Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1920-04-14

"TII let you Judge for yourself" He
brought out a Nat leather wallet, from
which he extracted a tiny photograph,
torn from an old passport. what do
you think Of thatf"
Harmon scanned II specifically.
"Nice-looking hoy. Who Is he?"
"It was taken two years ngo," said
Hilliard. resting his elbows on the
table. "You wanted to know how they
remember me, so Tn showing you.
That's q photograph of me, taken two
years ago"
Impossible =" Harmon snorted II.
"That doesn't look any more like you
than ... than I do! Let's omit
the comedy; I'm talking business p
The young mans mouth curled.
Don't be mistaken. Mr.. Harmon
there's very little Joking in me when
| ever mention Syracuse" Harmoa
shivered at the tone. but waved the
photograph In soothing accusation.
You're not trying to sit there and
tell me"
Il told you ] was In hospital for
nearly a year, / believe" said billiard
icily. 1T was shrapnel-across the
face. As a matter Of fact | 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 OWE
case | preferred it differently. SO
when they asked me for something to
use as n pattern in r%emodcling me
gave 'em this !" He tossed out n pic.
ture postcard, soiled and frayed.'
We'll, that's where the trouble began.
They cursed me up and down for Il -.
still that part Of it won't interest
your His eyes were blazing now. and
his voice shook with passion. "Natu-
rally ! hadn't meant 1t as ID
literal as all that but they had
me under ether before | could help
myself . and they went through
with 1t . and cursed me some
more aftcrward They couldn't
copy it exactly, ~ofscourse, but they did
the best they could. GlOated
over 1t! Took Infinite pains to make
1t perfect . and sncCred ut me
while they did It! ~Sncered-and
laughed. . Well, you've got the
results in front of you. That's what
| was-and that's what l am! What's
your opinion nOw?" The last sentence
came snarling through set teeth.
The brokers' pupils had dilated
grossly his eyes wandered vacantly
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.
"It's a a miracle!" he STAN
mered. "A miracle! ="
"The photograph" said HiIllard
harshly, lis the way they remember
me up in Syracuse. Do you think
they'd ever recognize me nowT
ITS q miracle . . it's paralyz-
ing! ;. :" Harmon swallowed hard,
and looked down almost fearfully at
the time-worn postcard. There's so
think of it without knowing . !.
but when you see the original! p.
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 :"
billiard motioned impatiently, but
his fit Of rage was slowly going down.
"There'S no miracle about it at all,
If was good plastic surgery. If they'd
sen me ont looking as I used TO you
wouldn't call it Il miracle, would you?
No. It's only what they did do that
makes it staggering. But it's clever
oh. yes-cleyer. And You can see for
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 ana kindly his eyes were
venomous. "Wcll. / certainly never
intended to 90 to Syracuse again for
pleasure, but if there's enough com,
%pensatiOn TO pay for the risk I'm not
afraid to try it on BUSINESS
His accent sent cold chills ~coursing
down Harmon's spine. I'm fact nov
that l think Of it, it ought to BE-
rather nmusing!'
The broker was striving to pull him
self together.
"But why on earth didn't you have
'em use your W picture for a copy