Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-05-07
CHAPTER v.-continued.


-
II was perhaps five minutes before
that door was reopened, and during
the interval, Hilliard had an oppor-
tunity TO wonder if the doctor had re-
yised his office hours otherwise, he
should now be down in the Physicians
building, receiving patients. 1t oc-
Cured spontaneously to Hilliard that
both Carol and her father were con-
ceivably harasSed by contrition, but
as he estimated the extent to which
their sorrow might go i. +. judging
by Carols distress of last night, and
the potential truancy Of the doctor to-
day-he was possessed of gripping
emotions. Had they cared so deeply
for him, then? Angela and Carol had
said so; but he had doubted what he
most wanted to believe. Was this adj
ditional proof2 Had the doctor cared
so deeply that In order to hold con-
verse. with Dick Morgan's sole execu-
tor. he would interrupt the sacred
routine Of his practice? Too late! Too
late to care, too late to sympathize,
only the winter garment of repent
ance was left for them! billiard
couldn't comprehend why, when he
had risen this morning so refreshed In
mind and body, he should now be so
unutterably wearied in both.
Carol returned, followed by a gen.
tleman of sixty; and as the doctor en-
tered, the room was suddenly per-
meated by an atmosphere of calm, and
kindly peace. He was large man,
large of feature. and large of instinct;
his forehead was that of an INTEL
lectualist; his eyes were those of
dreamer; his chin denoted rugged
capabilities, and the stuboornness of
answering ethics.
"Mr. Hilliard?" His voice was
pitched low. but its resonance was
striking. Thirty years ago the doctor
had been famous baritone; and there
was still one church In town which
dated its musical supremacy from the
choir he had organized and directed.
doctor Duranti" The two men
elasped hands firmly. billiard, ex-
periencing the dreaded sinking sensa-
ton which came upon him as often as
he exposed himself to yet another old
acquaintance, hardened as he per-
ceived no recognition in the doctors
eyes. The inevitable reaction left him
nomentarily weak.
ut was good of you to take this
trouble. Mr.. billiard. ! appreciate it."
billiards. denial was highly cour-
teous; 1t was harder to hate the doc
tor than he had planned.
"No. doctor-it would only have
been blamable If | hadn't"
II insist that it's good Of yeu.
You knew Dick intimately. under
stand"
Hilliard nodded.
Very intimately, SIR, considering
the length of time" He perceived that
Carol was holding the letter lightly
folded in her hands; she intercepted
his glance, and coIored proudly.
ct IT did belong to me-"
she said, subdued. "And / can
never thank you enough never
u"
my daughter" said the doctor,
presently, "has told me the one great
fact" He paused, then went on
graveiy. 81 accept fl, and it needs
very little comment. What most con-
Germs me now is TO know the lesser
facts. have some hope, Mr. Hilliard,
that you can make the lesser seem the
greater; and The greater. the less.
want you to clear up the one cloud
that still dims Our knowledge. hope
you can tell US something about Dicks
reasons for doing this thing-for go
ing abroad at all, and for enlistipg,
and for"
billiard WINGED the doctors autop-
sy on his character was considerably
more disconcerting that Mr. cullen's
had been
Doctor Durant, cant think it's
;sAlr to put Dicks motives under the
microscope like that! Why not for
get everything but the attending cir
cumstances 70 the one great fact.
He
TIN not Unfair" said the doctor
slowly. i've never been unfair II I
could help II. and certainly not to this
man above oil others Here is q case
r. which a man who left us most UNI
AeFoically comes back 10 Us. 70 spirit
@& least as q hero. The particular