American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-08-17
BOOK ONE
THE CALL OF THE BLOOD
CHAPTER

ne was fully aroused, In complete con-
troll of all his faculties. And this is
not especially common to men bred in
the security of civilization. Rather
1t is a trait Of the wild creatures; a
little matter that is quite necessary
If they care at all about living. From
uersmen learn the trait, too; but as
Bruce was a dweller of cities 1t
seemed somewhat strange In him.
Then he grunted rebelliously and
glanced at his watch beneath the pill
low. He had gone to bed early 1t
was just midnight now.
He. had no doubts whatever concern
Ing the nature Of this call. There had
been one hundred like 1t during the
previous month. His foster father had
recently died, his estate was being set
tied up, and Bruce had been having a
somewhat strenuous time with his
creditors. He understood the mans
real financial situation at last; at his
death the whole business structure
collapsed Hike the eggshell 1t a
Bruce had supposed that most Of the
debts had been paid now; he won
dered, as he fumbled into his bedroom
slippers, whether the thousand or so
dollars that were left would cover the
claim of the man who was now call
ing him to the telephone.
This is Mr.. Duncan" he said cold
ly into the transmitter.
"H0w do you do, Mr.. Duncan" a
voice answered. Pardon me If / got
you up. I want to talk to your son,
Bruce
Bruce emitted a little gasp of
ama1ement. Whoever talked at the
end of the line obviously didn't know
that the elder Duncan was dead.
Bruce had a moment Of grim humor
In which he unused that this voice
would have done rather well If it
could arouse his foster father to an
swer 1t. 1.-THE elder Mr.. Duncan died
last month he answered simply.
There was mot the slightest trace of
emotion in his tone. No wayfarer on
the street could have been, as far as
facts went, more Of a stranger to. him
there was no sense of loss at his death
and no cause for pretense nov. "This
is Bruce speaking"
He heard the other gasp. "Old
man, I'm sorry" his contrite voice
came. At didn't know Of your loss.
This is Barney-Barney Wegan-and
4. 1 just got in from the West. Haven't
had a bit of news for months. Accept
my earnest sympathies2
Barney! OF course" The delight
-. SOD 10 na..qn. oran W.
gan, a man whom he had met and
learned to know ,On the gym floor of
his club, was quite nea to being a real
friend. "And what's up, BarneyT"
The mans voice changed at once-
went back to it's same urgent, but
rather embarrassed tone. "YOu won't
believe me If 1 tell you, so | won't try
to tell you over the phone. But
must come upright away. May ~
"Of course"
'Tll be there in q minute"
Bruce hung up, slowly descended t.
mis- library, and flashed on the lights
For the first time he was revealed
plainly. His was a familiar type; but
at the same time the best type, too
He had the face and the body of al
athlete, a man who keeps himself fit
and there was nothing mawkish or eff
Terminate about him. 1t is true tina
men did look twice at Bruce's eyes
set in a brown, clean-cut face, neve
knowing exactly why they did SO
They had startling potentialhties
They were quite clear now, wide
awake and cool, yet they had
strange depth Of expression ant
shadow that might mean, somewhere
beneath the bland and cool exterior,
capacity for great emotions and pas
sions.
He had only a few minutes to wait
then Barney Wegan tapped at hi
door. This man was bronzed by tn,
sun, never more fit, never straighte
and taller and more 1.-THE. He had jus
come from the far places. The EN-
barrassment hat Bruce had detectei
In his voice was in his face and man
ner, too.
you'll think I'm crazy for routinI
you out at this time of night, Bruce,
he began. "And I'm going to get thi
matter off my chest as soon as posstbl
and let you 60 to bed. It's all batty
anyway. But ] was cautioned by al
the devils OF the deep TO see youth
moment / came here"
cigarettes on the smOking-stand,
Bruce said steadily. "And tell away.
But tell me something first. We
Duncan your real father? If he wa
I'll know I'm up a wrong tree. / don
mean to be personal
"He wasn't. ! thought You knew ]
My real father is something Ike 20
something of a mystery"