Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-04-12
lie I3DONZTp
BELL ~ - \
ByLOUIS JOSEPH WANCE \
Author or 1.-THE BRASS BOWL" ETC. Il
ILLUSTRATIONS by RAN VNA[GIG[lS

difference; their type Interested him
little. But In their company he pres
emily discovered one, a figure so
thoroughly foreign and aloof In atti-
tude. that 1t caught his eye, and. hav-
ing caught. held 1t clouded with per-
plexity.
Abruptly he abandoned his belong
ings and gave chase, oyertaking the
object of his attention at the far end
Of the station.
"Doggott!" he cried Il say. Dog
gott!"
His hand, falling lightly upon the
mans shoulder, brought him square
~ about. his expression transiently
startled. if not shade truculent
"Doggott, what the deuce brings you
here? And Mr., Rutton?"
Amber's eordiality educed no re-
Spouse. The gray eyes. meeting eyes
dark, kindly, and penetrating, flicker
ed and fell; so much emotion they be-
/ trayed. no more and that as disingen-
nous as you could wish
'Doggott!" Insisted Amber. dis
/ concerted. Surely you haven't for
4 gotten me-Mr Amber?"
The man shook his head Beg par
don, sir he said; you've got my
nyme andy enough, but 1 don't know
! you, and"
But Mr.. Rutton?"
SIS a party I've never card of. If
I you'll excuse my sayin' so, no more'n
! ave of yourself, sir"
Well" began Amber; but paused,
his face hardening as he looked the
man up and down, nodding slowly.
| "Per'aps." continued Mr.. Doggott,
unabashed you mistyke me for my
brother, Emery Doggott f was 'ome,
in England, larst card of i'm. We
look deal alike, I've been told"
You would be" admitted Amber
! drily: and, shutting his teeth upon his
| inherent contempt for liar, he
swung away, acknowledging with a
curt nod the civil Good AFTERNOON.
sir" that followed him.
The man had disappeared by the
time Amber regained his kit-bag and
| gun-case; standing over which he
surveyed his surroundings with some
annoyance. discovering that he now
shared the station with none but the
ticket agent A stumbling and dis
consulate youth, clad in three-days'
growth of beard, a checked jumper
and khaki trousers, this person
lounged negligently in the doorway of
the waiting room and, caressing his
rusty chin with nicotine-dyed fingers,
regarded the stranger in Nokomis
with an air of subtle yet vaguely mel
ancholy superiority.
"If ye're lookin' for tn hotel" he
volunteered unexpectedly, there amt
none" and effected a mastery retreat
into the ticket booth.
Amused, the despised outlander
picked up his luggage and followed
amiably. I'm not looking for the
hotel that amt" he said. planting
himself in front of the grating; "but
expected to be met by some one
from Tanglewood-"
"Thets the Quain place, daown by
tn ba-ay," interpolated the youth from
unplumbed depths of mournful abb
Straction.
'It is, I wired yesterday"
"Yeour names Amber, amt itf-'
Eyes, l.
Well Quain didn't get yeour mes
sage till this mornin' | sent kid
daown with it 'baout ten O'Clock"
But why the-but / wired yester-
day afternoon"
'T knaow ye did" assented the
youth YEARLY. ut come through
raound closin' time and they want
nobody baound that way, so I held 1t
over
"This craze for being characters
TIC" observed Mr.. Amber obscurely,
is the only thing that really stands
in the way of Nokomis becoming a
thriving metropolis. Do you agree
with mo? No matter" He smiled en-
gagingly; seasoned traveller this,
who could recognize the futility Of
pickering over the irreparable. More
over, he had to remind himself in all
fairness, the blame was, in part at
least, his own; for he had thought
lessly worded his telegram, 'Will be
with you tomorrow afternoon" and It
| was wholly like Ouain that he ehOuld