Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-02-12


The young mans mouth curled.
Don't be mistaken, Mr.. Harmon
there's very little joking in me when
| ever mention Syracuse" Harmon
shivered at the tone, but waved the
photograph in soothing accusation.
You're not trying to sit there and
tell me"
Il told you I was in hospital for
nearly a year. I believe" said Hilliard
Jelly. ut was shrapnel-across the
face. AS a matter of fact l didn't
have much of any face left. But the
surgeons-they're pretty clever. Yes
they're cleverw billiards. eyes were
needle points. "They make a man over
from his own photograph. In my own
case l preferred it differently. SO
when they asked me for something to
use as pattern in remOdeling me |
gave EN- this! !" He tossed out a pic
ture postcard, soiled and frayed.'
"Well, that's where the trouble began.
They cursed me up and down for
still that part of it won't interest
you" His eyes were blazing now, and
his voice shook with passion. "Natu-
rally | hadn't meant it as ID
literal as all that -. but they had
me under ether before H'could s.hefp
myself - and they went through
with it 3. =. Eanhgcurseds me some
more afterward ..... They couldn't
copy it exactly, of course, but they did
the best they could. .@t:: Bf0atdd
over it! Took Infinite PAINS 'to%nrake
1t perfect and sneered,:}Et me
while they did itt Sneered land
laughed, i. Wen, you've got the
results in front of you. That's what
was-and that's what I am! What's
your opinion now?" The last4senteace
came snarling through set teeth, So
The brokers' pupils had diiated
grossly; his eyes wandered Nacantly
from the photograph to the postcard
and back to billiards. face His whole
imagination was pinned down and
crushed he swore softly under his
breath and wet his lips. 49,,
IT'S a miracle!" he STAN
mered. "a miracle :"
'The photograph" said Hilllard
harshly, "is the way they remember
me up in Syracuse. Do you think
they'd ever recognize me now?" =. .
ITS a miracle it's paralyz-
ing -. :" Harmon swallowed hard,
and looked down almost fearfully at
the timeworn postcard. There's so
much difference nobody'd ever
think of it without knowing
but when you see the originall
! 1t it knocks me all in a heap
It's staggering And they did that to
you! Just to think they could do that
to you! I've got to have a
drink T!
billiard motioned impatiently, but
his fit of rage was slowly going down
There's no miracle about 1t at all
1t was good plastic surgery. If they'd
sent me out looking as l used to you
wouldn't call it a miracle, would you
No. It's only what they did do that
makes it staggering. But it's clever
oh, yes-Clever! And you can see fol
yourself how few marks of it there
are" He drew a long breath and man,
aged to smile again; but the effect was
shocking, for while his features were
composed and kindly his eyes were
venOmOus. "Well, / certainly never
! intended to go to Syracuse again fol
pleasure. but if there's enough com
pensatOn to pay for the risk I'm MOI
His accent sent cold Chills cOurslnl
down Harmons spine. "In fact now
that l think of it, 1t ought to be
rather amusing"
The broker was striving to pull him
self together.
"But why on earth didn't you have
'em use your own picture for a copy
if they're as clever as
Oh" He stopped short and his CHR
dropped. ooh! Is that the answer?'
Eyes" said billiard, fecaiming tn,
two photographs. "That's the answer
| didn't mind starting over again
only" lie sighed and inhaled might
lily. "Only take my advice, Mr.. Har
mon, and don't lose your temper JUS
before an operation"
Harmon breathed more freely, bu
he was still in violent intellectual dis
tress. He round face was vapid wit!
awe, and ne was tongueing his lips ii
constant nervousness, for the complete
possibility Of the situation was creep
Ing over him.
eff that's the case" he ventured
"why they surely needn't rec
ognize your name either, Mr.. Hilllard
need they? l mean, If you had an.
idea of going back to your home tow
, incognito as It were"
"They wouldn't recognize anything
about me-" said Hilllard dryly. Hi
} teeth, showing at the moment wer
white and regular as a young VOLTS
1--WE won't discuss that side of II Jus