The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-15


ring to avoid unpleasant publicity
Yes; 1T was very clear they had
thought me dead, and so had left me
here unmatched and unattended with
the evidence OF my mode Of passing
theatrically displayed beside me. It
only remained now for some employe
or visitor to discover ME and give the
alarm.
had about reached this conclusion.
after a long and desperately trying
effort at logical reasoning, when my
straining ears detected the sound of
footsteps in the passage. The door
OF the den was slightly ajar and I Law
well in sight Of any passer-by who
should glance through the narrow
opening.
Whether to feign death, or boldly
make known my recovered conscious.
ness, was for just moment a ques-
ton. But before my sluggish brain
could decide, choice was snatched
from me. The footsteps paused, and
simultaneously, 1t seemed, the door
swung farther inward, disclosing, not
the pig-tailed, greasy-bloused Mongol.
Ian l had expected, but a white wom-
an, tall and shapely, with hair of iron
gray and the very kindliest eyes that
ever looked into.
made as If to speak, but my swol.
len tongue refused to perform it's
ofice, and something that may best
be described as a gurgle was the re-
suit. With that she came to my side,
and for little regarded me silently.
l felt that seeing the pipe and the
little peanut-oil lamp, she must draw
the natural inference, and, though
there was no reproach in her look. /
wished, If possible, to correct that
false impression. I therefore made
enort to gesture denial, employing a
glance to indicate the objects and a
very feeble side movement of the
head to express reputation.
1t Is possible that she understood.
but / question that she believed. I
have no recollection that she spoke a
single word to me, and yet, when she
was gone, / felt that she would sure.
ly return to my rescue. And I was
not misled. / suppose this partial re-
lief to my anxiety resulted In a slack
ening Of mental effort on my part, for
l must confess that what followed ia
very vague In my memory. I know
only that she was accompanied by
two men, one white and one yellow.
who carried me down a narrow flight
OF stairs. out onto the street and into
I
spoke. but learned afterward that
l had mumbled the word "Loyalton,"
and thither she accompanied me.
There a physician came, one whom
l had never seen before; and I was
dosed with aromatic spirits Of am
monia and made to breathe oxygen
through funnel, by white-clad
nurse, who also, at intervals, painted
my ankle with iodine, and, whenever
/ attempted to speak, domineered me
In gentle and perfectly ladylike
manner to silence.
with regard to sending word to
Evelyn Grayson, however l was In.
sistent; and though she had refused
absolutely to crafty my curiosity In
rest on this point by informing me
that Miss Grayson had called up the
Loy'ol or by telephone several times
aid had been informed of my condi.
ton tTe minutes after my arrival at
my chambers.
There were times during the week
which followed when was nigh unto
death; and when. finally, after ten
days | was pronounced convalescent,
1t was with the added well.worn
phrase that my recovery was moth.
ing short OF a miracle"
1t was On the eleventh day that I
was first permitted to see and talk
with Evelyn. My mother had called
daily, sitting in silence beside my
bed, but no other visitor in all thar.
to me, seemingly endless period had
been admitted TO my room.
My curiosity vas by now very keen
10 learn wAP. had developed in the
interval regarding the Cameron mys-
terry. Lad he, by chance, been heard
from? What had the detective agency
reported concerning Philetus Muir
ply? And what, ! wished TO know
most of al, had Yup Sing discovered?
was in dressing gown, piilowed
and footstooled in a great leather
chair awaiting my visitors-for Mrs.
Lancaster came with Evelyn-when
their names were announced. l sup
pose | looked ill-though, save for
grievous weakness, | was feeling fit
enough-for Evelyn's smile as she en-
tered merged instantly into an ex-
preston OF mingled anxiety and SYM
pathy. 7 know that with her coming
aWoke to the truth that my desire
FOR information was far less moving
factor than my craving for sight of
her and for the music Of her voice,
and my only regret was that the un-