, 1922-08-23
BOOK ONE
The CALL OF THE BLOOD
CHAPTER /.

Bruce was wakened by the sharp
ring of his telephone bell. Instantly
he 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
tiersmen 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 N 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 n
somewhat strenuous time with his
creditors. He understood the mans
real financial situation at last; at his
death the whole business structure
collapsed like the eggshell it was.
Bruce had supposed that most Of the
debts had been paid row.; he won
dered. as he fumbled into his bedroom
slippers, whether the thousand or so
dollars that We're 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.
"How do you do, Mr.. Duncan" a
voice answered. Pardon me if l got
o up. 1 want to talk to your son,
Bruce"
Bruce emitted a little gasp of
amazement. 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 1t
could arouse his foster father to an
swer it. "The elder Mr.. Duncan died
last month";" he answered simply.
There Il not the slightest trace of
emotion in his tone. No wayfarer On
the street could have been, as far as
facts went, more of n stranger to him
there was no sense of loss at his death
and no cause for pretense now. This
is Bruce speaking
He heard the other gasp. "Old
man. I'm sorry" his contrlte voice
came. Il didn't know of your loss.
This is Barney-Barney Wegan-and
| just got in from the West. Haven't
had a bit of news for months. Accept
my earnest sympathies-"
Barney, OF Course" The delight
grew on Bruce's face; for Barney We
gan. II man whom he had met and
learned to know o the gym loor of
his club, was quite near to being a real
friend. "And what's up, Barney?"
The mans voice changed at nee
went back 10 its same urgent, but
rather embarrassed tone. You won't
believe me If | tell you, so / won't try
to tell you over the phone. But
must come upright away. May IT.
"Of course
'Pll be there in n minute"
Bruce hung up, slowly descended to
his library. and flashed on the lights.
For the first time I've 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 an
athlete, n man whn keeps himself fit
and there was nothing mawkish or eff
Terminate about him. 1t is r u that
men did look twice at Bruce's eyes
set In a brown, clean-cut face. neveI
knowing exactly why they did so
They had startling potentialities
They were quite clear now, wide
awake and cool, yet they had {