The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-03-21

bGCn III nun III hOhAs
Meanwhile DR.. Massey, impelled by
the necessities Of his practice, had
departed, and Yup Sing and the vice
consul, Chen Mok, had arrived and
been relegated to the reception room.
To my relief. Checkabeedy reported
that they were unaccompanied. Mean
while, too, Evelyn had received a call
from Miss Clement and had learned
with some dismay that the mission
ary's Inflated informant had left with
her no more definite information re-
garding Cameron's transportation
than that which she had already con-
veyed TO us.
We're Just starting in a taxicab."
came at length from O'Hara over the
wire. We'll be there in less than half
an hour"
And in less than half an hour they
came, an ignoble, vulgar Quartette
against a stately, pompous back
ground.
met them in the great hall, stand
ing before the broad. sculptured chin
ney-piece.
The three detectives were more or
less Of a piece-gross, coarse, red.
faced men whose hands and feet
seemed out Of all proportion to their
size, bulky as It was. OF the three
O'Hara, possibly because of familiar
ity, struck me as the least offensive.
But after all it was not the detectives
who claimed and held my chief inter
est, but the shrunken, shadow-like
creature they had in charge, whom |
recognized instantly as the supposed
castaway the Sibylla had picked up
that warm October day somewhere
east of Nantucket-the sinking figure
had followed through the press OF
Doyers street almost to my death.
My conjecture was thus in part veri-
fed; John Soy and Peter Johnson
were the same, and 1t only remained
now to prove that the rest of my
guess was as well founded.
Stepping to the door Of the recep'
ton room, l made brief apology for
my detention and bade my two Cath
ayan visitors Join the others.
II think, Mr.. Yup," observed, that
we have here the Eurasian cook OF
the Sable Lorcha about whom you
told me-"
suppose was foolish enough tc
fancy that the merchant would at once
make the Identification l desired.
should have known better. In sub
tlety we are no match for the ancient
race to which Yup. Sing belonged, al
was evidenced by the absolute impene
tration Of his manner, as, after gaz
ing sharply at John Soy, he turned t.
me with a visage as blank as the mar
BILE wall. and, in voice without
shade Of infection, said:
81 do not know him. / have neve
seen him until now"
Had a white man dared to max
such denial, should have laughed II
his face. But the dignity OF tn
Oriental. the perfect aplomb OF nj
manner, including an utter absence o
all that could be construed as feigr
ing, forbade such rejoinder; yet
knew that he had lied.
Come, gentlemen" l said, denyin
myself even the satisfaction of
shoulder shrug, "and we shall decid
whether the man upstairs Is the vi
lain you claim he is, or" but l wa
in no mood to finish the sentence.
The seven of us, crowding into tn
elevator, were lifted to the floor abov'
where I preceded the others to tn
door of what we were wont to ca
Cameron's bedchamber. There
paused.
Pardon me Just moment"
begged, with my hand on the knol
until / see whether everything
ready"
/ had instructed Mr.. Bryan to hav
McNish up and dressed, and l wishe
to make sure that these preparation
were completed. But was hard
prepared for the scene which greetS
my entrance.
McNish, clothed in the suit he he
worn when found him, was in the a
Of closing a drawer Of an old-fas
: toned rosewood secretary which @
0 cupied a place against the right wa
beneath one of the medallioned wi
q dows. And the nurse was nowhere
+ sight.
Startled by the sound of the ope
b ing door, the trespasser half turne
( his hands still on the brass draw(
Q handles; then. at sight Of me.
b wheeled completely and stood defia
with his back to the antique desk.
What are you doing there?" erie
Indignantly. what were you loo
u ing fort"
Even before he spoke l saw I
II look Of cunning come into his sma
furtive eyes.