The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-03-01
CHAPTER xIti.-continued.

This isn't anything like beri-beri.
Is it, DOCTOR" | began. My Ideas or
the disease | mentioned were OF the
haziest character. | knew. however.
that It was common In the Orient. and
thither ! would lead him.
"Oh, no. Mr.. Clyde" he answered.
suavely enough. now. "Beri-beri is
merely the eastern name for multiple
neuritis. You haven't a neur'tts or
you would know it. saw great deal
OF beri .beri in China and on the Malay
peninsula"
do | remember to have heard Cam
eron say he contracted II in the east?"
asked, plunging for connection.
Il don't recall that Cameron ever
had It," was his response. And then
his brow grew thoughtful. Are you
sure he told you that he had; and that
he was attacked while in-in Asia"
I noted his hesitation over fixing the
place, and wondered. At all events I
had arrested his interest. Purposely
] adopted a tone of uncertainty.
"Nn-no. l can't say definitely. But
had an impression that" And there
! paused. When l continued it was
with the direct question; DO you hap
pen to know doctor. whether Cameron
was ever in Picking? 1t seems to me
II was"
81 do know that he was in Peking,'
he interrupted, almost savagely. He
was in Peking. In September. 1903. To
be exact he was there on the four
teenth day OF that month. I have rea-
son to know it--a particular reason
to know it."
After all. how easily the information
l craved had come to me. And yet
I would have been glad to hear the
contrary: for Cameron had assured
me, in all solemnity, that he had never
been In China, and It Jared upon my
conception OF the mans character to
discover that he had tried to deceive
me. l could only conclude that his
purpose was praiseworthy. But Dr.
Addison had not finished.
Tell me-" he was demanding, ca
ge<ly. Tell me. l have excuse for
asking. Has he ever admitted to you
that he was there?"
Now l come to think OF It," I re-
turned. he hasn't. But l had the IN
sure
With an effort the physician COM
manded himself. When he spoke again
he was comparatively composed
Mr.. Clyde" he said apologetically,
IL am not given 20 discussing personal
matters with my patients. but the fact
that you and Cameron are friends,
and the fact that this subject has
come up, make 1t almost imperative.
/ suppose, that l should explain brief
ly the feeling l have just exhibited.
Five years ago Rob Cameron and I
were about as near counterparts OF
Damon and Pythias as ever existed.
While Cameron was In Europe, / had
An opportunity to go around the world
with a patient We dawdled a good
deal, and, you understand how unoer-
tain correspondence is under those
circumstances. l never knew jua
where I should be at any given time
Consequently, number of letters
were missed by both OF us. l was still
thinking OF Cameron as in England or
on the European continent. when 10
and behold, l saw him one morning,
hurrying along the principal street Of
the inner city Of Peking. don't
know whether you have ever been
there or not. but II you have. you
know what that thoroughfare is. 1t
was all hustle and activity that day,
and about as crowded as Broadway at
the aoon hour, but with much more
acturesque and contrasting currents