Mexico Missouri message., 1913-03-06

Ing imperturbalility. | recognized him |
as one Of the men from Cragholt, and |
called him by name.
stephen" l said. with an effort to |
disguise the excitement with which |
my every pulse was throbhing, your |
master is outside in cab He is very !
weak and will need assistance. Get |
another man to aid me, and then |
awaken Mr.. Checkabeedy and Louis. !
And make haste. No, can't come In;
I'll wait outside" He turned away In
| obedience to my directions, but ]
checked him. And. Stephen" !
charged. mo word to any one else, as
you value your position; especially no
word to Miss Grayson."
marvelled at the mans preserved
unemotion. His VERY good. sir" was
| uttered with all the stolidity which
marks a response to the commonplace;
and yet knew that he was fully con-
scious of the eyentfulness OF this late
and unlooked-for homecoming. And
the footman who Joined me few min
utes later was not less well-trained.
Together, he and | lifted Cameron
from the hanson and carried him up
the broad fight of granite steps, be-
tween the massive guarding lions, and
placed him in a great chair in the
hall. before the wide, sculptured fire.
place. And though this would probably
prove the most exciting topic of the
servants hall for weeks TO come, he
gave not the smallest sign that he was
taking part in other than the usual
/ Checkabeedy the butler, however,
though no less perfect servitor, was
more privileged; and Louis, volatile
as the most characteristic Of his coun-
trymen, collapsed utterly, without eff
fort, apparently, at any restraint what
ever. The formers interest was evil
denced in n commiseratingly lugubri-
Gus visage and a few blunt questions.
but the Frenchman wept and sobbed
in wordless sympathy. And had it
not in my heart to blame either. for
more pi.iful picture than the one pre-
scented by the restored Cameron as he
sat there in his own spacious hall,
gazing with lack-luster eyes at the
/, dead and dying embers on the hearth
! before him. ] hope never to see.
The butler. rudy and rotund, and
! looking for all the world like we'll
J fed monk, for he wore bathrobe OF
somber hue and his crown was barer
than any shaven tonsure, stared for a
moment In sad silence. Then. turning
to me, he asked:
But what has happened to Mr. Cam
eron. sir?"
Il wish | could tell you. Checka.
beedy," was my unguarded reply. Il
wish he could tell us himself"
But he is so wasted. sir! And his
clothes. | never saw Mr.. Cameron in
such clothes"
1t was quite true. They were of
what is called, believe. pepper-and-
salt mixture. coarse OF texture and ILL.,
; cut. yet not much worn.
"He does not recognize u.s." Checka.
, beedy went on, and still he is con-
, scious. May ask you, sir, where you
!, brought him FROM"
! / chose to ignore the question, In
: sudden realization Of the necessity OF
2 caution.
, And he has been missing month
8 they say, sir. Is that true, Mr.. Clyde7"
"Aiissing!" / repeated. who says
\ he has been missing?"
THE servants all say so. sir
r Then the servants must get rid OF
the idea. at once" said. sharply. MI
}. Cameron has merely been out of town
= for a while He went away for his
e health, and now he has returned, bene
a fitted. Do you understand. Checka
d beedy? He has returned. benefited
r And now, you and Louis will get him
v to his room, while telephone for DIR
o Massey"
d Checkabeedy bowed, asserting, and
e Louis, still whimpering, wiped his
t eyes.
Il 1t was nearly four o'clock when the
s. physician left his patient and Joined
e me in the library downstairs. His face
It was very grave.
Y Il have examined Mr.. Cameron thor
g oughly," he said, land l can assur,
e you that he is not seriously injured"
!. The phrase opened up new line o.
a thought to me.
II Seriously injured" l repeated
s don't understand. Doctor Do yol
{ mean that"
e 81 mean" he interrupted, that tn,
t. blow on the back of the head caused
e no fracture"
d Then he was struck"
Undoubtedly. Probably with I
i. sandbag. Hence his present dazed con
p dition. Had the blow been delivered
" with more force IN MIGHT have raul.
d ed in complete loss OF memory Yol
h have heard. OF course, of instances
II where men have forgotten even thei
Of own names?"
] nodded.
10 MIR. Cameron VIII regain his mem
d Org It's merely temporary matter.
G. have telephoned for man nurse 70
D. him--One who understands such cases
n He will be here in twenty minutes. A
a..