The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-04-06

Dropping Despondently.
but"
Il know, dear boy, l knowi"
With a gesture Of despair Amber
resumed his seat. For some time he
remained deep sunk In detection. Al
length, mastering his emotion, he
looked up. How did you know about
Quain-that we were t%ogetheri" hi
asked.
"Doggott a you land this morn,
ing, and I've been watching you al
day with my Eyeglasses, prepared
to take cover the minute you turned
my way. Don't be angry with me,
David; it wasn't that l didn't yearn ia
see you face to face again, but that .
| didn't dare"
ooh, that!" exclaimed Amber with
an exasperated fling of his hand. BE
tween the two of you-you and Quain
you'll drive me mad with worry"
I'm sorry, David. I only wish I
might say more. 1t hurts a bit to have
you doubt me"
II don't doubt" Amber declared In
desperation; "at least, l mean l won't
il you'll be sensible and let me stand
by and see you through this trouble
whatever it Is"
Rutton turned to the fire, his head
dropping despondently. THAT may
not be" he said heavily. THE great
est service you can do me is to for
get my existence, now and henceforth.
erase our friendship from the tablets
Of your memory, pass me as a stran-
ger should our ways ever cross
again" He ficked the stro Of a Gig
arctic int the flames. "KIsmet! 4.
l mean that, David, from my heart,
Won't you do this for me-one last
favor, old friend"
Amber nodded.
Then ." Rutton attempted to
divert the subject. 81 think you said
Quain? ANY relation to Ouain's
Aryan Invasion Of India?'"
THE same man. He asked me down
for the shooting-owns a country
place across the bay: Tanglewood."
"A very able man; / wish ] might
have met him. . What Of your
self? What have you been doing these
three years? Have you married."
i've been too busy to think of
that. I mean, till lately"
abr"
Amber flushed boyishly. There was
q girl at Quain's-a guest.
But she left before I dared speak. Per
haps it was as we'll"
"Why?"
Because she was too fine and
sweet and good for me, R%utton."
like every mans first love-
The elder mans glance was keen
too keen for Amber to dissimulate sue
o~essfully under It. You're right"
he admitted ruefully. It's the first
sure-enough trouble OF the sort l ever
experienced. And. Of course. It had
to be hopeless"
Why" persisted Rutton.
"Because-I've half q notion there's
a chap waiting for her at home"
"At homer"
I'm England" The need for a oon-
hdant was suddenly imperative upon
the younger man. She's al English
gtrl-half English. that is; her moth
er was an American, a schoolmate Of
Quain's wife; her father, an English
mar In the Indian service.
Her name?"
Sophia Farrell" A peculiar quail
ty. q certain t~ensity, in Rutton's man
ner. forced itself upon Amber's at
tention. WHY" he asked. DO you
know the Farrells? What's the mat
teri"
Rutton's eyes met his stonily; out
of the ashen mask of his face. that
suddenly had whitened beneath the
brown, they glsred. afire but u~nseeing.
His hands writhed, his fingers twisting
together with cruel force, the knuckles
gray. Abruptly, as II abandoning the
attempt TO reassert his ~self-control, he
Jumped up and went quickly 4 a win
dow, there to stand, his back 10 Am
Der, staring fxedly out into the storm
racked night. II knew her father"
he said at length, his tone constrained
and odd, long ago, in India"
Hes out there nova political. I
believe they call him. or something Of
the sort"
Yes"
She's going out to rejoin him"
What" Rutton came swiftly back
to Amber, his voice shaking. What
did you say?"
Why, yes. She travels with friends
~ the western route to Join Colonel
Farrell at D~hr1eeling, where he's sta
toned Just now. Shortly after / came
down she left: Mrs. Quain had a wire
q day or SO ago. saying she was on
the point OF sailing from San Fran
Good Lord. Ruttonl
are you ill?"
Something In tho mans face had
brought Amber TO his feet, a prey To
ln~exprsss.s's concern: It was a. II q
mask had dropped and he we're look
Ing upon the soul Of q man In mortal
torture.