The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-04-06

of such extraordinary qualities. TITS
altogether inconcs!vable," he summed
up his bswilderment.
1T does seem so-evsn to me, at
times"
Then why-in heavens name"
II see I must tell you something
"a little; as little as ! can help-of
the truth"
I'm afraid o must; though I'm
damned if l can detect a glimmer of
either rhyme OIL reason in this pre-
posterous situation"
In three words" Rutton said DELHI
erately: Il am hiding"
Hiding"
obviously"
Amber bent forward, studying the
elder mans face intently. Thin and
dark-not tanned like Amber's, but
with a native darkness of skin like
that of the Spanish-it was strongly
marked, its features at once promi.
nent and finely modelled. The hair
intensely black, the eyes as dark and
Of peculiar fire, the lips broad. full,
and sympathetic, the cheekbones high,
the forehead high and somewhat mar
row: these combined to form a
strangely striking ensemble, and
none the less striking for It's weird
resemblance to Amber's own cast of
cOuntenance.
Indeed, their likeness one to the
other was nothing less than weird in
fhnf ~ nn,YII he C@ ry~A-l~k4yYv
strong, yet elusive. No two men were
ever more unalike than these save
IN this superficial accident OF facial
contours and complexion. No one
knowing Amber (let us say could
ever have mistaken him for Rutton;
and yet any one, strange to both,
armed with a description Of Rutton,
might ~pardonably have believed Am
Der to be his man. Yet manifestly they
were products Of alien races, even Of
different climes-their Municipalities
as dissimilar as the poles.
Hiding" Amber reiterated in a
tone scarcely louder than a whisper.
And you have found me out, my
friend"
But-hut ! don't
Rutton lifted a hand in depreciation;
and as he did so the door In the rear
Of the room opened and Doggott IN
tered. Cat-like, passing behind Am
Der. he placed upon the table a small
tray, and from a steaming pitcher
poured him a glass of hot spiced
wine. At a look from his employer he
filled a second.
Amber lifted his fragrant glass.
you're Joining me, Rutton?"
With all my heart" The man
came forward to his glass. For old
sake's sake. David. Shall we drink
a toast?" He hesitated, with a marked
air Of embarrassment, then impul-
sively swung his glass aloft. Drink
standing!" he cried, his voice oddly
vibrant. And Amber rose. "To the
king-the king, God bless him!"
ITO the king" It was more an ex-
clamation of surprise than an echo
TO the toast; nevertheless Amber
drained his drink to the final drop. AS
he resumed his seat, the room rang
with the crash Of splintering glass;
Rutton had dashed his tumbler to
atoms on the hearthstone.
Well" commented Amber. lifting
his brows q~uestioningly. You are
sincere, Rutton. But who in blazes
would ever have suspected you of be-
ing a British subject?"
Why not?"
But 1t seems to me I should have
known"
What have you aver really known
about me, David, save that I ain my
self?"
"Well-when you put 1t that way
little enough nothing" Amber
laughed nervouslv, disconnected. But,
seriously now, this foolish talk about
hiding is all a Joke, isn't it?"
NO" said Rutton soberly; mo, it's
no joke" He sighed profoundly. "As
for my recent whereabouts, I have been
-ah-traveling considerably; moving
about from pillar to post" To this
the man added q single word, the
more significant in that It embodied
the nearest approach to a confidence
that Amber had ever known him to
make: Hunted"
Hunted by whom?"
II beg your pardon" Rutton bent
forward and pushed the cigarettes to
Amber's elbow. %" am-ah-so pre-
occupied with my own mean troubles,
David, that l had forgotten that you
had nothing to smoke. Forgive me-"
That's a matter, L"
Amber cut short his impatient
catechism in Difference to the others
mute plea. And Rutton thanked him
with a glance-one Of those looks
which, between friends, are more elo-
quent than words. Signing, he shook
his head, his eyes once more seeking
he flames. And silently studying his
face-the play Of light from lamp and
hearth throwing its features into "a.
hent relief-for the frst time Amber,
his wits warmed back to activity from
the stupor the bitter cold had put upon
them. noticed how time and care had
worn upon the man since they had
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