The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-02-07

- WV VI tHr mcu lToH tfdSHoit' ehu
called him by name.
Stephen" said, with an effort to
disguise the excitement with which
my every pulse was throbbing, your
master is outside In a cab He is very
weak and will need assistance. Get
awaken Mr.. Checkabeedy and Louis.
And make haste. No, can't come in:
Ill walt outside" He turned away In
obedience TO my directions, but l
checked him. And. Stephen"
charged. mo word to any one else. AZ
you value your position; especially no
word to Miss Grayson."
| marveiled at the mans preserved
unemotion. His @very good, sir" was
uttered with all the stolidity which
marks response to the commonplace;
and yet | knew that he was fully con-
scious Of the eventfulnsss of this late
and uniooksd-for homo coming. And
the footman who joined me few min
utes later was not less welttrsined.
Together. he and lifted Cameron
from the hanson and carried him up
the broad flight Of granite steps, b.e-
tween the massive guarding lions. and
placed him In great chair In the
hall. before the wide, sculptured fire.
place. And though this would probably
prove the most exciting topic OF the
servants hall for weeks to come. he
gave not the smallest sign that he was
taking part in other than the usual.
Checkabeedy, the butler. however.
though no less perfect q servitor, was
more privileged; and Louis, volatile
as the most chara cteristic of his coun-
! trymen. collapsed utterly, without eff
| fort apparently, at any restraint what
| ever. The formers interest was evil
| denced in commiseratingly lugubri-
Gus visage and a few blunt questions.
but the Frenchman wept and sobbed
In wordless sympathy. And | had It
not in my heart to blame either, for a
more pitiful picture than the one pre-
scented by the restored Cameron as he
I, sat there in his own spacious hall.
gazing with lack-luster eyes at the
dead and dying embers on the hearth
before him, hope never to see.
The butler. rudy and rotund, and
looking for all the world like a we'll
| fed monk, for he wore a bathrobe OF
somber hue and his crown was barer
than any shaven tonsure, stared for q
moment in sad silence. Then. turning
to me, he asked
But what has happened to Mr.. Cam
eron, sir?"
II wish | could tell you, Checka-
beedy," was my unguarded reply. Il
| wish he could tell us himself"
But he is so wasted. sir! And his
clothes. never saw Mr.. Cameron In
such clothes"
II was quite true. They were OF
what Is called. / believe, a pepper-and
salt mixture, coarse OF texture and i'll
cut. yet not much worn.
HE does not recognize u.s." Checka
beedy went on. "and still he Ia con
scious. May ask you, sir. where you
brought him FROM"
4 chose to ignore the question, II
sudden realization OF the necessity o
caution.
And he has been missing a month
they say. sir. Is that true. Mr.. Clyds?'
Missing" | repeated. Who say
he has been missing?"
THE servants all say 80, sir"
Then the servants must get rid o
the idea, at once" / said. sharply. "Mr
Cameron has merely been out Of towI
for a while. He went away for hi
health, and now he has returned. bene
ited DO you understand. Checks
beedy? He has returned, benefited
And now, you and Louis will get hin
to his room. while telephone for ID
Massey"
Checkabeedy bowed. asserting, nm
Louis. still whimpering, wiped hi
eyes.
II was nearly four o'clock when tn
physician left his patient and joine
me In the library downstairs. His fac
was very grave.
Il have examined Mr.. Cameron thor
oughly," he said, land ! can assur
you that he is not seriously injured"
The phrase opened up a new line o
thought to me.
: Seriously injured" | repeated.
don't understand. Doctor. DO yo
mean that"
} IL mean" he interrupted. that tn
blow on the back OF the head causes
, no fracture"
Then he was struck"
Undoubtedly. Probably with
sandbag. Hence his present dazed cor
, dition. Had the blow been delivere'
, with more force. 1t might have result
| ed In complete loss OF memory. Yo
/ have heard. OF course, Of instance
I where men have forgotten even thei
{ own names?"
! nodded
, mir. Cameron will regain his mem
DRY. It's merely a temporary matter
: have telephoned for man nurse 70
him--one who understands such cases
! He will be here in twenty minutes. A
present MIR. Cameron Is sleeping.
| am In hopes that when he aNakens hi
} mind will be comparatively clear
fTs1 pE, CnNNrNrvL.s