AUTHOR OF "THE BRASS BOWk." EffC. OPycr by lows tjoscm mncc SYNOPSIS. . David Amber,' ctartlnjr for a duck-shooting- vlntt with his friend, Qunln, comes up on a younr lady equrstrlan who hnj been latnntintkil K, Vtat hnrm hftrrtmlriff fright ened at the sudden appearnnco In tlio road JIO fcehurl 11 ChatterJI, "tho appointed mouthpiece of tho Bell," aaaresses Amoor a a man of high rank and presslnr a nvarfnua llllln hrnnzn linx. "TllO To ken' Into h .1 hand, disappears In the- I wood. le in f Via cHrl mil Am iff hV IinmR. urn fi7liirMiPii lipr as Mill BonlllO 'nrrittl ilniialili- nt Pnl. Kflrrell of tho Jrftlth dlolotnatlo service tn India, and vt.ltlm- thn Otinlna. Havoral tilehtn later tho Qualn homo Is burglarlrnd and the bronze box stolen. Amber And Qunln go hunting on an Island and becotno lost and Amber Is left marooned. Ho wanders About, finally renchos ti cnbln find rec OKnlzes as Its occupant an old friend named llutton, whom he last mot In Knft land, and who appears to bo In hiding. When Miss Karroll Is mentioned Itutton is stranircly agitated. ChatterJI appear and "summons Hutton to a meeting of a mysterious body, llutlon seizes a revol ver and dashes after ChatterJI. CHAPTER V. (Continued). Suddenly Hutton started and wheel ed round, ovory trace of cxcltomont rraoothod away, Meeting Amber's ease he nodded an If casually, and eald, "Ob, Ainbor," qulotly, with an -effect of faint nurprlso. Then ho dropped heavily into a chair by the table. "Well," he aad slowly, "that la over." Amber, without speaking, wept to tits nldo and touched his shoulder with that pitifully Inadequate gocturo of fy.mpAlhy which men so frequently employ. "I killed him," said Button dully. "Yes," roplled Ambor. Ho wan not surprised; he had approhonded tho tragedy from tho moment that Itutton bad fled him, After a bit Itutton turned to the table and drew an automatic pistol Jron his pocket, opening tho maga tlno. Fire cartridges romalned In the clip, showing that two had boon exploded. "I was not suro," ho nald thoughtfully, "how many times I had fired." Ills curiosity satlsllod, ho re. loaded tho weapon and roturned It to Ills pockot "Ho died llko a dog," he iald, "whlniperlng and blasphomlng In the face of oterntty . , . out there In the cold and the night . . . It was sickening the sound of tho fcullets tearing through his llcah. . . ," Ho shuddered. "Didn't he resist?" Ambor asked In "voluntarily, "Hb tried to. I let him pop away with his revolver iintll It was empty. Thon . . ." "What made you wait?" . I didn't care; It didn't matter. Ono of us had to dlo tonight: ho should ave known that whon I refused to 'accompany him .back to 4 . I was hungry for his bullet more than for his llfo; 1 gavo him every chance. Hut It had to bo as It was. That was IFate." With a wrench Ambnr nnllprf him self together. "Itutton," ho domanded' suddenly, without premeditation, "what are you going to do?" "Do?" Itutton looked up. his oyos perplexed. "Why. what la tboro to do? Get away as best I can, I prosumo seek another holo to hide In." "But how about tho law?" ' "The law? Why ncod It ovor be kiMwn- what has happened tonight? I can count on your sllonco I havo no need to ask. Doggott would die .rather than betray we. Ho and I can ilepese ot It. No one comes hero jat tills time of the yoar save hunting parti W! ana their eyes are not upon the ground. You will go your way In Uhe morning, We'll clear out In wuedlately niter." jpwJfdu'd hotter take no chances." Suddenly Itutton smoto tho tablo with his flBt. "By Indurl" he swore strangely, his voice quavering with Joy; "I had not thought of that!" He Jumped up and began to move exulted ly to and fro. "I am freol None but you and I know of tho passing of the Token and the delivery of tho mea wigo nope qan poaslbly know .for 'days, perhaps weeks. For so nnioh $ time at least I am In no danger of ' i Ho shut his mouth llko n trap on ' words that might havo cullghtoncd Ambor. "Of what?" "Lot, mo boo: tboro aro still waste fWoh in. tub world whero a man may Iobo himself. Tharo's Canada tho r Hudson bay region, Labrador. A. discreet knock sounded on tho door ln; tho partition, and It wub