The Ordway new era., 1913-04-11

tion. though quite cognizant OF tn,
facts"
But the girl would have none OF II
Tolerantly sine listened. and tolerant,
she smiled when I had finished.
mo. no. Philip" she insisted. Il sex
1t all quite clearly. Whatever crime
was committed. the creature lynn
there committed 1t. But he 10 not my
uncle. Others mistook the resemblance
for identity, Just as you did. only the
situation was reversed. Those who
abducted Uncle Robert thought they
were abducting that villain we are
now housing"
1t was an ingenious notion. but ol
course 1t was not possible. However
l saw that 1t would be Idle to continue
to dispute with her.
What would you suggest. then
Shall we send our invalid to . hos
pital?" asked. in pretended serious
| ness.
But very sagely she shook her head
"Oh. no." she returned. I'VE mus,
keep him. He is very valuable to US
Perhaps we can do as contendina
armies -do-arrange an exchange OF
prisoners"
In spite Of my wretchedness, I sup.
pressed smile. 1t was all very anus.
ing; and yet the fear that she was suf-
fering alteration due to hysteria, tenn.
pered pitifully the humor Of 1t.
When, later in the afternoon. DR..
Massey called. told him everything.
including this hallucination of Eve
lyn's.
You did perfectly right" he said. in
tone Of cordial approval. THE malady
tendency to distort certain lineaments.
Especially at times of excitement his
face changes. SO that Miss Grayson is
justified in fancying that this 10 not
the Robert Cameron she knew.
have noticed the dissimilarity myself.
but 1t is due. of course. entirely to dis
torted expression. In couple Of days,
at most, he will be fully restored. and
then he himself will be the best one to
rectify her error. Meanwhile. II I were
you. would not dispute her. She has
gone through great deal. and gone
through 1t bravely: indeed with eoar-
age that is quite phenomenal. and she
is entitled to any little consolatory be-
liefs that she chooses to entertain"
And then. as II such advice were not
wholly superfiuous. he added: BE
kind to her. Clyde! be good to her.
She is wonderful young woman"
Whereat I grasped his hand. and
promised him. lifting him notch in
my estimation because of his perspi.
cacity. And all the while lump kept
rising In my throat and threatening
my tear ducts.
On the following day heard moth
ing from Miss Clement. which some
what surprised me, though she had
told me that her prospective inform
ants were likely to take their own
time. Early. on the second morning,
however, I had note from her, the
enigmatic character Of which impelled
me to speculation.
Dear Mr.. Clyde" she wrote. .I hope
you can make It convenient to visit me
this evening. at the Mission. l want
to talk with Ling Fo. an exceptionally
well-educated young Chinaman. who
tells me that his people are much mys-
titled over q recent event: and, II
what he says be true-and I never
knew him to lie-a new complexion is
placed upon this whole matter. Come
about nine-thirty, after our service is
over"
As DR.. Massey's orders forbiddinR
any one save MIR. Bryan to enter Cam.
eron's room. issued Immediately after
our hideous experience. had not yet
been rescinded. our knowledge Of his
condition was, perforce. cleaned entire
ly through physician and nurse. Both
now assured me that he was progress
ing satisfactorily. and that there had
been no return Of the dementia.
Evelyn still persisted in her notion
that the patient was not her uncle. but
his double. and following the doctors
directions refrained from trying to
convince her of the truth: even going
so far as to pretend that believed
.is she did. and planning to begin ne
gotiations through Miss Clement and
her Chinese confidants for an ex.
change OF captives as soon as our host.
age was able to be moved.
Il am to see Miss Clement, tonight"
told her. late that afternoon. ALSO an
Oriental acquaintance Of hers, who ap-
pears to be informed on the subject
which interests US. 1t is possible that
he will prove the very person who can
arrange 1t all.
Let me go with you." she urged,
laying a beseeching hand on my arm
DO let me go with you. Philip. am
SO anxious. It will seem years IL 1
have to wait here for you to bring me
the news; and there are sure to be
some things you will forget to ask
about. II I'm not there to prompt you"
In spite OF the unflattery Of her
speech smiled. indulgent. Her great
blue eyes. pathetically pleading as her
words. were able advocates. 1t was
hard to deny her under any circum.