The Ordway new era., 1913-04-04
CHAPTER XIX.
The Pano Of DIsIlIuslon.


The sick room was dark. So dark
that for a little. until our eyes accus-
toned themselves to 1t. we could bare
ly distinguish objects. But our ears
required no attuning. Even In the pas
sageway. separated by heavy mahog-
any door. We had hint OF what was go.
ing on within; and as we entered. a
hoarse TRADE smote us In the gloom,
like an assault from ambush.
To us both the tone and words were
alike unfamiliar. In infection and
modulation the voice was strange. And
the uttered sounds were q coarse. hor-
rid jargon. Once thought I detected
an English oath. but l was not sure.
Evelyn clutched my hand and
could feel against me the tremble OF
her slim young body. Gladly l would
have spared her this ordeal. but had
been no less unprepared than she. And
now. as gradually shapes defined them
selves less dimly in the gloom. the hor-
ror grew; and. held by 1t. speechless.
inert. stood where had paused
the quivering girl very close beside
me-staring. listening. wondering.
1t was n large room. lofty OF ceiling.
with high windows, across which
heavy curtains were drawn: and the
only light was that which stole be-
tween these hangings or filtered
through three dark. richly-colored.
glass medallions set In side wall.
Cameron's bed. q massive. ornately
carved four.poster. was hung with
fringed and embroidered velvet. and In
the dusk of the chamber 1t took on the
somber likeness of a catafalque. add
Ing to the eerie seeming touch OF the
funereal. Incongruously from the
shadowy midst Of it came that ranted
rigmarole of strange words. now high
pitched. now bass. now cultural.
What had at first seemed a moving
gray patch had developed by degrees
into the white, night.robed. sitting fig
ure Of the invalid. swaying excitedly,
with arms extended in ceaseless ges-
lures. For a long moment this un.
canny object had held my gaze. but
presently near the beds foot, I des-
cried Bryan's white uniform and the
sight brought a measure OF relief. In
response to q beckoning head-tilt. the
nurse Joined us.
"I thought you had better come" he
whispered, quite calmly. Il thought
possibly you might understand what
he Is saying"
But DON'T" whispered back. "If
It's a real language l never heard 1t.
What do you imagine 1t is?"
II have an Idea it's Chinese" he an
swered. ut sounds like the stun you
hear at n Chinese theater. and l
caught two or three words OF pidgin-
English. Just before you" He broke
off suddenly, and plucked at my sleeve.
"There!" he murmured. Did you
hear that? Maskce. That was plain
enough. 1t means never mind A lit
tie while ago he was evidently trying
to hurry some one. 1t was chop-chop
about every other sentence"
EveIyn's eyes shone luminous In the
gloom.
Cant you give him something to
quiet him?" she begged. Its awful to
let him go on like this. It's cruel. He
seems to be in such distress"
II can. Of course" Bryan returned.
But thought Mr.. Clyde was anxious
10 nave eNeIylulAS hS oaAu iSpoiSSob
and"
"Oh. do give him something" she
insisted.
Bryan left us to obey. I saw him
stop at a table near the bed. and in
the half light I caught the CLINT Of
hypcdermic syringe. But. as II scent
ing his purpose. Cameron's voice lulled
abruptly. For a second or two he was
quiet, and then. before any one OF us.
l think. suspected his purpose. he
turned. suddenly. swiftly. and slipped
from beneath the bed clothes to the
floor where he stood erect. with arms
upraised and tensed. shouting In shrill.
strident key what seemed to be orders.
directed not at one but at horde.
The great bed separated him from
both Bryan and myself. but we skirted
it in haste. and came upon him be-
fore he had taken more than single
step. As we confronted him. his arms
lowered and his clenched fists shot
forward threateningly. But far
more startling happening at this juno
ture was his abandonment Of his jar.
gon. and his adoption of ineligible
CTo BE coNTINUED)