open d gohtly. Doggott npponrod on tho threshold, palo and careworn. Rut ton paused, facing him. 4 "Well?" "Any orders, sir?" "Yea; begin packing up, Wo leavo tomorrow." "Very good, sir." Hutton roplonlshed the flro and tood with his back to It, smiling nl- most happily. All ovldonce of romorso ti4 disappeared "Free!" he cried soft ly, "And by the simplest of solutions. Strange that I should never havo thouuht before tonight of ' Ho glanced carelessly towardiUha win dow; and it was as If his lips had been wiped clean of speech. Ambor turnod, thrilling, his flesh crouplng with tho horror that ho had divined in llutton's trnnsiixou gaxo. Outsido tho glass, that wnu lightly llvorcd with frost, ooraothlng moved :ho spectral Bhadow of a turbancd head moved and wan stationary for tho Bpnco of 20 heartbeats, Beneath tho turban Amber Boomed to sco two oyes, wide staring and terribly alight God J cried Rutton thickly, jerking forth his pistol. Tho shadow vanished. With a slnglo thought Ambor sprang upon Itutton, snatched tho weapon from his norvolcss flngors, and, leaping to tho door, lot himself out. Tho snow had ceased; only tho wind raved with iintompered force. Cautiously, and, to bo frank, a bit dismayed, Amber mado n reconnais sance, circling tho building, but dis covered nothing to rownrd his pains. Only, boforo tho window, through which ho had scon tho peering tur baned hoad, he found tho impressions of two feet, rather deop and dcflnlto, toes pointing toward tho house, as though somo ono had lingered there, looking In. Tho sight of them reas sured him ridiculously. "At least," ho reflected, "disembod ied spirits loavo no footprints!" Ho found Rutton precisely as ho had loft him, his very attitude an un- uttored question. "No," Ambor told him, "ho'd made a quick getaway. Tho marks of bis foot wero plain enough, outsldo the window, but ho was gone, and . somehow I wasn't overkeen to fol low him up." "Right," said tho otdor man deject edly. "I might havo known ChatterJI would not havo como alono. So my crlmo was futile." 116 spokd without spirit as If complotoly fagged, and movcti slowly to tho door. "David, a llttlo while ago I promised to ask your aid If evor tho time should como when I might bo frco to do 00; I said, 'That hour will never strlko.' Yet already It Is horo; I nood you. Will you holp mo?" "You know that." "I know. , . . Ono moment's patlcnco, David." Rutton glancod at tho clock. "Tlmo for my mcdlclno," ho said; "that heart troublo I men tioned. . . ." Ho drow from a waistcoat pocket a small sllvor tubo, or phial, and un corking this, measured out a certain numbor of drops into a sllvor spoon. As he swallowed tho doso tho pfilol slipped from his flngors and rang upon the hearthstone, spilling Its con tents In tho ashes. A pungont and heady odor flavored tho air. "No mattor." said Rutton lndlffor- cntly. "I shan't need It again for somo tlmo." Ha picked up and restored tho phial to his pocket "Now lot mo think n bit" Ho took a quick turn up tho room and down again. "A mad danco," ho observed thoughtfully: "this thing wo call llfo. We meet and whirl asutidor motes In a sunboam. Tonight Destiny choso to throw us togothor for, a llttlo spneo; tomorrow wo Bhall bo Irrevocably part ed, for all tlmo." "Pon't say that, Rutton." "It Is bo written, David." Tho rann'B smllo vas strangely placid. "After UiIb night, we'll novor moot. In the morning Doggott will "'forry you over " "Shan't wo go togothor?' "No," said Rutton scronoly; "I must loavo boforo you." "Without Doggott?" "Without Doggott; I wish him to go with you." , . "Whoro?" "On tho errand I am going to ask you to do for mo, You aro froo to loavo this country for sovoral months?" "Quito. I correoted tho flnul gal lays of my 'Analysis of Sanakrlt Liter ature' just boforo I camo down. Now I've nothing on my mind or hands. Go on." "Walt." Rutton wont n second time to the leather trunk, lifted tho lid, and camo back with two small par cols. Tho one, which appoared to con tain documonts of somo aort. ho caBt negligently on tho flro, with tho air of ono who destroys that which Is no longor of valuo to him. It caught im mediately and began