The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-02-07
THE BROTHERS
ny JACK LAwToN.


er might have looked when the young
American engineer married her aud
brought her back 10 his land.
Dolores knew, too. the trlckcry OF
her mothers charm and the radiance
OF the flashing smile over pearly teeth.
Dolores fnthcr worshlned the girl as
he had worshlpcd his love before her,
aud when his life, too. came TO an
early end ho left his daughter be-
soochlng tender care. to the guardian
ship Of The man who was his closest
friend.
Again the girls calolorlcs won her
triumph; there was no favor not act.
ually harmful which the guardian With
held And az the height OF her beauty
aud triumph nclghborhood purity
brought Donald aud Douglas. the
twins, 10 Dolores notlec-and TO their
surrender. Donald and Douglas Bruce
were valued members OF the small
town; young lawyers following the
lawyer fnther before them.
sThat II was Douglas who did the
greater part Of the firms work. and
Donald who spent the greater part Of
the firms money. made no difference.
Both were eagerly welcomed, aud
many pretty. fetching caps set for
them. And then The, met Dolores.
That very night as Don sat upon
the bed the brother shared the broth
ers knew whit had happened. Both
had fallen IN love az first meeting, II
not at first sight, with the little half
Spanish beauty.
Aud So neither one discussed her.
Aud when Douglas closed his Office
door TO an afternoon elientage and
sohcrly went the same road, Don
smiled after him, for Don was sure
Of himself where girls were con-
eerncd: even a witching wonder OF n
girl like Dolores. once She had al
most yielded TO his impulslve caress
almost, but not quite. lie smiled
again at recollection Of her startled re-
treat But her eyes had made him
sure.
Confidence broken, they were drift
ing apart. After last miserably
sleepless night, Douglas made his de-
cislon. He would 90 TO Dolores and
ask her TO marry him.
And Dolores said yes. II was I'M
bellcyablc. but her soft whisper still
fingered In Douglas ears, the caress
of her hand as she had taken flight
from his fonder caress. And when
Douglas came, vGsuc in his JOY, to
the room he shared with Donald, his
brother cast upon him n fretful
glance. "Beastly luck!" exclaimed
Donald; "have 10 break an engage
ment tonight TO wait for this man who
will see 10 one but me. Say, Doug,
would you mind running back TO Do
lores, to explain my absence. She
SAYS It makes the guardian wild to
have any fellow call her over the
phone. She expected me at nine at
the latest"
Douglas considered.
"All right" he agreed, 81 will tell
her"
He was thinking that he would try
again to persuade Dolores to absolve
him from the promise that for time
his brother must not learn of their
engagement.
Dolores would have to .'brealI 1t"
first. she said, to her stern guardian.
She was in the moonlit garden as
Douglas came; she had told him re-
gretfully at the recent parting that
the guardian insisted upon her com
panionshlp in the house at nine o'clock.
How, he wondered, had she escaped
the guardian. He vaulted the wall, as
Donald usually did, that he might
quickly reach her side.
With ~ laugh Dolores turned to
greet him.
Don" she cried; "Don, darlingw
In the shadows Douglas felt the lit
tie traitor hands stretched out to meet
his own, and then the hands touched
his shoulders.
"I thought you'd never come, Don,
dearest murmured Dolores; "your
brother Douglas was here and / had
dreadful time shaking him."
Suddenly Douglas put from him the
clinging hands.
"Wait,' he whispered, and vaulted
back over the garden wall. He was
white and breathless when he stood
before mis- brother. They were alike,
Douglas realized grimly, enough alike
to be mistaken for one another among
shadows. Well, he had found out the
sham of n girl to whom his love had
been given Now Donald must get
his" "Don" he said brusquely, "do
me a favor without question-latcr
you'll understand. Hurry over to Do
lores she's there beside the garden
wall. AS you approach say: Are you
there, Dolores? This is Douglas.
That's all. For a moment l want her
to think that you are me-"
Something in his brothers deter
mined expression 'banished the Won
dering smile from Dona.d's lips.
"All right" he agreed briskly, and
was gone.
Douglas sat with his face in bis
hands, waiting. This was hard les.
son that he had sent his brother to
learn. After an unbearable time Don
aid returned.