The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-05-15

the morning greeted me with bocom
Ing imperturbalIlity | recognized him
as ono OF the men from CraEholt, and
called him by name.
stephen" said. with an effort to
disguise tho excitement with which
my every pulse was throbbng, your
master is outside in n cab. He is very
weak and viii need assistance. Get
another man to aid me, and then
awaken Mr.. Chcckabecdy and Louis.
And make haste. No, can't come IN;
III walt outside" He turned away in
obedience to my directions, but
checked him. And, Stephen"
charged, no word to any one else. Na
you value your position; especially no
word TO Miss Grayson."
| maryeIled at tho mans preserved
unemotion. His Very good, sir" was
uttered with all the stolidity which
marks response to the commonplace;
ana yet knew that he WIS fully con.
scloua Of the eventfuEess Of this late
and urlooked.for homecoming. And
the footman who Joined me few min.
utes LATER was not less well.trainod.
Together he and | lifted Cameron
from the hanson and carried him up
the broad fight Of granite steps, be-
tween the massive guarding lions, and
placed him in a great chair In the
hall, before the wide, Bculptured fire.
place And though this would probably
provo the most exciting topic Of the
servants hall for weeks to come, he
gave not the smallest sign that he was
taking part In other than the usual.
Checkabcody the butler. however,
though no less perfect a servtor, was
more privileged; and Louis, volatile
as the most characteristic Of his coun.
trymcn. collapsed utterly, without ef.
fort apparently at Gny restraint what.
ever. The formers interest was owl
denccd In n commiseratnply lugubri.
OuG yisagc and a few blunt questions,
but the Frcuchmnn wept and sobbed
in wurdlCss sympathy. And | had II
not in my heart to blame either, for a
more p!.iful picture than the one pre-.
aentcd by the restored Cameron as he
sat there in his own spacious hall,
gazing with lack.lustcr eyes at tho
dcnd md dying embers on the hearth
before him. | hope never to see.
Tho butler. rudy and rotund, and
looking for all the world Ike well.
fed monk, for he wore n bathrobe OF
sombor hue and his crown was barer
thnn any shaven tonsure, stared for a
moment In sad silence. Then, turning
to me, he asked:
But what has happened to Mr.. Cam.
eron. sir?"
Il wish | could tell you. Checka,
bccdy," was my unguarded reply. Il
wish he could tell us himself"
but he is so wasted. sir! And his
clothes. never saw Mr. Cameron In
such clothes"
1t was quite true. They were OF
what is called, believe, pepper.and.
salt mixture. coarse Of texture and Ill.
cut, yet not much worn.
He does not recognize u.s." Checka.
boedy went on. and still he Is con,
scIous May ask you. sir where you
brought him from"
chose to ignore the question, IN
sudden realization of the necessity OF
caution.
And he has been missing Il month.
they say. sir. Is that true. Mr.. Clyde?"
Missing" repeated, Who says
he has been mIssing?"
The servants all say so, sir"
Then the servants must get rid Of
The idea, at once" said. sharply. "Mr
Cameron has merely been out of town
for while He went away for his
health, and now he has returned, bene.
fitted. Do you understand, Checka.
beedy? He has returned. benefited
And now, you and Louis will get him
10 his room. while I telephone for DR.,
Massey"
Checkabeedy bowed, asserting. and
Louis. still whimpering. wiped hia
eyes.
II was nearly four o'clock when the
physician left his patient and joined
me in the library downstairs. Hi1 face
was very grave.
Il have examined Mr. Cameron thor,
opghly," he said, "and can assure
spu that he is not seriously injured"
The phrase opened up a new line Of
thmght TO me.
Seriously injured?" repeated. 81
don't understand. Doctor. Do you
mean that"
Il mean" he interrupted. that the
blow on the back OF the head caused
no fracture"
Then he was struck"
Undoubtedly. Probably with o
sandbag. Hence his present dazed son.
ditIon. Had the blow been delivered
with moro force. It might have result.
ed In complete loss OF memory. You
have heard. Of course. Of instances
where men have forgotten even their
own names?"
nodded.
Mr.. Cameron will regain his mem,
ory. It's merely a temporary matter. ]
have telephoned for man nurse for
him---one who understands such casen
T. n T..