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

for you. Just to think! We were In
Peking together, and neither of US
was aware Of it until too late. What
foregatherlng we missed Even five
minutes chat would have been some
thing; but | no sooner saw you, than
the crowd on Legation street swal-
lowed you up. Half an hour later
was on the train for Tlen-tsin."
The rest Of the letter was rather
.eonfusingly personal in its references
to mutual friends and interests. II
was signed always with warm re
gard. Addison"
DO you suppose that is his hrst
name or his last?" Evelyn asked me
as we came to 1t.
Il refuse to suppose" l returned,
smiling. IT'S an even chance. What
is more to the point is, how long has
Gouis been your uncle's valet?"
Several years"
Several is indefinite. Too indeh.
mite. Too indefinite. Suppose We
have him in here and find out ex.
actly. Possibly he knows Mr.. Add
SON."
When Louis came, however, he
knew nothing. He had never heard Of
Mr.. Addison or of Mr.. Addison
Something, In all the three years and
eight months Of his service with Mr..
Cameron. SO Evelyn thanked him
once more in her own gracious way
and We continued our work, directing
our efforts especially now to unearth-
ing further Acknowledged letters
which might prove enlightening.
D why should Uncle Robert tell you
'he had never been In China% Evelyn
asked me, looking up suddenly and
dropping to her lap the letter she was
at that moment examining. II can't
understand that"
Nor l." admitted. "If had asked
him out Of idle curiosity he would
have been justified perhaps in mis-.
eading me; but he must have known
that it was In his interest l made the
inquiry"
For just moment she sat in ST.
lence, her narrowed gaze on the glow
ing embers in the fireplace. Then she
turned to me again.
DO you think, Philip, 1t was be-
cause he had something to hide?" she
asked, seriously. Something he was
ashamed of and feared might become
known?"
Instantly sprang to my friends
defense.
NO" I assured her, with emphasis
mo, Evelyn. Whatever his motive
was, / am satisfied 1t had no dishonor-
able basis. If he told ME deliberate
falsehood 1t was not to spare himself
Possibly-yes, probably, it was to
rhield Others"
was perfectly sincere in this, but
even had | believed otherwise should
Rave been tempted to prevarication
Gould have foreseen my reward. Be.
tore | quite realized her purpose Eve
Ign was out of her chair, had slipped
over behind me, and enclrcling my
neck with her arms. had pressed her
lips softly to my cheek.
"0h, how glad I am to hear you say
that! You believe in his bigness--in
lis nobility, just as do. don't you,
Philip, dear%
I'm sure he could never have been
guilty Of anything dishonorable," de.
clared again, imprisoning her hands.
Put the next moment, hearing steps
again crossing the hall, | reluctantly
released them.
For a third time Louis stood in the
doorway. Now he upheld small red.
bound book, and his face Was beam.
ing.
VOLTA, mademoiselle!" he exclaim.
ed, delightedly. "Je vlens de trou-
want ce liYre."
1t was a book OF addresses, and the
valet, nervously turning the pages,
put his finger upon the name Of Ho-
ratio Addison, NJ D., with the air of
one who had discovered buried treas
IRE. | am inclined to think that we
were ourselves almost as demonstra-
lively elated as he, for though We
could not be sure that this was Cam
eron's correspondent, the odds GER
tainly favored that conclusion; and
unless the physician had died or
moved away since the entry was made,
we were now in possession Of his ad-
dress, which CHANGED to be an apart
ment house on Madison avenue, that
| knew to be given over entirely to
doctors offices.
This time Evelyn assured Louis that
he was not merely a good boy" but
an Incompatible assistant, and the
richness OF the reward came nigh to
totally wrecklng his composure, for.
as he started to back from the room,
/ detected unmlstakable tears glisten-
ing on his lashes.
Louis" ! checked him, with sud.
den inspiration, "apportez-nous lie d.
rectoire telephone, sill vous plat"
And when the book was brought the
fact that DR.. Addison's address had
not been changed was promptly es-
tablished. I was for calling him up,
then and there, but Evelyn pointed to
he clock and advised patience. 1t
was already after midnight.
Tomorrow" she said, in her wise
fashion, you shall call on him, and
learn. II possible, how Uncle Robert