The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-06-29


shocked, Miss Farrell"
''Will you tell me something's"
IF can"
about the Ian who wouldn't ac-
knowledge knowing you? You remem
Der saying three people had been mis-
taken about your identity this after
noon"
NO, only one-the babu. You're
not mistaken"
II knew you must be David Amber
the moment heard you speaking
Urdu"
"And the man at the station wasn't
mistaken-unless / am. He knew me
perfectly, I believe, but for reasons
of his own refused to recognize me-"
"Yes-?"
HE was an English servant named
IDggott, who is-or once was-a valet
man named Rutton."
She repeated the name: "Rutton?
1t seems to me I've heard of him.
"You have?"
"I don't remember" she confessed,
knitting her level brows. "The name
has familiar ring, somehow But
about the valet?'
We'll, was very intimate with his
employer for long time, though we
haven't met for several years Rut-
ton was strange creature, man of
extraordinary genius, who lived
friendless, solitary life-at least, so
far as / knew; / once lived with him
in little place he had in Paris for
three months and in all that time he
never received letter or caller. He
was reticent about himself, and
never asked any questions, of course,
but in spite of the fact that he spoke
English like an Englishman and was
public school man, apparently, / al
ways believed he had strain of Hun
garian blood in him-or else Italian
or Spanish I know that sounds pref
ty broad, but he was enigmatic-a rid
die I never managed to make much
Of Aside from that he was wonder
full: a linguist, speaking dozen
European languages and more east
ern tongues and dialects, I believe,
than any other living man. We met
by accident in Berlin and were drawn
together by our common interest in
orientalism. Later, hearing / was in
Paris, he hunted me up and insisted
that stay with him there while fin
ishing my big book-the one whose
title you know His assistance to
me then was invaluable. After that
/ lost track of him."
"And the vaset?"
ooh, I'd forgotten Doggott. He was
a cockney, as silent and self-contained
as Rutton. To get back to
Nokomis: I met Doggott at the sta
ton, called him by name, and he re-
fused to admit knowing me-said /
must have mistaken him for his twin
brother / could tell by his eyes that
he lied, and it made me wonder. It's
quite impossible that Rutton should
be in this neck of the woods; he was
man who preferred to live hermit
in centers of civilization. Gu
rious!"
IT don't wonder you think so. Per-
haps the man had been up to some
mischief. But" said the girl
with a note of regret, we're almost
home!"
They had come to the seaward
verge of the woodland, where the
trees and scrub rose like wild hedge
- nQ y Un11
metalled highway.
To the right, on the other side OF
the road, rustic fence enclosed the
trim, well-groomed plantations OF
Tanglewood Lodge; through the dead
limbs a window of the house winkeo
in the sunset glow like an eye of gar
net. And as the two appeared man
came running up the road. shouting.
That's Quaint" cried Amber: and
sent a long cry of greeting toward
him.
Waltz said the girl impulsively,
putting out OBTAINING hand. Lets
keep our secret she begged, her eyes
dancing just for the fun of it,"
"Our secret"
about the babu and the Token; It's
a bit of mystery and romance to me-
and we don't often find that in our
lives. do we? Let us keep it personal
for a while-between ourselves; and
you will promise to let me know II
anything unusual ever comes of 1t,
after I've gone We can say that !
was riding carelessly, which is quite
true, and that the horse SHE'D and
threw me, which again Is true; but
the rest for ourselves only.
Please. What do you say!
He was infected by her spirit OF II
responsible mischief. Why, yes
/ say yes" he replied; and then, more
grayely: II think it'll be very pleas
ant to share secret with you, Miss
Farrell. shan't say word to any
one. until I have to"
AIS events turned he had no need
To mention the incident until the
- - 49, rnvov,fh dov foIJoUiYlQ