The San Francisco call., 1913-07-27


finding of the bullet pierced piece OF
canvas
My description of Murphy elected
from him a recollection. He remen1-
bered having seen the man once.
1t was on the fourth of July. Evelyn
and Mrs. Lancaster, Cameron's house.
keeper. had accompanied Cameron to
what Is called The Port of Missing
Men," resort for motorists on the
summit Of Titicus mountain. They
had Iunched there and were returning
by q route which took them through
some Of the most slorious scenery In
the whole state Of Connecticut. For .
while they had been following
stream. willow sirt. that went habbliug
down over = rocky bed. They had
stopped the car and aHghted for 4
better view. and so had come upon
the unexpected.
Seated upon great boulder, his
feet in the water and hts easel planted
between the stones OF the streams
shadows, was red headed, red
bearded Colossus In soiled suit of
Khaki and a nlonstrous straw hat. All
three OF them made bold to peep over
the painters shoulder at his work and
then to shower him with laudatory
and .congratulatory phrases.
Il can fancy how he thanked you,
broke in. smiling. Il suppose he
said something very rude"
He said nothing at all. He simply
stopped painting, and. turning, fixed
his eyes upon me. 1t was as IL he saw
neither one Of us. After a moment
it grew embarrassing, and. though !
did not resent it--feeling rather that
we ourselves had been in the wrong
l very speedily withdrew. To my SUR
prise he rose from his stone seat and
followed us up the little activity to
the road, watching in silence until we
got back into our car and wheeled
away"
ibid you gather from his inspection
that he recognized you or thought he
recognized your / asked.
Il gathered only that he meant to be
insufferably rude" was Cameron's an
swer.
And you have never seen him
since?'
Never"
He has evidently seen you. He
spoke OF the Russian wolfhounds that
go about with YOU
Cameron made no response.
Well" I added in tone meant to
be reassuring. Il think we need have
little fear of continuance of this
singular method of annoyance. Though
we can't trace it directly to Murphy
and his unfortunate Mongolian, I
thoroughly believe that one or the
other was responsible. With the
Chinaman dead and Murphy in jail. the
persecution will cease. See II I'm not
right"
My hope OF putting Cameron at ease.
however. was not rewarded. He con-
tfnued to exhibit signs of an almost
constant apprehension.
The twenty-first Of September fell
that year on Monday. We spent the
better part of the day golfing over the
Apawamis links at Rye. for as q spe-
cific for nerves I have ever found that
game of rare benefit. In the present
instance it more than fulfilled my ex-
pectations. Cameron. apparently at
least. forgot everything save his de-
sire to outdrive. outapproach and out
put me. And when it was over. and
with sharpened appetites we drove
back to Cragholt for dinner. he ap-
peared stimulated by a new found
courage.
Neither OF us mentioned the subject,
and as the hours went by without
sign the conviction grew that Murphy.
with hands tied. was frettinx over the
coup he vas deferred from compass
Ing.
Mrs. Lancaster, whom / have men
toned merely rs Camsfon's house
keeper, but who was In addition dts-
tant kinswoman and acted as . sort
of duenna' to Evelyn. dined with Us
that evening. and our little partie car
rec seemed to me more than usually
merry. IT sratifed me to see my host
SO unfeignedly cheerful.
After dinner we had the usual music
and Evelyn sang again that lyric Of
Baudelaire's, this time in the original
French.
When I had finished applaudins
Cameron turned to me.
do you like Baudelaire?
Il like his art" answered, and his
frank artinciality.'
He appeals to me,' Cameron con-
fessed. "decadent though he u. Did
you ever see my copy Of his .rlsurs du
NAL? The casket is worthy Of its
contents. 1t is the most sxQuisitely
bound little volume l ever saw. Come,