The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-12-14
BOOK ONE
THE CALL OF THE BLOOD
CHAPTER

Bruce was Weakened by the sharp
ring of his telephone bel. Instantly
he was fully aroused, in complete con
troll of an his faculties. And this is
not especially common to MEN bred in
the security of civilization. Rather
II is a trait Of the wild creatures; a
little matter that IS quite necessary
If they care AT al about living. From
tierSmcn learn the trait, too; but rs
Bruce was a dWcllcr of cities il
seemed somewhat strange in him.
Then he grunted rehclliouSly and
glanced mt his watch beneath the pill
low. He had gone Ia bed early; II
vas just midnight now.
He had no doubts whatever concern
ing the nature of this call. There had
been one hundred like ii during the
previous month. His foster father had
recently died, his estate was being set
tied up. and Bruce had been having Il
somewhat strenuous time with his
creditors. He understood the mans
real financial situation ut last at his
death the whole business structure
collapsed like the eggShell II was.
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 10Y call
ing him to the telephone.
ssFThir 10 Mr. human, ~ I, p,tl ,nlI
ly into the transmitter.
allow do you do, Mr.. Duncan" a
voice answered. Pardon me If | got
you up. | 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 il
could arouse his foster father to an
swer 1t. THE elder Mr.. Duncan died
last month";" he answered simply.
There was not 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 now. This
Is Bruce speaking"
He heard the other gasp. "Old
man, I'm sorry" his c@ontrite 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 or course" The delight
grew on Bruce's face; for Barney We
gan, a man whom he had met and
learned to know on the gym floor of
his club, was quite near to being a real
friend. "And what's up, Barney?'
The mans voice changed at once
went back TO its same urgent, but
rather embarrassed one. You won't
believe me If | tell you, so I won't try
to tell you over the phone. But /
must come upright away. May ~
"Of course"
"Ill be there in a minute"
Bruce hung up, slowly descended to
his 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 an
athlete, a man who keeps himself fit
and there was nothing mawkish or eff
fnnatnntn nbA.,t I,n, II 4, t.,,. th..
men did look twice at Bruce's eyes
set In a brown, c~lean-cut face, never
knowing exactly why they did so.
They had startling potentialities
They were quite clear now. wide
awake and cool, yet they had II
shadow that might mean, somewhere
beneath the bland and cool exterior, 81
capacity for great emotions and pas
siOns.
He had only a few minutes to wait
then Barney Wegan tapped at his
door. This man was bronzed by the
sun, never more fit. never s~traighter
and taller and more 1.-the. He had just
come from the far places. The EN-
barrassment that Bruce had detected
In his voice was In his face and man
ner, too.
"YOu1l think Pm crazy for routing
you out at this time of night, Bruce"
he began. "And I'm going to get this
matter off my chest as soOn as possible
and let you go to bed. It's all batty,
anyway. But l vas cautioned by all
the devils Of the deep to see yOu-the
mopent l came here"
"Cigarettes on the smOking-stand,'
Bruce said steadily. "And tell away
"But tell me something first. Was
Duncan your real father? II he was.
III, know I'm up a wrong tree. don't
mean to be personal"
HE wasn't. / thought you knew II.
ny real father Is something like you
something Of q mystery"