Mexico Missouri message., 1913-03-06

however, | tempered my judgment
The possibility of Illness or injury In.
tervened. and paused Samaritan-like
10 offer succor. The wayfarer was evil
IDENTIFY a man Of middle age, II ! might
Judge from the contour OF his back,
which was towards me. and l saw at
once that he was struggling to keep
upon his feet by sheer muscular hand
hold OF the ratings iron uprights, for
his knees were bent threateningly and
his arms were extended and tense.
Until was close beside him he gave
no sign Of realizing my presence. In
deed | think it was not until | spoke
that he half turned his head towards
me. and. for the first time, | got sight
OF his features.
Whether or not | uttered a word, or
made sound, or stood for long mo-
ment silent, | cannot say. | know only
that doubted my eyes and questioned
my reason: for. II these were not
playing me false. the profile thus re-
! yealed to me was the profile OF Robert
Cameron.
To try to set down in detail just
what followed must be an idle effort,
with fancy providing the bulk OF the
ingredients Surprised, amazed, as
founded even, are all too feeble terms
TO apply TO my emotional condition.
Dazedly, was foundering in what
seemed a veritable sea OF unreality.
When the commonplace began to re-
adjust themselves, ! was standing at
the curb my arm wound supportingly
about Cameron's waist and his arm
pressing heavy on my shoulder. Draw
| ing in TO US was an empty hanson
cab. provided by Providence, and
| hailed, ! suppose, by ne, though /
! swear l have no recollection OF it.
The cabman helped me TO lift him
| in. and at this the pity of his plight
smote me, tempering the Joy Of having
found him. and quickenlng within me
a spirit of angry retaliation against
his enemies For the man now at my
side was far different from that man
who had sat with me on the after deck
of the Sibylla, only four weeks ego. He
was, indeed, it seemed TO me little
more than the husk OF the Cameron
had known. In facial conform alton the
change was not so marked. though his
expression was pathetically at vari'
ance with anything ! had ever before
seen him wear The lines OF his face
were drawn, as with pain, and his eyes
were dull to vacancy. He lolled
sleazily. in crumpled heap in his cor.
ner, like a spineless manikin; and
though piled him eagerly with a food
Of questions, he might have been deaf
mute for all the answers he accorded
me. Once ] thought he shook his
head in negation, but I was later
forced 10 conclude that this was invol
untary, being caused by the roll OF the
cab as one Of lis wheels encountered g
depression in the roadway.
Yet in spite OF his sorriness of pres
ence and demeanor-in spite too Of the
: tormenting mystery of his return
which was scarcely less battling thar
/ the mystery Of his departure-it wal
= at least a relief 10 know that he was
alive and out of the power of those
that were bent upon his harm. Coco
: nursing, coupled with skilful medica
, attention, had Just worked wonders
; for me, and l was confident that &
: would do the same for him; and ther
/ we should have facts and not theories
e to aid us in our quest for the culprits
and, eventually. in the administration
1 of justice TO the guilty.
{ | had given the cabnan the humble
r of the Cameron house and admonishet
e MIN to make all possible speed; SO
: with the long lash OF the whip snap
: ping sharply at brief intervals and tn
/ faded horse. thus urged. bounding at
J. clumsy, numbering gallop. we role,
; noisily northward. Having given owe
s the effort TO obtain from my fellow
b passenger even a gestured answer 4
p my most pertinent inquiries, ! turne
e my mind TO what lay before us. Tn
: Cameron establishment would doubt
{ less be fast locked in slumber as wei
as otherwise, but | made small quel
|. ton Of my ability to rouse some OF tn
,, servants. NJ hope. however. was no
/, TO awaken Evelyn. 1t could mean onl
2 a nights rest lost for her. for sh
0 could gain nothing by seeing her incl
J. al this hour, considering his condition
| | was still busy planning when
= mighty hand on the lines brought GU
II horse 10 his launches, and ourselve
nearly out through the suddenly par
4 ed apron; and the Cameron residenc
n doomed massive and dark en- our RICH
n As | stepped 10 the Sidewalk tn
d driver descended, too, but motione
.e him back
y Never mind. thank you" salt
8 I'm get some one from inside to hel
D. carry him And in q moment m
G. thumb was IN the push-button an
- family there anne back 10 me throug
u heavy double doors the far-off echo {
h th9 bell, jarrins against the silence {
n the great house
II The prom ness with which chain
u, fell and bolts were drawn surprise
IL me. And yet | suppose, It was mer
L. ly an evidence Of the perfect maj
le agement Of an establishment wherei
he every contingency is provided agains