The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-07-27
FER v. (contlnued).

kRutton started and wheel
gevery trace of excitement
away. Meeting Amber's
s nodded as If casually, and
ooh, Amber" quietly, with an
It of faint surprise. Then he
opped heavily into chair by the
able.
We'll" he said slowly, that is
over"
Amber, without speaking, went to
his side and touched his shoulder with
that pitifully inadequate gesture of
sympathy which men so frequently
employ.
II killed him." said Rutton DULY.
YES" replied Amber He was not
surprised; he had apprehended the
tragedy from the moment that Rutton
had fed him.
After a bit Rutton turned to the
table and drew an automatic pistol
from his pocket, opening the maya
zine. Five cartridges remained in
the clip, showing that two had been
exploded. II was not sure" he said
thoughtfully, "how many times / had
fired" His curiosity satisfied, he re-
loaded the weapon and returned it to
his pocket He died like . dog" he
said, "whimpering and blaspheming
in the face of eternity out,
there in the cold and the night4 \
1t was sickening-the sound apf tte
bullets tearing through his flesh. ~ r
He shuddered.
Didn't he resist?" Amber asked
voluntarily.
HE tried to. I let him pop away
with his revolver until 1t was empty
Then :"
What made you waltz"
II didn't care; it didn't matter One
of US had to die tonight; he should
have known that when I refused to
accompany him back to
was hungry for his (bullet more than
for his life; gave him every chance.
But 1t had to be 9ls it was. That was
Fate"
With a wrench Amber pulled him
self together. 'Rutton," he demanded
suddenly, without generalization.
what are you going to do?"
dor" Rutton looked up, his eyes
perplexed. Why, what is there to do?
Get away az best l can, I presume
seek another hole to hide in"
But how about the law"
THE faw? Why need it ever be
known what has happened tonight?
can count on your silence have
no ne led to ask. Doggott would die
ratheF than betray me. He and ! can
dispose Oft No one comes here
at u his time of the year save hunting
PARTIES; and their eyes are not upon
the ground. You will go your way in
thA morning. Well clear out i'm
maediately after"
YOU'D better take no chances
4 Suddenly Rutton smote the table
with his fist. "By Indur!" he swore
fstrangely, his voice quavering with.
Joy; IT had not thought of that" He
Jumped up and began to move excited
" to and fro. II am free! None but
you and 1 know Of the passing of the
Token and the delivery of the mes
sage-none can possibly know for
days, perhaps weeks. For so much
time at least am in no danger Of"
He shut his mouth like trap. on
words that might. have enlightened
Amber.
"Of what?"
''Let me see: there are still waste
places In the world where man
may lose himself. There's Canada
the Hudson bay region, Labrador
A discreet knock sounded on the
door in the partition, and 1t was open
ed gently. Doggott appeared on the
threshold, pale and careworn. Rut-
ton paused. facing him.
''Well?"
"Any orders, sir?"
Eyes; begin packing up. We leave
tomorrow"
VERY good. SIR
Rutton replenished the fire and
stood with his back to 1t, smiling al
most happily. All evidence of remorse
had disappeared ''Freel" he cried soft
ly. And by the simplest OF solutions.
Strange that I should never have
thought before tonight Of" He
glanced carelessly toward the win
dow; and 1t was as If his lips had
been wiped clean of speech.
Amber turned, thrilling, his flesh
creeping with the horror that he had
OWNED in Rutton's transfixed gaze.
Outside the glass, that was lightly