Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-16
CHAPTER XII.

II
| As he crossed the threshold of tn,
long. overdecorated drawing room, h,
knew intuitively that he had blum
dered upon climax. This he senset
from the attitude of the three VIII,
turned toward him as he entered
fsensed 1t before he saw what was II
their eyes. - Tho atmospher,
was vibrant, as though from, sount
waves which had passed beyond, ant
yet left traces of the swell behint
them. The room was silent; but of Q
sifence more confounding than 9
deafening turmoil.
billiard, standing on the threshold
was himself the center of this atmos.
phere; he felt it partly because hi.
mood was so flexible and partly be.
| cause the three who faced him hat
simultaneously thrown their fixet
attention on him, thrown 1t directly
and challengingly, including him II
the finale of the climax, while they
stood motiopless as statues. HI
looked at >Waring, whose expression
was defensiveIy acute: he looked al
Angela. flushed, paipitant. and ex.
| cited; he looked at Mr.. Cullen. tight
Tipped and frowning/ and Hilliart
| caught his breath, as a swimmer who
launches himself to high dive, and
walked composedly into the drawing
room.
II hope" he said gravely, TIN MOI
intruding. Am II"
The trio was galvanized into &C.
ton; Cullen fairly leaped at him
"Hilliard!" he said thank the Lord!
You're the very man we WANT"
Hilliard smiled straight into Cullen't
eyes.
That's why I'm here" he said.
Waring laughed loudly--too loudly
and the laugh stopped short, for Cul.
len was towering over him-Culler
blazing with indignant wrath. ant
with hand resting on Hilliard'.
shoulder.
Nov go on" said Cullen com.
mandingly. I'VE don't want an,
undetermined work around here
Rufus. I've told you that once al
| ready. Go on! say 1t to his face
You're conversational enough behint
his back-say it to his face! Eithel
you tell him or will"
The boy wiped his forehead. Beads
Of sweat stood out on it.
"Mr. Cullen 1t isn't
itfisn't fair
Fair" Angela's soprano had riser
| to half scream. "Rufe Waring
after what you've been saying, yor
talk about being fair! Why II you
"tHush! Angela!" Her fathers ad.
monitiop was peremptory enough tt
quell her instantly. He wheeled bacl
to Waring. Were going to get a
the bottom Of this sooner or later
and the sooner the better. I'm wait
ing for you to repeat what you Jus
told US, Rufus"
There were tears Of anger in tn
law students eyes-of anger and O.
impotence. He gave Angela lool
Of supurb disdain, shrugged hi.
shoulders. ~
well. that settles that" he said
and as Angela gave a gasp Of under.
standing, and turned angrily white
he laughed metallically.
Cullen moved nearer to him.
Are you going to speak up o.
not? Because If you aren't ="
Waring folded his arms: but HI
still failed Of the pose he planned
because his eyes and his muscle.
| were traitor to him.
7 mo I'm noti Not until I'm ready
to! I'm not afraid Of tho whole
crowd Of you! I'm not going to b<
bullied and bulldozed into" He at.
tempted TO brush past Cullen, thu
oldef man caught him by the arm
Take your hands of mel"
You stay where you are!" storm.
ed Cullen. Until you can
IT you lay your hands on me once
more, Mr.. Cullen, I'll -. DOM
you forget know what this means
I'll have you"
"Oh, your law!" Cullen snorted II
contemptuously. For Gods sake
don't SWIVEL about 1t ~. stand uF
and take it like man. Il you've got
any manhood in you! EFor a law
student you're 49,. well, don't try
to run away from 1t, then. /. are
you going to tell him, or am II"
The answer was delayed; Cullen
swung around to HilHard. "Then
I'll tell you myself. Know what this
boy's~been saying about you? Com
ing UP to us when you're not here
and trying to knife you when you're
not looking?"
billiard, who had been standing
paralyzed, found voice.
why, I can guess" he said,
curiously calm. and don't be harsh
with him, Mr.. Cullen. AS a matter
Of fact
Angela had sprung between them;