The Ordway new era., 1913-04-25
a tall, antique bureau between the

a tall. antique bureau between the
darkly curtained windows; the cham
ber was In semi-gloom. But scarcely
had passed Bryan. who stopped to
close the door with the same adroit
silence with which he had accom-
plished Its opening, than a stealthily
moving white figure defined itself. is
| suing, apparently from a massive
carved wardrobe. which stood against
the wall opposite the huge. testered
| bed. 81
The spectacle was at least arresting.
l know halted abruptly as II stricken
all at once with total paralysis. For a
| heartbeat or two l think l stopped
breathing. But my eyes meanwhile
were strained fixedly upon the appari-
ton. and seeing 1t pass with almost in
credible swiftness beneath the one
dim light above the bureau. I recog-
nized Cameron.
At the same moment the room was
flooded with sudden glare. Bryan too.
had seen, and had switched on the
electrics. simultaneously he flashed
past me and was at his patients side.
What does this mean?" heard him
say. What did you want? Can't
trust you alone for ten minutes? I
told you, Cameron, that you must not
leave your bed unless l am with you"
| l saw Cameron cover under the up
braiding. In his eyes I read terror.
and all my sympathy was aroused on
this instant. Bryan might be carrying
out DR.. Massey's orders. but he ap-
peared to me unnecessarily harsh.
What were you doing?" he insist
ed: and then ! saw him roughly grasp
his patients arm. and hold 1t up, re-
vealing tightly clenched hand.
"Mr. Bryant" cried in remon-
STRANGE. Gently, gently. Remember"
But the nurse paid small heed to
me. He was busy opening the doubled
fist.
! stood now where could look Cam
eron squarely in the face. but my gaze
was elsewhere. 1t was his left hand
over which Bryan was engaged, and
from his wrist to his elbow the sleeve
of his white night robe had been
pushed back. exposing a sinewy fore
arm, marked precisely as Bryan had
described 1t.
|
tattooing was indisputable, and, as the
nurse had said. it bore no evidence Of
being recent work.
Up to that moment had hoped
against hope that in some way or 9TH
er a misconception had occurred.
had hoped. l suppose. for the perform
ance Of some miracle which would ex-
onerate this man. And now that hope
was obliterated by those bluepricked
letters D. NJ. N. beneath an almost ex-
act facsimile Of the black smudge
which had taken the place Of signature
on each OF the three threatening let
ters-the black smudge, Of which Cam
eron, wearing 1t then indelibly upon
the cuticle, had dared to feign utter
ignorance.
And yet, I asked myself once more,
how was 1t that had never noticed
1t before? Again and again had seen
that forearm barred. Surely would
have observed SO odd a mark; certain.
ly l would have been perplexed by
those three uniting initials.
There, now!" Bryan was saying.
Back to bed with you, Cameron What
did you want this letter for. anyway
If 1t was necessary for you to have it..
couldn't I have got 1t for you?"
Give 1t back to mel" Cameron wao
pleading. piteously. Give 1t back to
me! 1t is a private matter. Give 1t
back to me, or destroy 1t before my
eyes. Burn 1t. here. before me-"
Let me have 1t. Mr.. Bryan" ]
asked, and turning to the unhappy gen.
tleman said: You'll trust me, won't
you. Cameron? I'll destroy 1t. unread,
If you wish it"
NO, no no." he objected. earnestly.
"Give 1t back to me-"
But even as he demanded 1t, Bryan
put it in my hands; and spreading 1t
out-for 1t had been crumpled to pei
let In the invalid's clutch-I was about
to humor him. when the superscription
caught my eye and held it.
The envelope bore the name and ad
dress: Donald McNish. Taylor's Ho
tel. New York City. U. s. A."
CTO BE coNTINUED)