The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-10-11

NT~~r~~~HN~
and had been informed Of my cOndi-
ton five minutes after my arrival at
my chambers.
There were times during the week
which followed when was nigh unto
death; and when, finally, after ten
days | was pronounced conValescent,
1t was with the added well-worD
phrase that my recovery was moth
ing short of miracle"
1t was on the eleventh day that l
was first permitted to see and talk
with Evelyn. My mother had called
daily, sitting In silence beside my
bed, but no other visitor In all that,
TO me, seemingly endless period, had
been admitted to my room.
My curiosity was by now very keen
to learn what had developed in the
interval regarding the Cameron myS-
terry. Had he, by chance, been heard
from? What had the detective agency
reported concerning Philetus Muir
ply? And what, | wished to know
most OF all, had Yup Sing discovered?
l was in a dressing gown, pillowed
md footstooled In q great leather
hair awaiting my visitors-for Mrs.
lancaster came with Evelyn--when
heir names were announced. sup
Jose / looked although, save for q
grievous weakness, | was feeling ut
enough--for Evelyn's smile as she en-
Tered merged instantly into an ex-
PRESTON of mingled anxiety and sym
3athy. know that with her coming
awoke to the truth that my desire
Or information was far less moving
actor than my craving for sight of
.er and for the music Of her voice,
nd my only regret WAS that the I'M
Outstanding between us had not
reached the stage of acknowledged
5etrothal; which, make haste to
add, was certainly no fault Of mine.
Weak as l was my arms ached to fold
her in reassuring embrace; yet
must l content myself with mere
leryent hand-clasp and an oral decla-
ration that l was by no means 30
feeble as l appeared,
Nevertheless | was delighted to see
hat she gave small evidence OF the
strain she had been under. Save for
slight additional pallor she was still
he same wholesome-looking, thor
oughly-poised girl OF a fortnight ago.
And my admiration for her took on an
added measure because of this renew
cd evidence Of her sterling courage.
And you promised me to be dis
creet!" she reproached, her smile re-
turning, her hand still in mine.
81 did not foresee such provocation
to indiscretion," l pleaded, with All
attempted gayety of tone that must
have seemed incongruous. ITO have
been discreet under the circum
stances would have involved repeti
lion of the one mistake for which you
blamed me. You don't know, oil
course, why l jumped down ladder
into a pitch-black cellar, do your"
81 know you were in pursuit Of
some one-a pickpocket, they say
who had taken your watch"
do they say that?" l asked, inter
ested.
"That is what Miss Clement learn
ed"
miss Clement% l queried. "Whc
Is Miss Clement?"
ooh, l forgot that you don't know
Miss Clement Is the missionary who
found you in the-is 1t hop joint
they call it?"
|, "The lady with the kind eyes?
At my designation her face bright
ened responsibility.
"You remember her, them" she
cried, delightedly. Hasn't she kind
eyes? And she doesn't belle them
either. She's just the dearest, most
self-sacrifcing creature ever knew.
For the moment we had both for
gotten Mrs. Lancaster, and when
would have apologized l found that
my nurse had carried her of into the
lext room and was interestedly show
.ng her some framed photographs OF
the Siena cathedral.
And Miss Clement learned that
pursued a pickpocket?" l went on
when Evelyn had drawn chair near
me and sat down. "A very clever
explanation to account for the disap'
pearance of my watch, but not the
true one. AS a matter Of fact, the
person l followed was miscreant OF
deeper dye. When | last saw him,
previous to this encounter, he was
known as Peter Johnson"
Wide-eyed, the girl stared at me for
an instant.
"Peter Johnson" she repeated,
slowly. $50, was right. He was in
the plot. He had something to do
with Uncle Roberts disappearance.
lie was the one who broke the amyl
pearls on board the yacht"
1t was my turn now to start. OF
what was this young woman talking?
AMY pearls!" Was l mad, or was
she?
CHI ,ou, ynv Darnlayifv and haaton-