The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-02-07
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from intemperanoe. AT closer view,
however. ] tempered my Judgment.
The possibility OF illness or injury In
tervened. and paused Samaritan-iike
to offer succor The wayfarer was evil
IDENTIFY a man Of middle age. IL might
Judge from the contour OF his back.
which was towards me. and | saw at
once that he was struggling 10 keep
upon his feet by sheer muscular hand
hold OF the ratings iron uprights. for
his knees We're bent threateningly and
his arms We're extended and tense.
Until was close beside him he gave
no sign OF realizing my presence. In
deed | think II was not until spoke
that he half turned his head towards
me. and, for the first time. got sight
OF his features.
Whether or not | uttered a word, or
ment silent, | cannot say. know only
that l doubted my eyes and questioned
my reason: for. IL these were not
playing me false. the profile thus re-
yealed to ne was the profile OF Robert
Cameron.
To try to set down In detail just
| what followed must be IN idle effort.
with fancy providing the bulk of the
ingredients Surprised, amazed. as
| founded even, are all too feeble terms
| to apply to my emotional condition.
Dazedly. | was Aonndering In what
| seemed veritable sea OF unreality.
When the commonplaces began to re.
| adjust themselves, ] was standing at
the curb. my arm wound supportingly
about Cameron's waist and his arm
pressing heavy on my shoulder. Draw.
ing In to US was an empty hanson
cab, provided by Providence. and
hailed. | suppose. by me. though |
swear ! have no recollection Of 1t.
| The cabman helped me to lift him
In. and at this the pity OF his plight
smote me. tempering the Joy OF having
found him. and quickening within me
a spirit OF angry retaliation against
his enemies For the man now at my
side was far different from that man
who had sat with me on the after deck
OF the Sibylla, only four weeks ago. He
: was, indeed, It seemed to me little
more than the busk or the Cameron
had known. In facial conformation the
change was not 30 marked. though his
expression was pathetically at vari.
ance with anything had ever before
seen him wear. The lines OF his face
were drawn. as with pain, and his eyes
were dull to vacancy. He lolled
sleazily. In crumpled heap In his cor
ner, like a spineless manikin; and
though piled him eagerly with flood
OF questions, he might have been a deaf
mute for all the answers he accorded
me. Once thought he shook his
head in negation. but was later
forced to conclude that this was invol
untary, being caused by the roll Of the
cab AZ one of its wheels encountered Q
depression in the roadway.
Yet In spite of his sorriness OF pres
ence and demeanor-in spite too Of the
tormenting mystery of his return
which was scarcely less banning thar
the mystery OF his departure-it wal
at least a relief TO know that he wal
alive and out of the power Of those
that were bent upon his harm. Coco
nursiBg. coupled with skiIful medica
attention, had just worked wonders
for me, and I was confident that Il
would do the same for him; and ther
we should have facts and not theories
to aid us In our quest for the culprits
4 and, eventually, In the administrator
OF justice to the guilty.
had given the cabman the numbe
OF the Cameron house and admonishet
him to make all possible speed; SO
with the long lash OF the whip snap
ping sharply at brief intervals and tn,
faded horse. thus urged. bounding at {
clumsy. numbering gallop. We rolle'
noisily northward. Having given owe
the effort to obtain from my fellow
passenger even gestured answer 4
, my most pertinent Inquiries, turne,
. my mind to what lay before US. Tn
Cameron establishment would doubt
less be East locked In slumber as wei
as otherwise, but | made small ques
ton Of my ability to rouse some OF tn
servants. My hope, however, was no
! to awaken Evelyn. II could mean onl
nights rest lost for her. for sh
, could gain nothing by seeing her incl
at this hour. considering his condition
was still busy planning when
, mighty hand on the lines brought OIL
! horse to his launches. and ourselve
nearly out through the suddenly par
ed apron; and the Cameron residenc
, doomed massive and dark en- our righ
As I stepped TO the sidewalk tn
driver descended. too, but | motione
, him back
Never mind, thank you" | sale
"Fll get some one from inside to hel
carry him." And I'm moment m
: thumb was on the push-button an
family there came back to me throug
, heavy double doors the far-off echo {
the BELL, Earring against the silence c
the great house.
Th, promptness with which chain
fell and bolts were drawn surprise
. ne And yet. suppose. il was mei,
. ~ IN evidence Of the perfect mar
; agement of an establishment wherei
; every contingency is provided agains
\ footman, as irrenroachably liverie
and grocmcd as though the time wer
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