The Huttig news., 1911-05-20

mask nad dropped and he were look. ing npon the soul of man in mortal torture
 No, gasped Button, I'm ali right. ReslGes, be added beneath his breath. so that Amber barely caught the syllables. its too late"
 As rapidly as ne had lost he seemed to regain mastery of h;s inexplicable emotion. His face became again com posed. almost immebile, and stepping l 10 the table he selected a cigarette and rolled it gently between his slim brown fingers. I'm sorry to have alarmed you" he said his tone a bit | too even not to breed doubt in the mind of his nearer Its nothing seri- ] ous-a little trouble of the heart. of long standing, incurable-I hope" Pefplexed, yes hesitating to press him further. Amber watched him fur lively. instinetively assured that be. tween this man and the Farrells there existed some extraordinary bond: won ! oering how that could be, convinced | In his soul that somehow the entan- l element involved the woman he loved
 
 the question, lest he should learn that which he had no right to know and while he watched was startled by the change that came over Rutton. At ease. one moment, outwardly compos- ed, if absorbed in thought. the next he was rigid, every muscle taut. every nerve tense as steel spring. His head jerked back suddenly. his gaze fixing itself first upon the window. then shifting to the door. And his fingers, contracting, tore the cigarette in half
 'Rutton, what the deuce is the mat l teP?"
 Rutton seemed not to hear; Amber got his answer from the door. which was swung wide and slammed shut. A blast of frosty air and a furry of snow swept across the room And against the door there leaned a man pulling for breath and coughing spas modically-a gross and monstrous bulk of flesh. unclean and unwhole- some to the eye. attired in an extrav- agant array of coored garments. tawdry silks and satins clinging sod den to his ponderous and unwie!dy imbs.
 The babu!" cried Amber nnconsci ously; and was rewarded by a flash of recognition from the coal-black. beady, evil eyes of the man.
 But for that involuntary exclara- ton the tableau held unbroken for space; Rutton standing transfxed. the torn halves of the cigarette between his in gers, his head well up and back. his stare level, direct, uncompromis- ing. a steady challenge to the in truder
 Then, demanding Amber's silence with an imperative movement of his hand, Rutton spoke. Well. babu?s he said quietly, the shadow of a bitter and weary smile curving his thin, hard lips.
 The Bengali moved pace or two from the door, and plucked nervously at the throat of his surtout. finally managing to insert one hand in the folds of silk across his bosom.
 q seek" he said distinctly in Urdu, anu HOi NituOuL aStiHliS nOAC Oi menace in his manner the man call ing himself Rutton Sahib?'
 Very deliberately Rutton inclined his head. ''I am he
 "Hazoor," The habu lahoriously doubled up his enormous body in pro found obeisance Having recovered, he nodded to Amber with the easy fla T rT<@ you. likewise, greeting, Amber Sa- hib"
 What Rutton swung sharply to Amber with an exclamation of amaze ment You know this fellow, David?"
 The babu cut in hastily. stimulated by pressing anxiety to clear himself. Hazor. l did but err, being msled by his knowledge of our tongue as we'll as by that pale look of you he wears. And. indeed. is 1t strange that I should take him for you. who was told to seek you in this wild land?"
 Re silent" Rutton told him an grily.
 My lords will Is his slaves" Re signedly the babu folded his fat arms.
 
 manded of Amber
 The ass ran across me in the woods south of the station the day l came down. explained Amber. sum- marking the episode as succinctly as he could. He didn't call me by your name, but I've no dobut he's tel<lg the truth about mistaking me for you. At all events he hazoor-ed me mum Der of times talked lot of rot about some silly Voice. and finally made me free gift of nice little bronze box that wouldn't open. After which he took to his heels, saying he'd call later for my answer-whatever he meant by that. He did call by night l and stole the box. That's about all 1 know of him. thus far. But I'd watch out for him, If I were you: if he isn't a raving lunatic, I miss my guess" 1 Indeed. my lord, t Is all quite as the sahib says" the babu admitted graciously. his eyes gleaming with sardcnic amusement s'Circum instances