The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-06-26

'HAht Ut ltHblu from " nara over the
wire. We'll be there in less than half
an hour"
And in less than half an hour they
came, an ignoble. vulgar auartette
against a stately. pompous back.
ground.
met them In the great hall. stand.
Ing before the broad, sculptured chin.
ney.piece.
The three detectives were more or
less OF a piece-gross, coarse, red.
faced men whose hands and feet
seemed out OF all proportion to their
size, bulky as 1t was. or the three
O'Hara, possibly because OF familiar.
ity, struck me as the least offensive
But after all It was not the detectives
who claimed and held my chief inter.
est, but the shrunken, shadow-like
creature they had In charge, whom
recognized instantly as the supposed
castaway the Sibylla had picked up
that warm October day somewhere
east OF Nantucket--the sinking figure
| had followed through the press OF
Doyers street almost to my death.
My conjecture was thus in part veri.
fed; John Soy and Peter johnson
were the same. and 1t only remained
now to prove that the rest of my
guess was as well founded.
Stepping to the door OF the recep-
ton room, I MADE brief apology for
my detention and babe my two Cath.
ayan visitors Join the others.
81 think. Mr.. Yup," | observed, that
we have here the Eurasian cook OF
the Sable Lorcha about whom you
told me-"
| suppose | was foolish enough to
fancy that the merchant would at once
make the Identification | desired.
should have known better. In sub.
tlety We are no match for the ancient
race to which Yup Sing belonged. as
was evidenced by the absolute impene-
tration OF his manner. as. after gaz-
Ing sharply at John Soy, he turned to
me with ylsage as blank as the mar
bic wall, and, in q voice without
shade OF infection. said:
IL. do not know him. have never
seen him until now"
Had a white man dared to make
such denial, | should have laughed in
his face. But the dignity OF the
Oriental, the perfect aplomb OF his
including an utter absence OF
all that could be construed as feign.
ing, forbade such rejoinder; yet |
knew that he had lied.
Come, gentlemen" | said, denying
myself even the satisfaction OF a
shoulder shrug, "and we shall decide
whether the man upstairs is the vii.
lain you claim he is, or" but | was
in no mood to finish the sentence.
The seven OF us, crowding into the
elevator, were lifted to the floor above,
where | preceded the others to the
door Of what We were wont 10 call
Camerons bedchamber. There |
paused
Pardon me Just n moment" I
begged, with my hand on the knob,
until | sec whether everything Is
ready"
had instructed Mr.. Bryan to haye
McNish up and dressed. and I wished
to make sure that these preparations
were completed. But was hardly
for the scene which greeted
my entrance.
McNish, clothed In the suit ho had
worn when found him, was in the act
Of closing drawer OF an old-fash-
ioned rosewood secretary which oc-
cupied place against the right wall,
beneath one Of the medallioned win
iows. And the nurse was nowhere In
sight.
Startled by the sound OF the open.
Ing door. the trespasser half turned,
his hands still on the \brass drawer.
then. at sight OF me. he
completely and stood defiant
with his back to the antique desk.
What are you doing there?" cried,
Indignantly. What were you look.
Ing for?"
Even before he spoke saw the
look OF cunning come into his small,
Turtive eyes.
Il was looking for some papers OF
mine. Clyde" he answered, boldly,
and his voice was so like Cameron's
hat. for just moment, a shuddering
uncertainty assailed me. Only the
crafty leer weighed for the truth.
Papers Of yours?" | snaried, Ignor.
ing his familiar use OF my name. "T
have the only paper you brought into
his house, Donald McNish. and that's
~idence enough TO put you where you
belong. Where's Mr.. Bryan"
But at that moment the nurse, ap-
Fearing from the adjoining room, an
swered for himself, aud McNish. with
| capitally assumed nonchalance. said,
,miliagly,
II didn't think you could be SO cas-
ly imposed upon, Clyde. The letter
o Donald McNish was given to me by
McNlsh himself. He wanted me TO
answer II. 1t was his last request.
lie"
"Sllence!" cried; and then, "Mr.
Bryan. get him into that chair before
he bureau, facing the door. These
,eople outside must not be kept wait
ng any longer" With which I turned.
md with hand ON knob once mara