its facets. simultaneously,
and paused In our work to question its
disposal II seemed to US a holy thing,
too sacred for stranger touch and.
even at the risk Of passing over what
might prove our one agent of revela-
ton, we folded 1t away again with a
sense Of guilt at having dared to lift
even the corner of the veil.
For a full hour I had scanned one
letter after another in absorbed IN
tentness, but with small profit. Eve.
lyn. across the table. had been quite
as busy, Rarely had We interrupted
our employment with exchange of
words. But now the writing which |
held provoked exclamation.
Addison" | cried. so sharply cut
Ing the silence that the girl started.
Addison! Did you ever hear of him?"
She gestured negative. Not that
remember. she qualified. Why2"
Because we must find him." de-
clared, q little excltedly, ! imaginei
for the letter seemed wonderfully i'm
portant.
Instantly she was all alert,
what is IT," she asked, springlng
up and coming to my side. what
have you found?"
Look" I commanded, the sheet OF
paper in one appraised hand, finger
of my other hand pointing to pas
sage. Look! In 1903, your uncle Rob
ert was In Picking; and yet he gave
me his word that he had never visited
China"
Resting an arm on my shoulder and
bending forward she read for herself;
"Just to think We were In Picking
together and neither of US was aware
Of It until too late! What foregath
erlng we missed! Even FIVE minutes
chat would have been something; but
l no sooner saw you, than the crowd
on Legation street swallowed you up
"Haye you read 1t all?"
mot to the end" told her. "Just
the beginning and the signature
Come" ! added, wen read It from
first to last, together" And turned
back the page,