The Ordway new era., 1913-03-21
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phrase that my recovery was moth
ing short of a miracle"
1t was on the eleventh day that I
was first permitted to see and talk
with Evelyn. My mother had called
daily. sitting In silence beside my
bed. but no other visitor in all that.
to me. seemingly endless period, had
been admitted to my room.
My curiosity was by now very keen
to learn what had developed in the
interval regarding the Cameron mys-
terry. Had he. by chance. been heard
from? What had the detective agency
reported concerning Philetus Muir
ply? And what, I wished to know
most of all. had Yup Sing discovered? :?
was in dressing gown. pillowed
and footstooled In a great leather
chair awaiting my visitors-for Mrs.
Lancaster came with Evelyn-when
their names were announced. ! sup
pose l looked ill-though, save for a
grievous weakness, l was feeling At
enough-for Evelyn's smile as she en-
tered merged instantly into IN ex-
preston OF mingled anxiety and sym
pathy. I know that with her coming
for Information was a far less moving
factor than my craving for sight of
her and for the music Of her voice,
and my only regret was that the un-
derstanding between US had not
reached the stage Of acknowledged
betrothal; which, I make haste to
add. was certainly no fault of mine.
Weak as I was my arms ached to fold
her In a reassuring embrace; yet
must l content myself with a mere
fervent hand-clasp and an oral decla-
ration that was by\ no means so
feeble as appeared.
Nevertheless l was delighted to see
that she gave small evidence OF the
strain she had been under. Save for
a slight additional pallor she was still
the same wholesome-looking. thor
l.oughly-poised girl Of fortnight ago.
And my admiration for her took on an
added measure because Of this rencw-
ed evidence Of her sterling courage.
And you promised me to be dis
creet!" she reproached, her smile re-
turning. her hand still in mine.
II did not foresee suchsprovocation
to indiscretion." pleaded. with an
attempted gayety Of tone that must
have seemed incongruous. ITO have
been discreet under the circum-
stances would have Involved a repeti-
tion Of the one mistake for which you
blamed me. You don't know, of
course. why jumped down ladder
into pitch-black cellar. do you?"
Il know. you were in pursuit OF
some one-a pickpocket. they say.
who had taken your watch
DO they say that?" asked, inter.
ested.
THAT is what Miss Clement learn
ed"
Miss Clement?" I querIed. "who
is Miss Clement"
"Oh. forgot that you don't know.
Miss Clement Is the missionary who
found you In the-is 1t hop Joint
they call IT."
THE lady with the kind ey esq"
At my designation her face bright
ened responsively.
you remember her. then!" she
cried. delightedly. Hasn't she kind
eyes? And she doesn't belle them.
either. She's Just the dearest. most
self-sacrificing creature I ever knew"
For the moment we had both for
gotten Mrs. Lancaster. and when /
would have apologized l found that
my nurse had carried her of into the
next room and was interestedly show
ing her some framed photographs of
the Siena cathedral.
And Miss Clement learned that I
pursued pickpocket?" | went on,
when Evelyn had drawn a chair near
me and sat down. "A very clever
explanation to account for the disap-
pearanoe Of my watch, but not the
true one. AS a matter of fact, the
person l followed was a miscreant of
deeper dye. When I last saw him.
previous to this encounter, he was
known as Peter Johnson"
Wide-eyed. the girl stared at me for
an instant.
Peter Johnson" she repeated.
slowly. so. l was right. He was in
the plot. He had something to do
with Uncle Roberts disappearance.
He was the one who broke the amyl
pearls on board the yacht"
1t was my turn now to start. OF
what was this young woman talking?
"Amyl pearls!" Was I mad, or was
she?
She saw my perplexity, and hasten
ed to enlighten me.
"Oh, dear. Phillip" she exclaimed.
Il forgot again. There is so much to
tell you. Really, hardly know where
to begin. Miss Clement has been Of
such aid to us! She is what they call
an Independent missionary That is,
she has no afflliation with any of the
church societies or reform associa-
tions. For fifteen years she has been
working in Chinatown among the
white women. and she knows the
place and the people as II she we're
indeed one Of them. I had her out at
CraHholf for a daY and Iyo soa., har