Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-02-06


aso Of the house on the corner--ths
only really individual house In The
row.
My first rough concept was that
had come upon incapabiiity resulting
from intemperance. At closer view.
however, I tempered my Judgment
The possibility OF illness or injury In.
tervened, and paused samaritan.iiks
to offer succor, The wayfsrer was evi.
IDENTIFY a man Of middle age, II I might
Judge from the contour Of his back.
which was towards me. and I saw at
once that he was struggling to keep
upon his feet by sheer muscular hand
hold Of the railings iron uprights. for
his knees were bent threateningly and
his arms were extended and tense.
Until was close beside him lie gave
no sign of realizing my presence. In
deed think It was not until .poke
that he half turned his hes' ards
me. and. for the first time. sight
Of his features.
made a sound. or stood for long mo
ment silent, cannot say. know only
that doubted my eyes and questioned
my reason: for. II these were not
playing me false, the profile thus re-
vealed to me was the profile OF Robert
Cameron.
To try to sot down in detail just
what followed must be an idle effort.
with fancy providing the bulk Of the
ingredients Surprised, amazed, as
founded even. are all too feeble terms
to apply to my emotional condition.
Dazedly. was foundering in what
seemed a veritable sea Of unreality.
When the commonplaces began to re-
adjust themselves. was standing at
the curb, my arm wound supportingly
about Cameron's waist and his arm
pressing heavy on my shoulder. Draw
ing in to US was an empty hanson
cab, provided by Providence. and
hailed, suppose, by me. though
swear l have no recollection OF It.
The cabman helped me to lit him
in. and at this the pity OF his plight
smote me, tempering the Joy Of having
found him. and quickening within me
spirit Of angry retaliation against
his enemies For the man now at my
side was far different from that man
who had sat with me on the after deck
Of the Sibylla. only four weeks ago. He
was. indeed. 1t seemed to me little
more than the husk Of the Cameron
had known. In facial conformation the
change was not 80 marked, though his
expression was pathetically at vari-
ance with anything had ever before
seen him wear The lines Of his face
were drawn. as with pain. and his eyes
were dull to vacancy. He lolled.
sleazily. in a crumpled heap in his cor
ner. like a spineless manikin; and
though piled him eagerly with a flood
Of questions. he might have been deaf
mute for all the answers he accorded
me. Once ! thought he shook his
head In negation, but was later
forced to conclude that this was invol.
untary. being caused by the roll Of the
cab al one Of It's wheels encountered .
depression in the roadway.
Yet in spite Of his sorriness Of pres
ence and demeanor-in spite too OF the
tormenting mystery OF his return,
which was scarcely less bafiiing than
the mystery Of his departure-it was
at least relief 10 know that he was
alive and out Of the power Of those
that were bent upon his harm. Good
nursing. coupled with skilful medical
attention. had just worked wonders
for ne. and ! was confident that II
would do the same for him: and then
we should have facts and not theories
TO aid us in our quest for the c1lpyiis.
and. eventually, in the administrator
Of Justice 10 the guilty
had given the cabnan the number
Of The Cameron house and admonished
him 10 make all possible speed: 90,
with the long lash OF the whip snap
ping sharply at brief intervals and the
faded horse. thus urged, bounding at q
clumsy. numbering gallop. we rolled
noisily northwsrd- Having given over
the effort to obtain from my fellow
passenger even a gestured answer TO
my most pertinent inquiries. l turned
my mind TO what lay before u. The
Cameron establishment would doubt.
less be fast locked In slumber AZ we'll
as otherwise. but | made small ques-
tion Of my ability to rouse some OF the
servants. My hope. however, was not
TO awaken Evelyn. II could mean only
a nights rest lost for her. for she
could gain nothing by seeing her uncle
at this hour, considering his condition.
! was still busy planning when a
mighty hand on the lines brought our
horse to his launches. and ourselves
nearly out through the suddenly part
ed apron; and the Cameron residence
loomed massive and dark on our r,ght.
A | stepped 10 the sidewalk ths