The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-02-14
CHAPTER XIX.
The Pana Of pislIluslon.

The Pang Of Disillusion.
The sick room was dark. So dark
that for a little, until our eyes accus-
toned themselves to ii, 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
! meditation the voice was strange. And
| the uttered sounds were coarse. hor-
\ rid jargon. Once ] thought ] detected
an English oath. but was not sure.
Evelyn clutched my hand and I
could feel against me the tremble Of
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 il, speechless,
inert. stood where had paused
the quivering girl very close beside
me-staring. listening, wondering.
1t was a 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.
al toll
carved four-poster, was hung with
fringed and embroidered velvet. and in
the dusk OF the chamber~it took on the
somber likeness Of a catafalque, add
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 long moment this un-
canny object had held my gaze, but
presently near the beds foot, des-
sight brought measure Of relief. In
response to a reckoning head-tilt, the
nurse joined us.
Il thought you had better come" he
whispered, quite calmly. II thought
, possibly you might understand what
he Is saying"
But | don't" whispered back. III
it's real language ! never heard 1t.
What do you imagine ii is?"
n have an idea it's Chinese" he an.
swered. 1T sounds like the stuff you
hear at Chinese theater, and
caught two OF three words OF pidgin-
English, just before you" He broke
of suddenly, and plucked at my sleeve.
"There!" he murmured. Did you
hear that? Maskce. That was plain
enough, Ii means never mind A lit
tie while ago he was evidently trying
to hurry some one. II 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. ITS awful to
let him go on like this. It's cruel. He
seems TO be in such distress"
II 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 table near the bed, and in
the half light | caught the CLINT Of
hypodermic syringe. But, as II scent
ing his purpose, Cameron's voice lulled
abruptly. For 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 horde.
The great bed separated him from
both Bryan and myself, but We skirted
1t In haste, and came upon him be-
fore he had taken more than single
step. As we confronted him. his arms
lowered and his clenched lists shot
forward overwhelmingly. But far
more startling happening at this juno.
ture was his abandonment OF his jar.
gon. and his adoption OF ineligible
English.
CTO BE CONTINJ'ED)