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

Inc snow had ceased; only the
wind raved with untempered force
Cautiously. and. to be frank, a BIT
dismayed, Amber made q reoonnais.
sance, circling the building, but dis.
covered nothing to reward his pains
Only, before the window, through
which he had seen the p~esrins tur-
baned head, he found the impressions
or two feet, rather deep and definite,
toes pointing toward the house, as
though some n had fingered there,
looking in. The sight of them reas-
sured him ridiculously.
AT least" he reflected, "disembod-
led spirits leave no footprints"
He found Rutton precisely as be
had left him. his very attitude an un-
uttered question.
No" Amber told him. he'd made
a quick getaway. The marks of his
feet were plain enough, outside the
window, but he was gone, and e.
somehow I wasn't overkeen to fol-
low him up"
Right said the elder man detect
edly. Il might have known Chatter1i
would not have come alone. So my
crime was futile" He spoke without
spirit, as If completely tagged, and
moved slowly to the door.
David, a little while ago | promised
to ask your aid If ever the time
should come when I might be free to
do so; | said, That hour will never
strike Yet already It is here; I
need you. WI o. help me9"
You know that"
L know. One moments
patience. David" Rutton glanced at
the clock. Time for my medicine"
he said; that heart trouble I men
toned. ="
He drew from a waistcoat pocket a
small silver tube, or phial, and I'M
corking this, measured ont q certain
number Of drops into a silver spoon.
AS he swallowed the dose the ph!al
slipped rom his fingers and rang
upon the hearthstone, spilling its con
tents in the ashes. A pungent and
heady odor favored the air.
NO matter said Rutton indiffer-
emily. 81 shan't need it again for some
time He picked up and restored the
phial to his pocket. Now let me
think a bit" He took q quick turn up
the O and down again.
"A mad dance" he observed
thoughtfulIy; this thing we call life.
We meet and whirl asunder-motes in
a sunbeam. Tonight Destiny chose to
throw us together for a little spacei
tomorrow we shall be irreyocably part
ed, for all time"
Don't say that. Rutton."
at is so written, David" The mans
smile vas strangely placid. After
this night, we'll nsyer meet. In the
morning Doggott will ferry you
over -
'Shan't We go together?"
40" said Rutton serenely; u must
leave before YOU"
without Doggott?"
Without Doggott; l wish him to
go with you"
"Where?"
"On the errand I am going to ask
you to do for me. You are free to
leave this country for several
months
quite. l corrected the final gal.
leys of my Analysis of Sanskrit Liter
ature' Just before l came down. Now
I've nothing on my mind-or hands.
Go on"
Wait" Rutton went a second time
70 the leather trunk, lifted the lid.
and came back with two small par
cells. The one, which appeared t o con
tain documents Of some sort, he cast
negligently On the fire, with the air
of one who destroys that which is no
longer = value to him. It caught i'm
mediately and began TO fame and
smoke and shoulder. The other was
several inches square and fiat, wrap
ped in plain paper, without q super
scription, and sealed with several
heavy blobs of red wax. .
Rutton drew a chair close to Amber
and sat down, breaking the seals
~methodically.
You shall go en- a long journey,
David" he said slowly-"a long jour