The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-05-18

again. The oar broke and | had to
g. overheard and get wet 10 my waist
before l got her off. BY that time 1t
was blowing great guns and dead
fsom the beach. ! had TO stand of
and make for the Notwithstanding
els TO do. We beached about a mile
below the lighthouse and ! had the
fourmile tramp home. Then after I'd
thaWed out aud had a drink and a
change Of clothes, we had to wait two
hours for the sea 10 go down enough
20 make a crossing in the launch
practicable. That's all for mine. Now
you? What's that there!"
"A suicide; a friend Of mine-the
man Rutton whom we were discuss
ing the night | came down. And that's
not half. There's a man ont there
somewhere, shot to death by Rutton-
a pengali babu. Quain, I've
lived in ~Purgatory w since we part
ed and o I'm about done"
lie was; the coming of Quain with
the ease of mind II brought had
snapped the high nervous tension
which had sustained Amber. He was
now on the edge of collapse and
showed Il plainly. But two Circum-
stances aided him 10 recover his grip
upon himself: Quain's compassionate
consideration In forbearing 10 press
his story from him, and Doggott's op-
perfume appearance With a pot or
coffee, steaming and black. Two cups
OF this restored Amber to a condition
somewhat approaching the normal.
He lit a cigarette and began TO talk.
For all his affection for and con-
ldenCe In his friend, there were
things he might not tell Quain; where
fore he couched his narrative In the
fewest possible words and was miser-
ly Of detail. or the coming OF the ba-
bu and his going Amber was fairly
free 10 speak; he suppressed little II
any OF that episode. Moreover. he
had forgotten TO remove the Token
from his finger, and Quain instantly
remarked II and demanded an expla-
nation. But OF the nature of the err
rand on which he was to go, Amber
said nothing; It WAS, he averred, Rut-
NPll = IllNGlC puslhCHos ANOl ~ ho
touch upon the question of Rutton's
nationality. Sophia Farrell he never
mentioned.
Nevertheless, he said enough to
render Quain thoughtful. &.
You've set on this thing, ! suppose?'
he asked ONE time after Amber had
concluded.
Set upon It, dear man? I've no
choice. | must go-I promised"
Quain went to the hammock-bed,
turned back the sheet, and for several
minutes fingered there, scrutinizing
the stony, u~ptuTned face.
so" he said, coming back. Here's
were blind not TO see It yourself.
That man's-was. I should say-a
Raiput." He waited for the comment
which did not come. You knew
it,
81 suspected, tonight"
It's as plain as print; the mark Of
his caste is all over him. But per-
haps he was able 10 disguise It a little
with his manner-alivc; undoubtedly,
I'd say. He was a genius of his kind
"a prodigy; a mental giant. That
translation Of the Tantras'-! Won
derful! Well, he's gone his
own way: God be with him. .
When do you want 10 start?"
LAS oon as possible-sooner. I've
not a day to lose-not an hour
Urgent as that, eh?' Quain
peered keenly into his face. q wish
| knew what you know. | wish to
heaven ] might 20 with you. But I'm
married uow-and respectable. The
morning train leaves Nokomis at 7;30.
You can make that, If you must. But
you need sleep-rest."
I'll get that on the train"
knew you'd say that. Very well.
This is Tuesday. The Mauretania-
or the Lusitania, l don't know which
sails tomorrow. You can catch
that. too. It's the quickest route,
eastwards-"
But I've decided TO go west"
That near a week more, n you
said you were In a hurry"
Il am; bat by going westwards it's
barely possible | may be able TO trans
act or wind up the business on the
way"
AS a matter OF fact Amber was hop
Ing the Rolands, with Sophia Farrell,
might lingeT somewhere en- route, re-
memberiug that che girl had discussed
a tentative project to stop over be-
tween steamers at Yokohama.
Very we'll" Quain gave In; you're
the doctor. Now as for things here,
make your mind easy. III take
charge and keep the affair quiet.
There's 10 reason | can see for It's
ever getting out. I can answer for
myself and Antoine; and the two OF
us can wind things up. Get ready
now to trot along, and III take care
OF everything
There's no way of thanking you"
That's a comfort. Call DOggott now
n tell him 70 get ready. You
haven't mach time 70 lose"
While they waited for the servant
to pack his hand bag-it being obyi-