The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-05-11

I've very little time" He glanced
again at the shoddy tin clock, with a
sligh, but noticeable shiver.
"iow's that? It's hours till morn
FMS
II shall never see the dawn. David"
said Rutton quietly.
What"
Il have but ten minutes more Of
life. If you must known a
word. poison. That l be
saved a blacker sin, David"
You mean that medicine-the sill
yer phial?" Amber stammered, sick
with horror.
Yes. Don't be alarmed; It's slow
but sure and painless, dear boy. 1t
works infallibly within half an hour.
ThereU be no agony-merely the
drawing of the curtain. Best OF all, It
leaves no traces; a diagnostician
would call 1t heart failure. 3.
And thus l escape that" He nodded
coolly toward the door.
But this must not be, Rutton!"
Amber rose suddenly. pushing back
his chair. Something must be done.
Doggott-"
Not SO loud. pleese-you might
alarm him. After it's all over, call
him But now-it's useless; the thing
is done; there's no known antidote.
Be kind TO me. David. in this hour OF
mine extremity. There's much still to
be said between Us and In
seven minutes more . E"
Rutton retained his clutch upon Am
ber's hand; and his eyes, their luster
dimmed, held Amber's. pitiful. pas
s%ionate. memorable in their entreaty.
Amber sat down, his soul shaken with
the pity OF il.
"Ah-h!" sighed Rutton. Relieved.
the tension relaxed; he released Am
ber's hand; his body sank a little in
the chair, Becoming conscious of this,
he pulled himself together. ..
Enter India by way Of Calcutta" he
said In a dull and heavy voice.
There, In the Machua bazaar, you VIII
find a goldsmith and money lender
called Dhola Bakish. Go to him Sc
'iNliy IN illI ~ mo 'HV S'N
He will understand and do all In his
power to aid you, should there be any
trouble about your leaving with So
phia. To no one else in India are you
to mention my name. Deny me, II
taxed with knowing me. DO you I'M
derstand?'
no. Why7"
Never mind-but remember these
two things: you do not know me and
you must under no circumstances have
anything to do with the police. They
could do nothing 10 help YOU; on the
other hand, to be seen with them, to
have it known that you communicate
a seal upon your death warrant. You
remember the money lenders name?'
"Dhola Bakash Of the Machu ba-
gar"
Trust him-and trust Doggott &.
-Four minutes more."
"Rutton!" cried Amber In a broken
voice. Cold sweat broke out upon his
forehead.
The man smiled fearlessly. Believe
me, this is the better way-the only
way. Some day you may
meet a little chap named Labertouche
"a queer fish | once knew in Cal
cutta. But | daresay he's dead by
now. But If YOU should meet him, tell
him that you've seer his B-Formula
work naWIessly in one instance at
least. You see, he dabbled in chem
istry and entomology and a lot Of I'M
common pursuits-a solicitor by pro
f%ession, he never seemed TO have n
practise TO speak of-and he invented
this stuff and named It the B-Form-
ula." Rutton tapped the silver phial
IN his waistcoat pocket, smiling faint
iy. He was q good little man. u.
Two minutes. Strange how little one
cares. when It's inevitable. ="
He ceased TO speak and closed his
eyes. A great stiffness made Itself
felt within the room. In tho other,
Doggott was silent-probably asleep.
1t was close Jpon two in tho morn
ing.
Amber" said Rutton suddenly and
very clearly, you'll find a viii in my
dispatch box. Doggott is TO have all
l possess. The emerald ring-the
Token give to you"
Yes, II"
Your hand. Mine is cold?
No? / fancied It was" said the man
drowsily And later: Sophia. You
will be kind to her. David?"
"On my faith"
buttons fingers tightened cruelty
upon his, then relaxed suddenly. He
began TO nod, his chin dropping to-
ward his breast.
"The Gateway the Bell
"
The grds were no more than whis-
pers dying on lips that stilled as they
spoke.
For q long time Amber sat unmov-
ing, his fingers imprisoned In that
quiet, cooling grasp, his thoughts
astray In q black mist Of mourning
and bewilderment.
Out of doors something made a cir
cult of the cabin, like a beast OF the
IL 49,