The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-06-12
sfnSis Aroae SAD. And below u are
fb fsA4

chalr Win Dotn hanQB, Tor q sense OF
unreality oppressed me. and the room
Itself became waveringly unsubstan
ual
It was not true. OF course, this that
Bryan was saying. Nothing was true
Nothing was real. II was all night
mare; and the two gloating yellow
masks were horrible dream faces.
And you have probably noticed q
scnr--a long livid scarf"
1t was Yup Sings voice heard. He
was stia questioning the nurse. Ana
now Bryan would make another pre-
posterous answer. Just as persons al.
ways do In dreams. | knew he would
So when he said Yes, sir, Just be-
tween the left shoulder blade and the
spinal column. II looks as though II
were the mark Of deep and vicious
knife slash, was not in the least sur.
prIsed
Checkabeedy brought me back to a
realization OF time and place. He
spoke my name In a half-whisper and
! awoke again to realities with a start.
The officers are here. SIR" he IN
formed me, matterof.factly.
The ofIlcers?" repeated. and then,
memory reassertlng Itself, | added:
On. yes. OF course. Ask them TO wait
just a moment, Checkabeedy."
Into the mental marshalling OF facts
which ensped there came a vivid mem
Dry Of that weird scene In the sick.
chamber when Cameron had raved In
strange tongue, mingled with words
Of pidgin.English and a few phrases-
discriminating phrases, In the light OF
tonights revelation-of vigorous yer
nacular. II what Bryan had said was
'rue-and for him TO lie about mat
ter us readily demongtrahle was hard.
~ to be consdered-I must conclude
myself beaten at all points. From first
to last, then. had been defending
creature unworthy of defense.
1t Yves difficult to accept this con.
cluston. Mind and heart alike were
arrayed against It. Yet, thinking
clearly now. / recognized fully the po-
sition In which | had placed myself.
had been willing to swear. to wager.
there was no tattoo mark, and the best
cyldence-my own witness-had
proved mo wrong. Certainly | could
expect no mild judgment from these
Asiatics. Honest as had been, they
must believe that had known, and
had meant to deceive them. They
probably thought that ! had signalled
TO Bryan to endorse me In my lies, and
that tho nurse had either misunder-
stood or openly rebelled.
Before Checkabeedy had reached the
door. recalled him.
On second thought" said, the Of
hcors need not wait. Tell them that
It was a mistake. shall not require
them"
Turning TO Yup Sing and his COM
panion. added
What Mr.. Bryan has told you is the
greatest surprise to me. Even yet
can scarcely believe Il, unless the
mark and the scar were obtained while
my friend was prisoner In the hands
Of your countrymen."
Tattoo marks md scars show age |
no less than faces" the merchant re-
piled. Both of these are years old. |
Any capable Judge Of such things will |
tell you that Possibly Mr. Bryan can |
tell"
THE scar is not fresh one" said |
he nurse. AS to tattoo marks. | am
not experienced; but shouldn't think
The mark on Mr.. Cameron's arm was
put there recently"
Gentlemen" l said. making a final
stand, while | do not question Mr..
3ryan's entire honesty In this matter,
nevertheless | prefer to SEQ these
marks OF Identification, myself. II you
viii excuse us for five minutes, shall
not be longer"
At the foot OF the grand staircase,
evelyn Joined me. Bryan, at my sug.
yestion, went to the elevator and as
ended that way, while she and slow
y climbed the broad, vclvet-carpeted
marble steps 10 the floor above.
u thought you were never coming
nut OF that ROOM" she declared, nerv-
'usly. Once. was on the verge of
,olng after you. The first time you
ang for Checkabeedy. | mean.
What did you have him telephone for?
10 absolutely refused to tell me.
Vas 1t the two policemen? :.
What did you want them for?. :.
Why did you let them go away againf
Aren't those Cinnamon ever
.oing? What ON earth did you
want with Mr.. Bryan? What
re you going upstairs for, now"
How tactfully answered these ques-
ions and others shall not attempt to
Iecide. ] know only that / set my
eeth to guard the one problem which
bsorbed me, and which for worlds
you'd not have her know.
at is all right. Evelyn" assured
er, over and over again. There Is
ot the smallest danger. They
anne to give me information. III
'ou must be very tired. little girl.
Go to bed, now. and forget It
II until morning. Yes, I'll
ell you everything, then"
/ wonder how many women there
re who. burning with curiosity as she