to flamo and smoko and Btnouldor. Tho othor was several Inches squaro and flat, wrap "Hear with me, David, for yet a llt tlo while," Itutton beggod. "Sit down." "All right but 1" Amber resumed hin scat, staring. "You and Doggott aro to sock her out, wherovor shd may bo, and rescue her from what may be worso than death. And It Bhall como to pass that you shall lovo ono another and marry and llvo happily over nftor Just ns though you were a princo and aho an enchanted princess in a fairy tale, David." "I must say you seem pretty damn suro about it!" "It must bo so, David; It shall bo no! I am an old man older than you think, perhaps and with ago thoro sometimes comes something strange ly akin to tho gift of second-sight So I know It will bo so, though you think mo a madman." "I don't indeed, but you . . . Well! I glvo It up." Amber laughed uneasily. "Go on. Whero's this maid en In distress?" "Iu India I'm not suro Just whoro. You'll find her, howovor." And then?" "Then you are to bring hor homo with you, without delay." "But suppose " "You must .win her first; then she will como gladly," ' "But I've Just told you I loved an- othor woman, Rutton, and besides " You mean tho Miss Farroll you mentioned?" "Yes. I" "That will bo no obstacle." 'What! How in thunder d'you know It won't?" Ambor expostulated. A faint suspicion of the truth quick ened his wits. "Who is this woman you want mo to marry?" "My daughter." "Your daughter!" "My only child, David." "Thon why won't my my love for Sophia Farroll intcrfero?" "Bocauso," said Rutton slowly, "my daughter and Sophia Farroll aro tho same, . . . No; listen to me; I'm not raving. Hero is my proof hor latest photograph." Ho put It into Amber's hands. Dazed, tho younger man stared "You will bo kind her, and true, David? You'll lovo her faithfully and mnko her lovo you?" "I'll do my best" said tho young roan humbly. "It must bo bo she must bo taught to lovo you. It la essential, impern 've, that 'sho marry you and.ldavo In, dla with you without a day'n delay." Amber sat back In his chair, breath ing quickly, his mouth tense. "I'll do. my bos But, Rutton, why? Won't you toll mo? Shouldn't I know I, who am to bo her husband, her protec tor?" "Not from me. I am bound by an oath, David. Somo day It may bo that you will know. Perhaps not. You may guess what you will you havo much to go on. But from mo, noth ing. Now, lot us sottlo tho dotnlls. I'vo vory llttlo tlmo." Ho glaneed again at tho shoddy tin clock, with a slight but noticeable shiver. "How's that? It's hours Ull morn ing." "I Bhall nover see tho dawn, David," said Rutton qulotly. "What'' "I havo but ten minutes more of llfo. ... If you must know In a word: poison. . . . That I be saved a blacker-sin, David!" "You moan that medicine tho sil ver phial 7" Amber stoinmored, sick with horror. "Yes. Don't bo alarmed; It's slow but sure and painless, dear boy. It works Infallibly within half an hour. Thoro'll bo no agony merely tho drawing of tho curtain. Best of all, it leaves no traces; a diagnostician would call It heart-falluro. . . . And thus I escape that" Ho nodded coolly toward tho door. "But this must not bo, Rutton!" Amber roso suddenly, pushing back his chair. "Something must be done. Doggott" "Not bo loud,- please you might alarm him. After It's all over, call him. But now It's useless; tho thing la dono; thoro's no known antidote. Bo kind to mo, David, In this hour of mine extremity. Thoro's much still to bo sold botween us , . . and In ma BM&rBHlllll-TV SB BVBUllH BUH m bV.bH1KJbW t alfliiflMiiLinlK 1 1 fir 1 ia m- t mmrammmm Studied It for Several Minutes, In Silence. blankly at tho likeness of tho woman ho loved; It was unquestionably she. Ho gasped, trembling, astounded. "Sophia . . .1" ho said thickly, col oring hotly. Ho was conscious of a tightening of his throat muscles, ma king speech a mattor of difficulty. "But but " ho stammorod. "Hor mother," said Rutton softly, looking away, "was a Russian noble woman. Sophia Is Farrell's daughter by adoption only. Farroll was onco my closest friend. When my wlfo died . . ." Ho covorod his eyes with his hand and remained silent for a fow seconds. "When