The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-05-18
Be BDONZTSp
DESI2I ~ \
DyLOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
AUTHOR OF THE BRASS BOWk"ETc: ~
ILLUSTRATIONS by DW WAGuEDS
AUTHOR OF "THE BRASS BOWL" ETC.
ope you'll excuse me, sir"

God IN heaven" cried the young
man hoarsely. ut can't be truel" He
flung himself into his chair. burying
his face IN his hands. ut can'tl"
Yet irresistibly the conviction was
being forced upon him that Doggott
had surmised Alright. Circumstances
backed up circumstance within his
knowledge of or his experience with
the man, all seeming to prove incon-
testably the truth of what at the frst
blush had seemed so Incredible. What
did he, Amber, know of Rutton's par.
entage or history that would refute
the calm belief of the body-servant
Of the dead man?
And then Amber's intelligence was
smitten by a thought as by a club;
and he began to tremble violently, un-
controllably. being weakened by IA
tigue and the strain of thet endless,
terrible night. A %stranEied cry es-
capped him without his 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 sickened
with the horror of that thought.
His very soul seemed to shrllder
and his reason cried out that the
thing could never be. Yet In
his heart of hearts still he loved her,
still desired her with all his strength
and will; in his heart there was no
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 seek
her u in India or wherever she
might be and to bear her away from
the unnamed danger that threatened
to marry her, If she would
have him. He had promised; his word
had passed; there could now be no
withdrawal.
An hour elapsed, It's passing rau-
cously emphasized by the tin clock.
Amber remained at the table, his head
upon It, his face hidden by his arms,
so still that Doggott would have
thought him sleeping but for his I'M
ever breathing.
At length the young man called
him ard Doggott found him sitting up,
with a haggard and careworn face,
but with the sane light of a man COM
posed in his eyes.
"Doggott," he asked in an even,
toneless voice, have you ever men
toned to anybody your suspicion
about Mr.. Rutton's racer
only to you, sir"
That's good. And you won'tT'
mo, sir"
Have you," continued Amber, look
ing away and speaking slowly, ever
heard him mention his marriage?"
Never. sir. r says in that paper
e was a widower; | fancy the lady
must have died before I entered is
service. r was always a lonely man,
all the - year I've been with i'm,
keepin' very much to 'imseif, sir
Doggott disappeared to prepare a
meal, but within five minutes a gun
shot sounded startlingly near at hand.
The ~Virginian's appearance at the
door was coincident with a clear hail
OF "Aho-oy, Amber!"-unmistakably
Quain's voice, raised at a distance OF
not over 200 yards.
Amber's answering cry quayered
Quain topped the nearest dune,
dropped down into the hollow, and
was upon him.
"By the Lord Harry" he cried, al
most embracing Amber In his excite
ment and relief; I'D almost given
you up for good and ALL"
And ! YOU" said Amber. watching
c~uriously and somewhat distrustfully
a second man follow Quain into the
vale. Who's that he demanded.
only Antoine. We've him to thank
He remembered this old camp here
I'd completely forgotten it-and was
sure you'd taken refuge in Il. Come
inside He dragged Amber In, the
Portuguese following. Lets have a
look at YOU by the light. Lord you
SCCIl W DC pltNtg 'OlAllOI lGDl' oHN
I've been worrying myself sick for
fear you" He swept the Don with
an approving glance which passed
ove Doggott and became transixed
as 1t rested upon the hammock-bed
with its burden; and his jaw fell.
What's this? What's this?" He
swung upon Amber, appraislng with
relentless eyes the havoc his nights
experience had wrought upon the
man. You look like hell" he ex-
ploded. What's up here? En-"
Amber turned to Doggott. Take
Antoine out there with you and keep
him until I call, please. This is Mr..
Quain; l want to talk with him I'M
disturbed. But you can bring
us coffee when it's ready"
Quain motioned to Antoine: the
Portuguese disappeared into the back
room with Doggott, who closed the
communicating door.
You first" said Amber. IF you've
fretted about me, I've been crazy
about you-what time I've had TO
think"
Quain deferred to his insistence.