The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-06-29

"God!" cried Rutton thickly, jerking
forth his pistol.
The shadow vanished.
With single thought Amber
sprang upon Rutton, enatched the
weapon from his nerveless fingers
and, leaping to the door, let himself
out
The snow had ceased; only thl
wind raved with untempered force
Cautiously, and. to be frank, biI
dismayed, Amber made a reconnais
sance. circling the building, but dis
covered nothing to reward his pains
Only, before the window, through
which he had seen the peering tur
baned head, he found the impressions
OF two feet, rather deep and definite
toes pointing toward the house, as
though some one 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 he
had left him, his very attitude an UNI
| uttered question.
NO. Amber told him, he'd made
q quick getaway. The marks Of his
feet were plain enough, outside the
window, but he was gone, and
. somehow / wasn't overkeen to fol
low him up
Right" said the elder man defect
eddy. Il might have known Chatterji
would not have come alone So my
crime was futile" He spoke without
spirit, as II completely tagged, and
moved slowly to the door.
David, little while ago promised
to ask your aid II ever the time
should come when might be free tc
| do SO; said, That hour will never
strike Yet already 1t is here;
need you. Will you help me?'
you know that"
Il know. One moments
patience, David" Rutton glanced at
the clock. Time for my medicine "
he said; that heart trouble l men
toned. :"
He drew from a waistcoat pocket a
small silver tube, or phial, and I'M
corking this, measured out certain
number of drops into a silver spoon
AS he swallowed the dose the phial
slipped from his fingers and rang
upon the hearthstone. spilling its con.
tents in the ashes. A pungent and
heady odor favored the air.
mo matter" said Rutton indiffer.
emily. II shan't need 1t again for some
time He picked up and restored the
phial to his pocket Now let me
think bit" He took a quick turn w
the room and down again. .A "@
"A mad dance" he observed
thoughtfully: this thing we call life.
We meet and whirl asunder-motes in
sunbeam. Tonight Destiny chose to
throw us together for little space;
tomorrow we shall be irrevocably part.
ed, for all time"
Don't say that Rutton."
1T is so written, David" The mans
smile was strangely placid. After
this night, we'll never meet. In the
morning Doggott will ferry you
over -"
"Shan't we 60 together"
NO" said Rutton serenely; 81 must
leave before you"
Without Doggott?"
Without Doggott; l wish him to
60 with you"
"Where?"
"On the errand ! am going to ask
you to do for me. You are free to
leave this country for several
months?"
Quite. corrected the final gal
leys Of my Analysis of Sanskrit Liter
ature' just before / came down. Now
I've nothing Oh my mlnd--or hands
Go on"
Wait Rutton went a second time
to the leather trunk, lifted the lid
and came back with two small par
cells. The one, which appeared to con-
tain documents of some sort, he cast
negligently on the fire, with the air
Of one who destroys that which Is NO
longer of value to him. 1t 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 super.
scription. and sealed with several
heavy blobs of red wax
Eutton drew chair close to Amber
and sat down, breaking the seals
methodically.
"You shall go on a long journey,
David" he said slowly-"a long jour.
ney, to far land, where you shall
brave perils that may not warn you
against 1t will put your friendship to
the test"
I'm ready"
The elder man ripped the cover
from the packet, exposing the back
Of what seemed to be a photograph
Holding this to the light, its face in.
visible to Amber, he studied It for
several minutes, In silence, a tender
light kindling in his eyes to soften the
almost ascetic austerity of his express
sion. In the end, If you live. you
shall win rich reward" he said at
length. He placed the photograph
face down upon the table.
"How-a rcward?"
THE love Of q woman worthy OF
you. David"
But" In CONSERVATION Amber
rose, almost knocking over his chair.
De-