Mexico Missouri message., 1913-01-16
ieIa, & G %1sczU7o s. ca,

myself I'll tell that monument of
pomposity, your butler, Mr.. Checka-
beeds, that am to see every letter
that comes to the house and know
how and by whom II is delivered. Let
ters can't get here without hands, you
know"
other things seem TO be done
without hands" was his conclusive
comment; and had no reply for him.
Concerning Murphy and the muir
dered Chinaman, Cameron did not
ask, and / was glad he did not For
Murphy had been discharged from
custody for lack Of evidence; and
though there were some desultory eff
forts making to place the blame for
the Celestials violent taking-of, l
doubted that they would have prac-
ticable result.
The precautions against surprise on
the fourteenth, which l had outlined
so BREEZY 10 Cameron, ! carried out
with added 6es1il For instance, | IN
strltcted Rom1ey to report TO me ey-
cry person who passed In or out OF
the gates guarded by his Lodge. |
| hdh hilBOuIs lut vi
the Cameron acres, issue similar or
ders to his men concerning any stran-
gers seen on the estate that day.
And, finally, when not fetching the
mail from the post office, myself
and four times | made the trip-l sat
on guard in Cameron's study, waiting
and eXpectant.
But the day passed, It seemed,
without the looked-for incident Ev-
cry letter, by post or by hand, which
came that day, inside the Cragholt
limits was by me personally inspect
ed, and amongst them all there was
no one which bore the faintest re-
semblance to those two baleful mis-
sives of the two preceding four.
teenths.
When / had made my last trip to
the post. office, finished my final in
spection, and was almost jubilant
over the significant cessation of the
threats which, in their ultimate fulfil
ment at least, had brought my friend
so close to dissolution, l made haste
to carry to Cameron the glad news.
Oddly enough, his condition in the
past forty-eight hours had materially
improved and as DR.. Massey attrib-
uted this, in part at least, to the influ-
ence exerted by my brief visit, I was
now permitted to repeat the treat
ment at pleasure.
1t wanted but a few minutes Of
eight o'clock, and Checkabeedy
seized the occasion to inform me. as
passed through the hall, that din
ner had been waiting for nearly Il
half-hour; a fact which l knew quite
as we'll as he, but when l had chosen
to disregard In favor of more press
ing and important employment. New.
ertheless l had dressed before going
for the last mail. and as a moment
would suffice to assure Cameron that
all was well, | relieved the mind OF
the distressed butler, by assuring him
that dinner should not wait over five
minutes longer. so far as l was con-
cerned.
A very light tap on the chamber
door was answered by Miss Collins,
who came out into the passage and
closed the door behind her
q fear it is not advisable for you
to see him, now, Mr.. Clyde" she
said. He has suddenly had a return
Of some Of his worst symptoms, and
am sure DR.. Massey would object
to his being at all excited"
But I shan't excite him." ex-
panied. Il have the very best OF rews
for him. II is his anxiety over GER
tain matter, no doubt, which has
brought about the symptoms you
speak Of. l know I can relieve his
mind, which have reason TO believe
ha5 been all day under an unusual
strain"
But still this eficlent-looking,
Whitehead woman was not wholly
convinced.
1T must be only for a minute then"
she finally allowed. You can 20 in
= alone. But at the end of sixty sec
onds," she added, as she glanced at
the little gold watch she wore pinned
to her spetless waist, Il shall inter
rupt you; and then you must leave"
Yielding, perfOrce, TO her condition,
Z ! entered. And as | did go, Cameron
half rose on his elbow, regarding me
with what ] thought was anxiety for
my report
IT'S all right" said, quietly. "An
right. Not so much as a line from
the enemy. They have withdrawn.
just as /"
But he interrupted me.
Here, quick" be was saying Take
this!" And ! saw then that one hand
was drawing something from beneath
his pillow. The next moment he had
given me a long envelope Of that thin,
waxy texture ! had learned to loathe
For a heartbeat ! stood appalled,
transfiXed.
quick" he insisted. excitedly.
open It! Read f.! She'll not leave
US long and l must know It's con.
tents"
But how" began. as | tore the
end OF the envelope.