The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-25
CHAPTER XVIII.


Cameron's. after a talk with the nurse.
and i promised to return IN an hour.
The interval was devoted to q cold
oath. q shave. aud q change OF cloth
Ing at my rooms: and at six I was
back again. talking once moro with
Checkabeedy who was personally serv-
Ing me with coffee In the breakfast
room.
between you and me-" began,
there IN small need OF conceaiment in
this matter Of Mr.. Cameron's disap-
pearance and return. his coming as re-
markable and mysterious as his going.
think am experienced enough to un-
derstand that such an affair as this
cannot DO kept entirely secret-espe-
ciaily not from Mr. Cameron's ssrv-
ants-and II Ia better, Checkabeedy,
that you should understand II thor
oughly. can fancy the distorted
story that has been circulated below
stairs. That more rumors, wide Of the
truth. have not leaked out and gained
press publicity. speaks very we'll for
you and your stan. and congratulate
you on your loyalty and good judg-
ment All I ask now In that you win
continue TO be guarded In what you
say. "A single unadvised word might
interfere very materially with our ef-
forts TO trace the guilty ones and bring
them to punishment"
And then I told him AZ much an I
deemed wise OF the facts OF the ab.
duction. OF my chance finding III his
master tho previous night. and OF my
anxiety concerning his present condi-
tion.
And above all things, Checkabee-
d." added In conclusion. don't look
'solemn and distressed when Miss Eve
lyn is present. Before her. no matter
how We really feel. We must appear
confdent."
little later the morning papers
were brought In. and I scanned one
after another In search OF some new
twist or turn Of the story Of the previ-
Gus afternoon The more conservative
journals were inclined to make light
OK the scare. "Mr. Cameron" said
one. ceased to be active In the affairs
OF the Crystal Consolidated over two
years ago. u he be I'll. which is by no
means certain. the fact can have but
little real significance so far az the
company OF which he is the largest
shareholder Is concerned. II may be
stated on the best authority that Mr..
Cameron's shares have never been
used speculatively, and that even I'm
the event OF his death they could not
oy any possibility come on the market.
Tor the reason that he has provided a
trust fund. by will. for the benefit OF
his niece. and that they are a part Of
that fund"
The sensational pisss. Of course,
still insisted that the Glass King was
In New England sanitarium, though
theJ mad failed TO locate the institu-
ton. Despite my alarm I smiled at
the thought Of how their afternoon
editions would have to eat the leak, as
the Welsh say.
The papers finished, grew restless,
desired constant news from the sick
room. and lacking II, I roamed about
the house, In nervous unease, my brain
busy with conjecture. forming one
theory after another. and dismissing z
each as readily. The situation was O
tantal;sm. The answer to all the ques
tions which had absorbed me fol
weeks lay dormant In the brain OF the
man sleeping beyond that closed door
Theories. therefore. were now more
futile than ever. The one accomplish
ment 10 be asked was the arouslng OF
an intellect. TIE stirring Of a memory
DIR. Massey had promised that wher
Cameron awakened mental clarity
wodld be restored. that he would be
able TO answer questions with intelli
gence.
II Is hard TO explain why I doubted
tnis. think II must have been some
thing | saw I'm those dull. vacuous
eyes, wben | first looked into them un
der the pale light OF the white.globeC
electric street lamps. II | had beer
forced TO identify Cameron by those
eyes alcne. | should have said thai
this man was not he. They were sc
different. lacking all the expression oi
the Cameron eyes knew. And yet
made no question as 20 hls identity.
knew him. despite this; knew tha
strong chin and jaw. which spelled de
termination In two syllables: knew hi
broad. generous nose. and his high I'm
tellectual forehead. These points o.
recognition were so convincing. that
could AFFORD 10 ignore the ewes haC
never seen before and the wasted
frame and tho shrunken. unsteady
legs.
AZ brief intervals I consulted IN,
clocks. 10 was marvellous how IN,
time dragged. And that nurse! WouS
he never have an erraud outside th,
suite? had told him SHOULD spenC
the morning In the house, and that