The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-05

Of your coantrymen."
Tattoo marks and scars show age
no less than faces" the merchant re-
piled. Both Of these are years old.
Any capable judge of such things will
tell you that. Possibly Mr.. Bryan can
tell"
"The scar is not fresh one" said
the nurse. "As to tattoo marks, am
not experienced: but shouldn't think
the mark on Mr.. Cameron's arm was
put there recently"
Gentlemen" l said, making final
stand, while I do not question Mr..
Bryan's entire honesty in this matter,
nevertheless / prefer to see these
marks OF Identification, myself. II you
will excuse us for five minutes, I shall
not be longer"
At the foot Of the grand staircase,
Evelyn Joined me. Bryan, at my sug-
gestion, went to the elevator and as.
cended that way, while she and slow.
ly climbed the broad, velvet-carpeted
marble steps to the floor above.
II thought you were never coming
out Of that room," she declared, nerv.
ously. "Once, I was on the verge Of
going after you. The first time you
rang for Checkabeedy. / mean.
What did you have him telephone for?
He absolutely refused to tell me.
Was 1t the two policemen? &.
What did you want them for?. g.
Why did you let them go away again :!
Aren't those Cinnamon ever
going! What on earth did you
want with Mr.. Bryan: What
are you going upstairs for. now?"
How tactfully answered these ques-
tions and others l shall not attempt to
decide. ! know only that I set my
teeth to guard the one problem which
absorbed me, and which for worlds
would not have her know.
1T is all right. Evelyn" I assured
her, over and over again. There Is
not the smallest danger. They
came to give me information. &.
You must be very tired, little girl.
. Go to bed, now, and forget it
all until morning. Yes, I'll
tell you everything, then"
wonder how many women there
are who, burning with curiosity as she
was, would have obliged me as she
did! Is it pardonable, then, If again
say that throughout all this trying ex-
perience she proved herself a girl Of a
thousand?
Bryan was waiting for me in the
passage outside Cameron's door.
Il left him sleeping" he explained,
"and, II possible. I don't wish to dis
turb him: so We'll go in quietly to-
gether."
Slowly and with infinite care lest
he make the least noise he turned the
knob. Quite as cautiously he opened
the door, and tiptoeing softly. We en-.
tered.
1t was the first time had been in
the room since the day Of that terrible
outburst, and 1t still held for me an at
mosphere as grewsomely forbidding
as that of tomb.
Only one lowered light burned, over
tall. antique bureau between the
darkly curtained windows; the cham.
Der was In semi-gloom. But scarcely
had passed Bryan, who stopped to
close the door with the same adroit
silence with which he had accom-
plished its opening. than stealthily
moving white figure defined itself, is
suing, apparently from massive
carved wardrobe, which stood against
the wall opposite the huge, testered
bed.
The spectacle was at least arresting.
know halted abruptly as IL stricken
all at once with total paralysis. For a
heartbeat or two l think / stopped
breathing. But my eyes meanwhile
were strained fixedly upon the appari-
ton. and seeing it pass with almost in.
credible swiftness beneath the one
g.; 'eNt hove the bureau, | n .Jr
aiZld Cameron.
At the same moment the room was
Hooded with sudden glare. Bryan too
had seen, and had switched on the
electrics. simultaneously he flashed
past me and was at his patients side
What does this mean?" heard him
say. What did you want? Can't
trust you alone for ten minutes?
told you, Cameron, that you must not
leave your bed unless l am with you"
saw Cameron cover under the up
braluing. In his eyes / read terror,
and all my sympathy was aroused On
this instant. Bryan might be carryir (,
out DR.. Massey's orders, but he ap-
peared to me unnecessarily harsh.
What were you doing?" he insist
ed; and then saw him roughly grasp
his patients arm, and hold it up, re-
ve&ling a tightly clenched hand.
"Mr. Bryant" l cried in remon-
STRANGE. Gently, gently. Remember"
But the nurse paid small heed to
me. He was busy opening the doubled
fist.