The Huttig news., 1911-05-13
 CHAPTER ".
The Man Perdu.

the door was aware of a slight jar ring, as though some more thal ordin- arily brutal gust of win9 had shake lie house upon it's foundation. or an inner door had been slammed vio- .ently. But oti erwise he had so little evidence that his summons had fallen on aught but empty walls or deaf ears that he had begun to debate his right to enter without permissi sion, when a chain rattled. bolt grat c, and the door swung wide. A flood of radiance together with gust of heated air struck hum in the face. Dazzied, he feeled across the threshold
 Three races within the room. Amber paused. waiting for his eyes to adjust themselves to the light. Vaguely eon- scious of a presence behind him, he faced another-the slight. spare sil- houette of a mans figure between him and the lamp; and at the same time selt that he was being subj cted to close seruliTy-both searching and. It its outset. the reverse Of hospitaole l3ui he had no more than become sen. sitive to this than the man b fore stepred quickly forward and with two strong hands elasped his shoulders.
 David Amber" he heard his name pronounced in voice slng,aarly resonant and pleasant. 50 you've run ne to earth at last,"
 Amber's face was ank with in eredulity as he recognized the speak CT. 'RItton," he stammered. "Rut ton-why-hy all that's strangsi"
 Guilty, said the other with quiet laugh. But sit down He swung Amber abonI, gently guiding him tc a chair. You look pretty well done up How long have you been out in this nfernal night? But never mird an swering; I can wait Doggott,1
 Yes, sir.
 Take Mir Amber's coat and boots and bring him my dressing gown and slippers.
 Yes, sir
 And het toddy and something to sat-and be quick about it."
 Very good, sir"
 Rutton's body servant moved noise 'essly to Ambers side. deftly helping l jim remove his shooting jacket whereon snow had caked in. thin and brittle sheets His eyes, grey and shallow, fiickered recognition and soitered, but he did not speak in an ticipation of Amber's kindly Good evening, Doggott." To which he re- sronded quietly: Good evening, MT. Amber It's a pleasure to see you again. trust you are well'
 Quite, thank you And you?"
 I'm very fit, thank you, sir
 "And''-Amber sat down again. Dog gott knee ling at his feet to nnlace and remove his heavy pgskin hunting soots-.and your brother?
 For a moment the man did not an swer. His head was lowered so that l his features were invisible, but dull. warm flush overspreed bis cheeks
 And your brother, Dosgott?"
 I'm sorry, sir, about that; but it vas MT. Rutton's orders" muttersd the man.
 You're talking of the day you me Doggott at Nokomis station?s inter posed his employer from the stand he had taken at one side of the fireplace, his back to the broad hearth where on blazed a grateful driitwood fire.
 Amber looked up inquiringly. nod ding an unsfoken affirmative.
 Tt was my fault that he-er-rre- yaricated, I'm afraid; as he says, 1t was by my order.
 Rutton's expression was masked by the shadows; Amber could make no'h ing q his curious reticence. and re- mained si ent, waiting further ex- planation. IL came. presently. with an effect of embarrassment
 T had have ,~culiar reasons for not wishing my refuge here to be dis covered I told Doggott to be care ful. should he meet any one We knew Although of course, neither of us an tieipated
 T donts think Doggott was any more dumsfounded than l." said Am Der T couldn't believe he'd left you, yet it seemed impossible that you should he hereof all place-in the neighborhood of Nokomis. l mean. As for that" Amber shook his head ex- pressively. g,ancing round the mean room in which he had found this man of such extraordinary qualities Cts altogether inconceivable, he summed up his bewiiderment
 It does seem so-even to me at times
 Then why-in heavens name"
 T see must tell you something "a little; as little as can heIp--of the truth
 I'm afraid you must: though I'm damned if I can detect a glimmer of either rhyme or reason in this pre- nosterous situation"
 In three words" Rutton said delib- erately: T am hiding"
 "lIiding,n
 Obviously"
 Amber bent forward, studying the elder mans face intently Thin and dark-not tanned like Ambers, but with native darkness of skin like that of the Spanish-it was strongly marked it's features at once promi-