Bates's coming that he, Bates, was the very man who could speak with
authority as to whether the old man in question had a right to the name
of Cameron. He wondered if the American could possibly have private
knowledge of Bates's movements, and knew that his coming could dispel
the mystery. If so, and if he had interest in keeping up the weird
story, he had done well now to lose his charge for the time being. Wild
and improbable as such a plot seemed, it was not more extraordinary than
the fact that this intensely practical young man had sought the other
and protected him so long.

"Your friend is in the habit of wandering, is he not?" asked Trenholme,
guardedly.

"Can't say that he is since he came here, Principal. He's just like a
child, coming in when it's dark. I've never"--he spoke with zeal--"I've
never known that good old gentleman out as late as this, and it's
stormy."

"Did you come here under the idea that I knew anything about him?"

"Well, no, I can't say that I did; but I reckoned you knew your Bible
pretty well, and that you were the nearest neighbour of mine that did."
There was an attempt at nervous pleasantry in this, perhaps to hide real
earnestness.

Trenholme frowned. "I don't understand you."

"Well, 'twould be strange if you did, come to think of it; but I'm
mighty uneasy about that old man, and I've come to ask you what the
Bible really does say about the Lord's coming. Whether he's crazed or