Mexico Missouri message., 1913-03-13
she wa. on her feet before I could

(
OF suspicion in the look she gave me.
He is asleep" l told her. And
when she had relaxed into the great
chair again. added, temporizing, "Mr.
Bryan will let us know when he
wakens"
| Her disappointment was undis-
guised, and in secret I sympathized
with her. She was experiencing some
thing OF that which had come to me
with his patient. But 1t were better
to divert than to commlserate, and so l
said:
This is the day am to hear from
Miss Clement"
rs it," she asked. indifferently, the
disappointment still ranking. 81 didn't
know"
she has promised me important in
formation before three O'Clock. II she
keeps her word, this whole perplexlng
mystery may very shortly be cleared
up"
Isn't that what you would call
supererogatory? she asked, smiling.
Il should think Uncle Robert could tell
all that is NJ eded, now, himself"
/ was at loss for a moment how to
answer her; and in that moment the
telephone broke in, and did away with
| the necessity Of response.
! The instrument was on the writing
table at my elbow, and with a shall
II" to Evelyn, took the receiver from
the hook and bent TO the transmitter.
"Yes."f said, Miss Grayson Is here.
Who is it, please?" / thought recog-
nized Miss Clements voice, and l was
not wrong. But. after all, It was l
she wanted. She had called up my
rooms and my office. and. unable to
| get me at either place. had taken the
chance that Evelyn might aid her to
my discovery.
You have learned something?"
asked, Disgusting as we'll as | could my
burning interest. II possible, would
keep from Evelyn the least suggestion
of how vitality important l regarded
the news hoped for.
81 hardly know how to explain 1t to
YOU" came Miss Clements reply. 81
was on the verge OF what l am sure
was a most pregnant revelation. l
was to be given names and dates and
circumstances. had been promised
these by one in whom l put the great
est reliance. And now l am asked to
wait another twenty-four hours. Some
thing has happened, my confidant tells
me; something puzzling and utterly
unexpected, and those who know most
of the matter are now most at sea-"
Evelyn must nave seen me smile.
1t was quite evident to me that Miss
Clement was in touch with some one
we'll informed, but II was not that
which provoked the smile. ! smiled
because | felt that Cameron in some
way had outwitted his captors and
gained his freedom. This was the un-
expected happening which had thrown
the villainous slant-eyed camp into
confusion, and rejoiced at my friend s
intrepidity.
And So" said to Miss Clement,
"you wish me to wait another day."
II think It would be worth while"
she answered.
And do, too" told her. Il don't
suppose you've seen an afternoon pa
per, have you?" went on. We'll, they
contain some news of interest. They
night, and for once, at least, they tell
what is very nearly the truth"
If sincerity ever carried over wire
it carried then in Miss Clements con-
CALCULATIONS. and there was something
almost divine in her forbearance to
ask for particulars. She congratulated
Evelyn, too, and promised to come to
see her, soon; and then once more she
assured me that she would yet learn
everything We could possibly care to
know.
"The Chinese" she added, "are a de-
liberate race, Mr.. Clyde. They refuse
to be hurried. But eventually we shall
have our answers"
With Evelyn beside me the hours no
longer dragged. We talked unceasing-
ly: reviewing everything from the re-
ceipt OF the first letter; conjecturing
on each Of the score of little problems
making up the one great mystery, but
arriving at nothing definite; adding, If
changing conditions at all, to our own
confusion.
And IT, in passing, at intervals,
where opportunity offered, spoke ten.
der words and pleaded for a definite
or at least a closer, more intimate un-
Outstanding between us, who shall say
that | was TO blame? She was never
more lovely, never more appealing
than she vas that morning; and
begged for an admission OF a senti.
ment above and beyond the mere sis
terly regard to which hitherto she had
persisted I'm limiting her expressed af-
lection for me.
More than once I had read in her
eyes-with0lt unseemly conceit,
trust ! may be permitted this asser.
tiOn-what now asked in lip avowal
But there a.emed to be with her a no
ton that trc occasion was ill-suited to
my plea
"Phllip." she said, dear Philip,