The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-01-17

He nad FOUND the despatch box he
told us, hidden away behind some sci.
dom employed volumes In the library,
and thinking 1t might contain that of
which Miss Grayson was in quest, had
foced the lock, to discover several
carefully-tied packets Of letters.
/ wish could give even a half ade-
quate idea Of the way she thanked
Louis. It would add so much to a
realizing sense Of her sweetness with
out detTacting at all from the envis-
agement of her dignity No one could
have heard her bon garcon" and not
have felt impelled to consecrate his
endeavors henceforth and forevermore
to her service. AS for Louis his re-
spectful homage and fidelity were al
most pagan. | verify believe he would
willingly have suffered martyrdom to
serve her
AS he withdrew we fell avidly upon
the contents of the box, yet with small
hope Of finding what we sought; for
the letters It contained we're all, ap--
parently, Of distant date; letters, for
the most part, of a private, personal
nature, carefully assorted, and ar
ranged in red-taped or elastlc-banded
bundles
II was no mere idle curiosity which
impelled us to read many Of them.
We we're in position which may best
be described as anomalous. Though
Cameron was my dearest friend, |
knew little Of his life prior to our,
meeting, and Evelyn, his niece and
ward, was scarcely less uniformed
than myself. In the letters just
brought to light there might. we de-
cided, be found some clue of meal
culable service in the task now before
us. And SO we united the tapes and
stripped off the bands and set our
selves to careful painstaking examlna-
ton.
Seldom have engaged in labor 30
deadly uninteresting at one moment
and so keenly engrossing at the next.
There was correspondence here which
meant nothing to us whatever, and
there was correspondence which threw
search-light upon portions OF Cam
eron's, career, barring good deeds and
follies alike, without discrimination.
1t was only natural. l suppose, that
we should dig up a romance-a gem
of luster shining amidst dun. sordid
surroundings. Evelyn and l came up
on two of It's facets, simultaneously,
and paused In our work to question its
disposal. 1t seemed to us holy thing.
fAn OF
even at the risk of passing over what
might prove our one agent of revela-
ton, We folded 1t away again with a
sense of guilt at having dared to lift
even the corner of the veil.
For full hour I had scanned one
letter after another in absorbed In
tentness. but with small profit. Eve
Ign, across the table. had been quite
as busy. Rarely had we interrupted
our employment with exchange OF
words. But now the writing which
held provoked exclamation.
"Addison!" l cried, so sharply cut
ing the silence that the girl started.
Addison! Did you ever hear Of him."
She gesthred a negative. mot that
remember" she qualified. "Why?"
Because we must find him." I de-
clared, little excitedly, l imagine;
for the letter seemed wonderfully i'm
portant
Instantly she was all alert.
What is it," she asked, springing
up and coming to my side. What
have you found?"
Look" commanded, the sheet Of
paper in one appraised hand. a finger
of my other hand pointing to a pas
sage. Look! In 1903, your uncle Rob-
ert was in Picking; and yet he gave
me his word that he had never visited
China"
Resting an arm on my shoulder and
bending forward she read for herself:
Just to think! We were in Picking
together and neither Of us was aware
of 1t until too late! What a foregath-
ering we missed! Even five minutes
chat would have been something; but
no sooner saw you, than the crowd
on Legation street swallowed you up"
Have you read 1t all?'
mot to the end" l told her. "just
the beginning and the signature.
Come" l added. well read 1t from
first to last. together"
1t was written from Cairo, and bore
date OF December 7. 1908.
my dear Cameron" 1t began. 81
am wondering whether you are back
in New York again. However, you
will probably be there for Christmas
and therefore this letter will not long
await you. We HI been making
rather leisurely tour Of the east. Ar
-.---a i.....a dnus and shall