Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-02-06

: ons Of the men from Craeholt. and
called him by name.
"stephen," I said. with an effort to
disguise the excitement with which
my every pulse was throbbing.~ ~s'your
master IL outside in . cab. He 10 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:
III wait outside" He turned away In
obedience to my directions. but
checked him. And. Stephen"
charged, mo word to any one else. -
you value your position: especially no
word to Miss Grayson."
I marvelled at the mans preserved
unemotion. His Very good. sir" was
uttered with all the stolidity which
marks response to the commonplace:
and yet knew that he was fully con.
sc!oas OF the evsntfulness Of this late
and unlooked-for Homecoming. And
the footman who Joined me few min.
utes later was not less welltrained.
Together, he and I lifted Cameron
from the hanson and carried him up
the broad flight Of granite steps. b.
tween the massive guarding lions. and
placed him in great chair In the
hall. before the wide. sculptured nre-
place. And though this would probably
prove the most exciting topic OF the
servants hall for weeks to come. ho
gave not the smallest sign that he wa'
taking part In other than the usual.
Checkabeedy, the butler. however.
though no less perfect a servitor. Was
more privileged; and Louis. volatile
as the most characteristic Of his coun-
trymen. collapsed utterly. without sf.
fort. apparently. at any restraint what
ever The formers interest was evi.
denced in q commiseratingly lugubri-
Gus visage and few blunt questions.
but the Frenchman wept and sobbsd
in wordless sympathy. And I had II
not In my heart to blame either. for
more pi.iful picture than the one pre-
sented by the restored Cameron ~ hs
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 10 see.
Tho butler. ruddy and rotund. and
looking for all the world like . well.
fed monk. for he wore q bathrobs OF
somber hue and his crown was bAroe
than any shaven tonsure. stared for =
moment in sad silence. Then. turning
to me. he asked:
But what has happened to Mr.. Can
eron. sir?"
II wish I could tell you, Checka~
beedy." was my unguarded reply. II
wish he could tell US himself"
But he 10 90 wasted. sir! And his
clothes. never saw Mr.. Cameron In
such clothes"
1t was quite true. They were OF
what 10 called. I believe. . peppsr.and-
salt mixture. coarse Of texture and III.
cut. yet not much worn.
He does not recognize u.s." ChsckA-
beedy went on. and Still he 10 con.
scious. May I ask you. cir. whore you
brought him from?"
chose to ignore the question. in
sudden realization OF the necessity Of
caution.
And he has been missing . month.
they say. sir. 10 that true. Mr.. Clydsf~
Missing" l repeated. who says
he has been missins."
The servants all say 20. sir"
Then the servants must get rid Of
the idea. a. once" I said. sharply. "Mr.
Cameron has merely been out Of town
for q while. He went away for his
beal;h. and now Be has returned, bens-
nied- Do you understand. Checka-
beecy. He haa returned. benefited.
And low. you and Louis will get hin
20 his room, while telephone for Df.
Massey"
Checkabeedy bowed. asserting, ana
Louis. still whimpering. wipsd his
eyea
II was nearly four O'Clock whom The
physician left his patient and joinsA
me In the library downstairs. His face
was very grave.
Il have examined Mr.. Cameron thor.
oughly." he said. and l can assure
you that he 10 not seriously injured"
The phrase opened up q new line Of
thought to me.
Seriously inJured!" l repeated. "a
don't understand. Doctor Do you
mean that"
Il mean" he Interrupted, that the
blow on tho back Of the head caused
no fracture"
Then he was struck?"
Undoubtedly. Probably with q
sandbag. Hence his present dassd con
dition. Had the blow been delivered
with more force. II might have result
ed In complete loss Of memory Won