Sophia was left motherless), an Infant in arms, Farroll offered to adopt hor, Because I bo camo, ithout that tlmo, awaro of this horror that has polsonod my llfo this thing of which you havo scon some thing tonight I accoptod on condition that tho truth bo nover rovoalod to hor. It cast mo tho friondship of Far pod in plain paper, without a super- roll; he was thon but lately married scrlptlon, and Bealod with sovoral and and I thought It dangerous to uo hoavy blobs of red wax. Rutton drow a chair closo to Ambor and sut down, broakng tho seals methodically. "You Bhall go on a long Journey, David," ho Bald slowly "a long Jour nay, to n far land, whero you shall bravo porlla that I may not warn you against It will put your friendship to tho tost" "I'm ready." Tno older man ripped tho cover from tho packet exposing tho back of what seemed to bo a photograph. Holding this to tho light its faco in vlslblo to Ambor, ho studied It for Bovornl minutes, In sllenco, a tender light kindling tn his oyos to Boften tho almost nscotlo austorlty of his oxpres slon, "In tho end, it you llvo, you .shall win rich reward," ho Bald at length. Ho placed tho photograph faco down upon tho tablo. "How a reward?" "Tho lovo of a woman worthy of you, David." "But!" In consternation Amber roso, almost knocking ovor his chair. "But Great Scott, mnnl" seon with him too much. I loft Eng land, having Bottled upon my daughter tho best part ot my fortuno, rotalnlng only enough for my iiocdB. From that day 1 nover saw hor or hoard from Farroll, Yet I know I could trust him. Last summer, whon my daugh ter was presented nt court, I was in London; I discovered tho namo of hor photographor and bribed him to sell mo this." Ho indicated tho pnoto- graph. "And sho doesn't know!" "Sho muBt never know." Rutton loaned forward and caught Ambor'B hand In a compelling grasp. "Ro member that. Whatovor you do, my namo must novor pass your Hps with roferonco to horself, at least. No ono must oven suspect that you know mo Farroll least of all." "Sophia knows that now," Bald Am bor. "Qualn and I opoko ot you ono night but tho namo mado no Impros slon on her, I'm suro of that" "That Is good; Farroll has been trud. Now , . you will go to India?" "I will go," Ambor promlaod. fesslon, he never seemed to havo any practice to speak of and ho lnvontod this stuff and named it tho B-Form-ula." Rutton tapped tho silver phial In his waistcoat pooket, smiling faint ly. "Ho was n good llttlo man. . . Two minutes. Strange how llttlo one cares, when It's inovitablo. . . " Ho ceased to speak and closed his cj-33. A groat stillness mado Itaeu fc't within tho room. In tho other, Doggott was silent probably asloep. It was closo upon two In tho morn ing. "Amber," said Rutton suddenly and very clearly, "you'll find a will In my dispatch box. Doggott Is to hav6 all I possess. Tho emerald ring tho Token I glvo to you." "Yes, I I" "Your hand. . . . Mine Is cold? No? I fancied It was," said tho man drowsily. And lator: "Sophia. You will bo kind to her, David?" "On my faith!" Rutton's flngors tightened cruelly upon his, then relaxed suddenly. Ho began to nod, his chin drooping to ward his broast "Tho Gateway ... the Eell Tho words were no more than whls- pors dying on lips that stilled as they npoko. For a long tlmo Amber sat unmov- Ing, his fingers imprisoned In that quiet cooling grasp, his thoughts astray in a black mist of mourning and bewilderment Out of doors something made a cir cuit of the cabin, llko a beast of the night, stealthy footsteps muffled by tho Bnow: pad pad pad . . . In the emorald ring on Amber's finger the deathless fire leaped and pulsed. Eovon minutes moro . . Rutton retained bis clutch upon Am ber's hand; and his eyes, their luster dimmed, held Amber's, pitiful, pas sionato, lnoxorablo In their entreaty. Ambor sat down, his soul shaken with tho pity of It "Ah-h!" sighed Rutton. Relieved, tho tension relaxed; ho relcasod Am Dors nana; nia body Bank a llttlo in tho chair. Becoming conscious of this, ho pulled hlmsolf together. . . . "Entor India by way of Calcutta," ho said in a dull and heavy volco. "Thoro, In tho Machua bazar, you will find