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

Search-light upon portions of Cam
eron's career. barring good deeds and
follies alike. without discrimination
It was only natural. suppose, that
we should dig up romance-a gem
of luster shining amidst dun, sordid
surroundings Evelyn and I came up
on two OF its facets, simultaneously.
and paused in our work to question its
disposal. 1t seemed 10 us holy thing.
too sacred for stranger touch, and,
even at the risk Of passing over what
ton, We folded it away again with a
sense of guilt at having dared to lift
even the corner of the veil.
For q 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 l
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. Why?"
Because We must find him." de-
clared, little excitedly, I imagine;
for the letter seemed wonderfully I'M
portant.
Instantly she was all alert.
What is it?" she asked. springing
up and coming to my side. what
have you found?"
Look" l commanded, the sheet of
paper in one appraised hand, finger
of my other hand pointing to pas
cage. Look! In 1908, your uncle Rob
crt 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
oring 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"
Have you read II all?'
Not to the end" I told her, lust
the beginning and the signature.
Come" I added. we'll read 1t from
first to last, together" And l turned
back the page.
1t was written from Cairo, and bore
date OF December Z, 1903.
"My dear Cameron" 1t began, az
am wondering whether you are back
in New York again. However, you
will probably be there for Christmas
and therefore this letter Will not long
await you. We have been making a
rather leisurely tour Of the east. Ar
rived here two days ago and shall re-
main until some time in January"
The writer then gave general out
line of his travels. you will prob.
ably be surprised to learn that once
you and l passed each other as ships
in the night, save only that we did not
even speak each other in passing" he
went on ut was my last day--indeed
my last hour-iE northern China
Otherwise l should have made search
for you. Just to think! We were II
Picking together, and neither of US
was aware Of it until too late. What
a foregathering We missed Even five
minutes chat would have been some
thing; but | no sooner saw you, thar
the crowd on Legation street swal
lowed you up. Half an hour later
was on the train for Tien-tsn."
The rest Of the letter was rather
,confusingly personal in its references
to mutual friends and interests. Il
was signed: Always with warm re.
gard Addison"
do you suppose that is his first
name or his last?" EVELYN asked me
as we came to it.
Il refuse to suppose I returned,
smiling. ITS an even chance. What
Is more to the point is, how long has
Louis been your uncle s valet?"
Several years.
Several is indefinite Too indef.
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 Addison-signed letters
which might prove enlightening.
"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 81 can't
understand that"
Nor L. I admitted. ''If had asked
him out Of idle curiosity he would
have been justified perhaps in mis-.
leading me; but he must have known
that 1t was in his interest | made the
inquiry"
/ For just moment she sat in 81
lenoe, her narrowed gaze on the glow
Ing embers in the fireplace. Then she
turned to me again
IN