The Raymer enterprise., 1911-08-17

20 ON valedng until I'm too old; aftsf
that The moneyu b . comfort I
darss'y. Don't you think 20.
sirf"
Z believe you're right Doggott:
only your commonssnSs surprises me.
But It makes II easier in . vay. -
Ambss fell thoughtful again.
lows that air-if I my askr
"Ths wsy." said Amber: Before
hs died. Mr.. Rutton asksd me to do
him . service. agreed. He sus-
gestsd that take you with ma"
Tn ready. sir" interrupted Dog
gott eagerly. There's no gentleman
I'd like to valet for better than your
self"
But there will b dangers. Dog
gott-I don't know precisely what
That's the rub: ven have to travel
halfway round the world and face IN
known psrils. II Mr.. Rutton vsrs
right about It. Wen b lucky 70 gst
away With our lives
TIL 20. sir: It was u wish. m
20 with you TO India. Mr.. Amber"
Very we'll. :" Amber spoke
abstractedly, reviewing his plans.
But" he enquired suddenly. Y didn't
mention India. How did you know-T
"why-l suppose must ave
guessed It. sir. It seemed 10 likely,
moving what do about Mr. Rutton."
Amber sat silent, unable to bring
himself to put . single question In ~
gard to the dead mans antscedentS.
But after . pause the servant contin-
usd voluntarily.
"Hs always 'ad . deal 10 do with
persons who came from 1ndia-nig.
ss1-I mean. natives. It didn't much
matter where we'd bs-London OF
Paris or Berlin or Rome-they'd unit
i'm up; some ed give money to and
they'd 60 aw'y; others "a be locked
up with In Is study for hours, talking.
talking. They'd 'ardly ever come the
same one twice. e 'ated 'em all. MI.
Rutton did. And yet, sir. I always
'ad q suspicion"
Doggott hesitated, lowered his voice.
his gaze shifting uneasily to the stu,
shrouded figure in the corner.
"What?" demanded Amber tenSely.
II alw'ys thought per'aps . was
what we call in England . man Of
color. 'imself, sir."
"Dossott!"
II don't mean no arm, sir; It was
Just their 'ounding him. like, and IL
being dark-complected man the
syme a. them. and speakin' their Ian.
guAge so ready, that made me think
1t. At least . might ave 'ad little
Of their blood in i'm, sir. Things d
seem unaccountable otherwise" con.
cluded Doggott vaguely.
TITS impossible!" cried Amber.
Eyes, sir; at least, mean l 'ope 80.
sir. Not that It'd myke any difference
to me. the wye l felt towards i'm. z
was q gentleman. white or black. I'd
We died for i'm any d'y."
"Dcygott!" The virsinian had risen
and was pacing excitedly To and fro.
"Doggott! don't ever repeat ono word
Of this to man or woman-while
you're faithful to the memory Of Mr..
Rutton."
The servant stared, visibly i'm.
pressed. Very good, Mr.. Amber. I'll
remember. sir. I don't ordinarily gos.
sip, sir: but you and him being 50
thick, and everything 'appening to.
night 30 'orrible. I forgot myself.
'ope you'll excuse me. Sir"
God In heaven!" cried the young
man hoarsely. TT can't be true!" He
flung himself into his chair. burying
his face in his hands. 1T can't!"
Yet irresistibly the conviction was
being forced upon him that Doggott
had surmissd Alright. Circumstances
backed up circumstance within his
knowledge Of or bis experience with
the man. all seeming to prove incon.
testably the truth Of what at the first
blush had seemed 10 incredible. What
did he, Amber. know Of Rutton's par.
sntase or history that would rsfuts
the calm belief Of the body-servant
Of the dead mani
And then Ambsrs intelligence was
smitten BY = thought % BY . club:
and he began 70 trembls violently. un.
controllably. being weakened BY ia.
ugue and tho strain Of that endless.
terrible night. A strauglsd cry o.
capped him without bis knowledge:
"Sophia!"
Sophia Farrell. the woman he had
promised to wed. nay even the woman
he loved with all his being-a half
breed, a mulatto! His mind sickensd
with the horror Of that thought
4! His very soul seemed to shudder
and his reason cried out that the
thing could never be. Yet In
bis heart Of hearts still he loved her
still desired her with all his strength
and will: in his heart there was nc
wavering. Whatever Rutton had been
whatever his daughter might be. he
loved her. And more. the honor Of
the Ambers was In pledge. holding
him steadfast to his purpose to seeh