The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-08
CHAPTER XIV.
Enemies Face to Face.

Enemies Facs to Face.
As events shaped themselves the
problem presented by DR.. Massey
found speedy solution. Had I been
compelled to srapple with It unaided
/ am not yet sure what course should
have pursued. OF my own volition I
mu IT have hesitated to take q step
which could not fail to throw suspi-
cion-at least among the only par
TALLY informed-upon my absent and
defenseless friend. But all choice in
the matter was denied me.
arranged with DR.. Massey that he
should go unaccompanled to his pa
TENTS room. and, without 80 much as
a hint that he was cognizant Of what
had transpired on the previous night,
make whatever examination he
deemed necessary to definite conclu-
sion.
In the meantime, having learned
from Checkabeedy that Evelyn was In
the breakfast room. Joined her there.
Her curiosity had r1pened by nights
suppression; and having dismissed the
footman who was serving her, she at
once demanded the fulfillment Of my
promise to tell her everything.
"It's another case where you have
the right to say, 4 told you SOL be.
gan, as / took chair next to her.
In her wide blue eyes l read that
she OWNED my meaning.
Eyes" went on, the man upstairs
rs not your uncle. We have been
nursing viper, 1t seems, who prom
ises to give us a deal of trouble be-
fore we are through with him."
There was no need for her to cues.
tion me. Rapidly, succinctly, I told
her the story l had learned from Yup
Sing; told her, too, Of the scene In
the bedchamber, after I had left her
on the previous night; and showed
her the letter from McNish's poor old
Scotch mother.
There. there" soothed, as in 81
@nce but with quivering lips and eyes
oVerf1owing, she started to read the
tremblingly penned sentences a sec.
ond time. I'm sorry for the dear old
creature, too, but"
Philip" she interrupted me, her
race and voice alike pleading. "Let
us send him back to her."
Send him back" / repeated in
amazement.
yes We can. can't we? We don't
have to give him up to those horrid
Cinnamon, do We? He's we'll enough
to go, isn't he? Why can't We call a
cao' give him enough money for his
passage and send him, at once?
Ihere's a steamer sailing this morn
Ing. isn't there?"
FOR just a moment I was on the
point OF yielding Seldom has a vii.
ialn mad a more puissant advocate
than had McNish in this enthusiastic.
resolute girl, spurred to his salvation
Dy the pathetic appeal of that mater
nal yearning which breathed from ev.
cry line OF the letter before her The
unselhsh purity Of her cause illumined
and transflgured her. Her beauty was
radiant.
answer me-" she insisted. impa.
uent at my silence. isn't 1t possible?
lsn II really the very best way out OF
a difhculty? 1t will never do to admit
mat we have had that man here in
mistake for Uncle Robert, you know"
But there is something you have
forgotten, my dear child" I objected,
with all the mildness I could bestow
upon the words. "In your wish to give
Joy to this poor old mother-and in
that | am with you heart and soul
you have quite overlooked the fact
that we are still with scarcely a scin-
ulia or information concerning the
present whereabouts of your uncle"
"Oh, no, haven't" was her prompt
reJoinder, "but l don't see what that
has to do with 1t, except that It makes
l. All the more necessary to pretend
taat we still believe this McNish is
he. How will sending McNlsh abroad
hinder And they she broke off,
suddenly, Az ] had rather expected she
would, knowing what a keen brain she
had and how once she got clear per-
spective on the situation, she must sec
again the very point she had suggest.
ed once herself, and which | had still
In mind
You mean" she began again, speak
Ing very slowly now, as she mentally
focused the conditions, that we must
hold McNish az a hostage. and only
give him up when they return Unclo
Robert to us?"
Exactly" ] agreed "Just az two
armies do that are at war-exchango
Prisoners
isn't there any other way?" she
asked, frowning. "Oh, there must be.
! don't care "A straw, You know. for
that wicked man; but. Philip, think