The diamond drill., 1920-05-29
She released her embrace. but 1t was


OF pleasure and shame.
Doctor Kirkland" he begged, .you
see that unless 1 use force You
know ! am not her brother r.
Not VIII" cried the girl, and she
burst Into merry laugh. "Just listen
to that, Tillie. He says he's not win.
I'll show him." Again she stood on
tiptoe and kissed him with joyous ten
derness. There. sir. take thatl Now
do you dare say you're not my
brother7"
He had not tried very hard to avoid
the caress. but moment after IL he
drew her arms from about his neck
and pushed her away with sudden de-
termination.
IL do not know what Mrs. Kirkland
told you" he said. "The truth Is that
! am not your brother. and l."
"winw
"Just try 10 imagine what II means
TO me coming here, an absolute
stranger"
"Oh, dearl Then it's true. You're
not yourself. You've completely for
gotten us all-even mel"
IL have forgotten nobody whom /
know. i am Richard Clinton. and /
must say this ness" He stopped,
gazed into Amy's eyes, and changed
his tone: However, If you wish me
TO stay, / believe / WILL"
The girl smiled with quickly recov-
cred confidence. "You will stay? Then
OF course it's all right"
II told Miss Kirkland / would not
stay. But now"
"Ellen," she corrected "Say Ellen"
"Can you not understand. Miss Low
rief' he said. ~ have only become
acquainted with Miss Kirkland this
evening. am not your brother. !
am"
"O-a-ah !" she reproached.
II am Richard Clinton. So you see
how wrong II would be 20 let you be-
have as if-that is. TO allow you to-
act as II were your brother"
She peaked her eyebrows at the
closely observant physician. isn't
II horrid of hlm?" she pouted. "How
long viii II take to cure him7"
A telephone bell rang somewhere
back OF the hall. Doctor Kirkland
watched Tlllie go out to answer the
call before he replied TO the ques-
tion: "How long will II take? He
probably can bring on his proofs in
few days"
"Proofs7 But that's no answer. l
asked"
Yes, yes. sweetheart, know. You
see until he-h'm-I wonder II we
could not agree on n compromise. Sup
pose we have an understanding that
until Mr.. Clinton"
"Cllntonl"
MIR. Clinton produces his proofs
We are all to act as IL he really Is
your brother"
II could not do Il. either In justice
to this young lady or to you and your
fa~-ily, sir"
-Of all the obstinate pigsf" cried
Amy. "You ought TO know you're your
self. and yet you won't even pretendW
"Is that quite fair. Miss Lowrief"
he asked. How can pretend 10 be
your brother, when / know / am not1"
"How can we pretend you're not,
when we know you are?" she rejoined.
Tillie poked her head In past the
rear hall door. Doctor" she called.
"Missus Kirkland says to tell you
you're wanted at once at the sani. and
shall they come on down now?"
"Yes. yes," said the physician. AS
the woman disappeared, he stepped to
the front door. "Must go at once,
Amy. BE back again. Meantime,
they're coming"
"Doctor-walti l." exclaimed Clln-
ton.
But the physician rushed of unheed-
ing; and the young man could not very |
well run after him with a determined !
young lady clinging to the tail OF his
coat.
The captive paused In the doorway |
and looked over his shoulder mt the |
girl. She took fresh grip on his |
coat and braced one little slippered |
foot against the door casing.
"Shall have to call Tlllie to help"
she inquired.
mo" he answered.
She led him unrcsistlng into the |
simply furnished rUom that opened off
the hall
lie smiled qulzzlcally and seated
himself In the big leathern chair TO
which she led him
"You see, all you need Is gentle per-
suasion." she remarked as she cud-
He'd down before him with her arm
on his knee. "Now we're comfy. and
you look quite yourself"
do II"
"Yes. So | want TO ask your brother
y advice-not that I expect TO take
4. Charlie Is coming tonight, and he !
s coming TO the point--lf let him.
Shall II"
"whatT' querled the young man
Tho persisted in calling himself Rich.