The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-03-07

n tall. antique bureau between the
darkly curtained windows; the cham
Der was In semi-glCom. 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 a 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 II stricken
all at once with total paralysis. For a
heartbeat or two | think [ stopped
breathing. But my eyes meanwhile
We're strained nxedly upon the appari-
ton. and seeing IL pass with almost In.
credible swiftness beneath the One
dim light above the bureau, recog-
uized Cameron.
At the same moment the room was
flooded with a 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?
I. told you. Cameron. that you must not
leave your bed unless ! am with YOU"
l saw Cameron cover under the up
| braiding. In his eyes | read terror.
and all my sympathy was aroused on
this instant. Bryan might be carrying
out DR.. Massey's orders. but he APP
peared TO me unnecessarily harsh.
| What were you doing?' he insist
ed; and then | saw him roughly grasp
his patients arm. and hold IL up. re-
vealing tightly clenched hand.
MIR. Bryan" ! cried in remon-
STRANGE. Gently. gently. Remember"
But the nurse paid small heed to
me. He was busy opening the doubled
fist.
stood now where ] could look Cam.
eron squarely in the face. but my gaze
was elsewhere. 1t was his left hand
over which Bryan was engaged, and
from his wrist to his elbow the sleeve
Of his white night robe had been
-
arm. marked precisely as Bryan had
described it.
Scrutinigingly l bent forward. The
tattooing was :ndisputabie, and. as the
nurse had said. 1t bore no evidence Of
being recent work.
Up to that moment I had hoped
against hope that in some way or 9TH
err q misconception had occurred. I
had hoped. suppose, for the perform
ance Of some miracle which would ex-
! onerate this man. Aud now that hope
as obliterated by those blue-pricked
e leers ID. M. N. beneath an almost ex-
act facsimile OF the black smudge
T. whia had taken the place OF signature
y ON eah of the three threatening let
Q ters-tf black smudge. of which Cam
eron. waring 1t then indelibly upon
l. the cuticle had dared to feign utter
ignorance.
e And vet. 7 ased myself once more.
how was IL that mad never noticed
e it before? Again all. again had seen
e that forearm barred. Srely would
% have observed so odd mrk certain
ly | would have been peplexed by
= those three uniting initials
!, There. now!" Bryan was sayins
!, =, Back to bed with you, Cameron. Wha
= did you want this letter for, anyway
- II it was necessary for you to have II
couldn't | have got it for you?"
u Give it back to mel" Cameron wa
il pleading, piteously. Give il back t
me- 1t is a private matter. Give
Is back TO me, or destroy 1t before m
eyes. Burn IL, here. before me-"
u Let me have it, Mr.. Bryan"
r. asked, and turning to the unhappy ger
r, tleman | said: You'll trust me, won
'e you, Cameron? III destroy il, unread
u If you wish il.
II No, no no" he objected, earnestl,
Give ii back to me-"
e. But even as he demanded it, Brya
3 put II in my hands; and spreading
b out-for il had been crumpled to a pc
" let i'm the invalid's clutch--I was abou
~ to humor him, when the superscriptio
caught my eye and held it,
y The envelope bore the name and a,
v dress: Donald McNish. Taylor's II,
ot tel New York City, u. s. A."
'u GRO BE CONTINUED