a goldsmith and money lendor called Dhola Baklsh. Go to him se cretly, Bhow him tho ring tho Token. Ho will undorstand and do all In his powor to aid you, should thore bo any troublo about your loavlng with So phia. To no ono elso tn India nro you to mention my namo. Deny mo, if taxed with knowing mo. Do you un dorstand?" "No. Why?" "Novor mind but romombor thoso two things: you do not know mo and you must under no circumstances havo anything to do with tho police. They could do nothing to holp you; on the othor hand, to bo seon with them, to havo It known that you communicate with them, would bo tho equivalent of a soai upon your death warrant You romombor tho monoy londer'a namo?" "Dhola Bakosh ot tho Machu ba zar." "Trust him and trust Doggott . , , Four mlnutos moro!" "Rutton!" cried Amber In a broken volco. Cold sweat broko out upon his forehead. Tho man smiled fearlessly. "Bellovo mo, this Is tho hotter, way tho only way. . . . Somo day you may moot a llttlo chap named Labortoucho a quoor fish I onco know In Cal cutta, But I daresay he's dead by. now. But It you should moot him, tell him that you'vo soon his B-Formula work flawlessly In ono Instance ut loast. You bco, ho dabbled In chom tatry and entomology and a 'lot ot un common pursuits a solicitor by pro- CHAPTER VI. Red Dawn. Presently Ambor rose and qulotly exchanged dressing gown and sllppera for his own shooting Jacket and boots which by now wero dry, thanks to Doggott's thoughtulness In placing them near tho flro. The shabby tin clock had droned through 30 mlnutos since Rutton had spoken his last word. In that Inter val, sitting faco to face, and for a lit tle tlmo hand In hand, with tho man to whom ho had pledged his honor, Ambor had thought dcoply, carefully weighing ways and means; nor did he move until ho bollcvcd his plana ma ture and definite. But beforo ho could take ono stop toward redeeming his word to Rut ton, ho had many cares to dispose of. In tho hut, Rutton lay doad of poison; somowhoro among tho dunes tho babu lay In his blood, shot to death foully murdered, tho world would say. Should thoso things bocomo known, ho would bo detained Indefinitely In No komls as a witness If, indood, ho es caped a graver charge. It was, then, with a mind burdened with black anxiety that he went to arouso Doggott. "Mr. Rutton Is dead, Doggott," ho managed to Bay with somo difficulty. Doggott exclaimed bencnth his breath. "Dead!" ho crlod In a tone of daze. In two strides ho bad left Am ber and was kneeling by Rutton's sldo. Tho most cursory examination, howovor, sufficed to rcsolvo his every 'doubt "Doad!" whispered the servant Ho roso and stood swaying, his lips a-tromble, his oyes blinking through a mist, his head bowed. '"E always was uncommon' good to mo, Mr. Am ber," ho said brokenly. "It's a bit 'ard, comln' this w'y. Ow 'ow did It " Ho broko down completely for a tlme.v When ho had himself In moro con trol Amber told him as briefly as pos sible ot tho head at tho window and of Its sequel Rutton's despairing sui cide. Doggott listened In sllonco, nodding his comprehension. "I've always look ed for It, sir," ho commented. " 'E'd warned mo novor to touch that silver tubo; 'o nover said poison, but I sus pected It '0 being bluo and mclan- choly-llko, by fits and turns 'o nevor told mo why. Thon, roverontly, they toolc up tho body and laid it out upon the ham mock-bod. Doggott arranging the limbs and closing tho oyes beforo spreading a sheet ovor tho rigid form 'And now, what, Mr. Ambor?" he asked. 'Mr. Rutton epoke of a dispatch box. DoEKott You know where to And It?" "Yes, sir." (TO BE CONTINUED.) SAVED PROM AN OPERATION By Lydia E Plnkham's Vegetable Compound pnor!..IlL "I -wish to lot cvorv on know -what Lydia E. Pinkhatn'B romo. dlos havo dono for mo. For two years I Buffered. Tho doc tora said I had tu mors, and the only remedy was the sur goon'a knife. My mother bought mo Lydia E.Plnkham'8 Yogotable Com. pound, and today I am a healthy wo man. For months I suffered from in flammation, and your Sanative Wash ro. Uovod mo. Your Livor Pills- have no equal as a cathartic. 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