Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-05-03
'very good. s.r.~

whereon snow had oaked In thin ana
brittle sheets. His eyes, grey and
shallow, ficksrsd recognition and
softsned, but be did not speak IN an
ticipation of Ambers kindly "0ood
evening. Doggott" To which ne re-
sponded quietlyi Good evening, Mr..
Amber. It's pleasure 10 see yoe
again. trust you are weh.s
Quite, thank you. And your
I'm very At, thank you, sir"
"And"-Amber sat down again. Dog
gott kneeling at his feet to unlacs and
remove his heavy pigskin hunting
boots-"and your brotherf"
For moment the man did not an
swer. His head was lowered so that
his features were invisible, but q
dull, warm flush overspread his
cheeks.
And your brother, Doggott7'
I'm sorry, sir, about that; but II
was Mr. Rutton's ORDERS" muttered
the man
You're talking OF the day you met
Doggott at Nokomis stationT' inter
posed his employer from the stand he
had taken at one side of the fireplace,
his back to the broad hearth where
on blazed grateful drfftwood IRE.
Amber looked up inquiringly, nod
ding an unspoken affirmative.
1T was my fault that he-er-pre-
varicated, I'm afraid; a. he says. n
was by my order"
Rutton's expression was masked By
the shadows; Amber could make moth
ing of his curious reticence, and re-
NAMED silent, waiting a further ex-
PLANTATION. 1t came. presently, with an
! effect Of embarrassment.
Il had--have peculiar reasons for
not wishing my refuge here to be dis
covered / told Doggott to be care
full, should he meet any one we knew.
Although. of course, neither OF US an
| ticipated
II don't think Doggott was any
more dumbfounded than l." said AM
Der. Il couldn't believe he'd left you.
yet 1t seemed impossible that you
should be hereof all place--in the
neighborhood Of Nokomis, mean. AS
| for that" Amber shook his head ex-
pressively, glanoing round the mean
room in which he had found this man
of such extraordinary qualities TITS
altogether uncomfortable" he summed
up his bewildsrment.
TT does seem so-even to me, at
| times"
Then why--in heavens name"
Il see l must tell you something
"a little; as little as l can help-of
the truth"
I'm afraid you must; though I'm
damned If I can detect glimmer OF
either rhyme or reason in this pre-
posterous situation"
In three words" Rutton said DELHI
erately: II am hiding
"Hiding!"
obviously"
Amber bent forward, studying the
elder mans face iptently Thin and
dark-not tanned like Arbers, but
with 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 q
strangely striking ensemble, and
none the less striking for its weird
resemblance TO Ambers own east of
countenance.
| Indeed, their likeness enc to the
other was nothing less than weird In
| that 1t could be so superficially
strong, yet elusive. No two men were
ever more unalike than those savs
in this superficial accident Of facial
contours and complexion No one
knowing Amber Qet us say) could
ever have mistaken him for Rutton:
and yet any one. strange to both.
armed with description OF Rntton,
might pardonably have believed Arn-
Der to be his man. Yet manifestiy they
were products Of alien races, even Of
different ciimes-their Municipalities
as dissimilar as the poles.
1 "Hidingi" Amber reiterated In q
tone scarcely louder than a whisper.
And you have found me out, my
friend"
"But-but I don't"
Ruttou lifted hand In depreciation;
and as he did so the door Ia the rear
Of the room opened and Doggost en-
tered Cat-like, passing bshind An
Der. he placed upon the table a small
tray, and from a steamfng pitcher
poured him glass Of hot spsced
wine At look from his employer he
filed a secopd.
Amber lifted his fragrant glass.
You're Joining me, Ruttonfr
with all my hearth" The man
came forward TO his glass. Tor old
sale's sake. David. Shall we drink
a toastf" He hssitatsd. with q marked
air OF embarrassment, then impui-
sively swung his slass aioft- Drink
standingl" he cried, his voice oddly
vibrant And Amber rose. ITO the
king-the king, God bless himl"
ITO the king" II was more an en-,