Mexico Missouri message., 1913-03-13
CHAPTER XIX.
The Pans OF Disilluslon.

The Pang OF Disilusion.
The sick room was dark. So dark
that for little. until our eyes accus.
toned themselves to it, we could bare
ly distinguish objects. But our ears
required no attuning. Even in the pas
sageway, separated by heavy mahog
any door, We had hint Of what was go
ing on within; and as we entered, q
hoarse TRADE smote us In the gloom,
like an assault from ambush.
To us both the tone and words were
alike unfamiliar. In infection and
incubation the voice was strauge. And
the uttered sounds were a coarse, hor
rid jargon. Once l thought | detected
an English oath, but | was not sure.
Evelyn clutched my hand and l
could feel against me the tremble or
her slim young body. Gladly would
have spared her this ordeal. but | had
been no less unprepared than she. And
now, as gradually shapes defined them
selves less dimly in the gloom, the hor-
ror grew; and, held by it, speeches.,
inert, / stood where | had paused
the quivering girl very close beside
me staring, listening, wondering.
1t was n large room, lofty Of ceiling,
with high windows, across which
heavy curtains were drawn; and the
only light was that which stole be.
tween these hangings or filtered
through three dark, richly-colored,
glass medallions set in side wall
Cameron's bed, massive, ornatefS
carved four-poster, was hung with
fringed and embroidered velvet, and in
the dusk of the chamber 1t took on tho
somber likeness of a catafalque, aud'
ing to the eerie seeming touch OF the
funereal. anonymously from the
shadowy midst OF 1t came that ranted
rigmarole of strange words, now high
pitched, now bass. now cultural.
What had at first seemed a moving
gray patch had developed by degrees
into the white, night-robed. sitting fig.
ure OF the invalid, swaying excitedly,
with arms extended in ceaseless ges
lures. For a long moment this I'M
canny object had held my gaze, but
presently near the beds foot, | des'
cried Bryans white uniform and the
sight brought a measure of relief. In
response to a beckoning head-tilt, the
nurse joined us.
Il thought you had better come" he
whispered. quite calmly. 81 thought
possibly you might understand what
he is saying"
But | don't" whispered back. IF
it's a real language l never heard 1t.
What do you imagine 1t is?"
Il have an idea it's Chinese" he an.
swered. at sounds like the stuff you
hear at a Chinese theater, and
caught two or three words of pidgin.
English. just before you" He broke
off suddenly, and plucked at my sleeve,
"There!" he murmured. did you
hear that? Maskce. That was plain
enough 1t means never mind A lit
tie while ago he was evidently trying
to hurry some one. 1t was chop-chop
about every other sentence"
Evelyn's eyes shone luminous in the
gloom.
Cant you give him something to
quiet him." she begged. IT'S awful to
let him go on like this. It's cruel. He
seems to be In such distress"
81 can, of course" Bryan returned
but / thought Mr.. Clyde was anxious
TO have everything he said reported
and"
"Oh, do give him something" she
| insisted.
Bryan left us to obey. | saw him
stop at a table near the bed, and In
the half light caught the CLINT OF a
hypodermic syringe. But, as If scent
ing his purpose, Cameron's voice lulled
abruptly. For a second or two he was
quiet, and then, before any one of us
think, suspected his purpose, he
turned, suddenly, swiftly, and slipped
from beneath the bed clothes to the
| floor where he stood erect, with arms
appraised and tensed, shouting in shrill
strident key what seemed to be orders
directed not at one but at a horde.
The great bed separated him from
both Bryan and myself, but we skirted
1t IN haste, and came upon him be,
fore he mad taken more than a single
step. As we confronted him, his arms
| lowered and his clenched fists shot
forward threateningly. But a far
more startling happening at this juno
ture was his abandonment of his Tar
gon, and his adoption OF ineligible
| English.
CTO BE CONTINUED