The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-07-06

4
think that you should find me heret
It's less than week since Doggott
and / hit upon this place and settled
down, quite convinced we had, at last,
| lost ourselves and might have
peace. for little space at least And
now" concluded Rutton, I'VE have to
move on"
because I've found you here?"
Because you have found me-"
Il don't understand
Ny dear boy, never meant you
should
But if you're in any danger"
Il am not
you're not! But you just said"
I'm in no danger whatever; hui
mainly is. If I'm found"
Il don't follow you at ALL
Again Rutton smiled YEARLY Il
| didn't expect you to, David. But this
misadyenture makes 1t necessary that
/ should tell you something; you must
be made to believe in me. beg you
to: I'm neither mad nor making game
| of you" There was no questioning
the sane sincerity of the man. He
continued slowly It's a simple fact,
incredible but absolute, that, were my
whereabouts to be made public, a
| great, staggering blow would be
struck against the peace and security
of the world. Don't laugh, Da-
vid; I mean it."
I'm not laughing, Rutton: but you
must know that's pretty large or
der. Most men would"
"Call me mad Yes, | know" Rut-
| ton took up his words as Amber
paused, confused Il can't expect you
to understand me: you couldn't unless
were to tell you what | may not.
But you know me-better, perhaps,
than any living man save Doggott !.
and one other. You know
| whether or not would seek to delude
could not, you know why it seems to
| me imperative that, this hole being
discovered, Doggott and must be-
take ourselves elsewhere. Surely
| there must be solitudes-i" He rose
with gesture of impotence and be-
gan restlessly to move to and fro.
Amber started suddenly. flushing.
IF you mean"
| Rutton's kindly hand forced him
back into his chair, Sit down, David.
I never meant that-never for an in
slant dreamed you'd Intentionally be-
tray my secret It's enough that you
should know 1t, should occasionally
| think of me as being here, to bring
misfortune down upon me, to work an
incalculable disaster to the progress
of this civilization OF ours"
You mean" Amber asked uncer-
tainly. thought transference? 2"
Something of the sort yes. The
man came to pause beside Amber,
looking down almost pitifully into his
face Il daresay all this sounds hope
lessly melodramatic and neurotic and
tommyrotic, David, but ! can
tell you nothing more. I'm sorry"
sBut only let me help you any way
| in my power, Rutton. There's moth
ing I'd not do.
81 know, David. know 1t But my
case is beyond human aid, since am
powerless to apply a remedy myself "
And you are poWerless 2"
Rutton was silent a long moment.
Then. Time will tell, he said quietly
"There Is one way He re-
sumed his monotonous round Of the
room.
Mechanically Amber began to
smoke, trying hard to think. to pene-
trate by reasoning or intuition the
| wall OF mystery which, It seemed, Rut-
| ton chose to set between himself and
the world.
Presently he grew conscious that
Rutton was standing as il listening,
his eyes ayerted to the windows.
What II II y he inquired at length.
unable longer to endure the tensity
Of the pause
Nothing beg your pardon, Dsr
vid. I Rutton returned to bis chair,
~ LIZ 4 Visible efEort to shake on