The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-08-21
CHAPTER x-continued.

clet, and beamed at it.
Something else?"
"A good deal else" said billiard, alb
stracted. "But that's no reason for
me to bother you with it. didn't know
it was so apparent"
Silence
''It's not my habit" said the doctor
presently, ito offer any advice unless
I'm asked for it. GratuitOus advice
never did anybody any good. And no
bofy takes it unless it costs some
thifg-and not often then. And Pm
nei'her your regular physician nor
yorr confessor. But if l had made
( dia ;nosis at this present minute I'd
say that you need preacher a great
deGl more than you do doctor"
q 1 do" said billiard, look
ing Zip sharply. "Only it's out
of the question. Just personal things,
doftor-nothing can very well talk
abdul"
"Your trouble" said Doctor Durant,
"isn't physical as much as it is spir-
nothing but your struggle against the
restraints you put upon yourself. How
10 l know? YOu'vestOld me so
eveyg time I've seen you. It's in your
Strca, my boy. It's in your eyes. Con
StaAtly. And it looks as though the
iTaference is about over be-
cf.use if that isn't Carol coming up the
Steps, my ears aren't half as good as
shey used,to be-"
Foth men were on their feet as she
fame in, swirling.
"Oh!' she cried to billiard. Il
didn't know you We're coming up to-
night! Suppose I'd missed you"
He merely smiled, and made no an
swer; nor did he speak to her until
after the doctor, protesting sudden
desire for solitude, had waved them
Hospitality out of the study into the
siving room. Carol was in the old ia
sniliar corner of the sofa Hilliard was
standing by the fireplace, peering
aown into the empty CRATE. He coughed
narshly, and an expression of utter
hopelessness crept into his eyes. He
kurned abruptly.
"Well," ne said, "just how much
would you have cared if you had?'
4 u II
There was stately old lamp stand
ing at height behind the sOfa its
shadows were gracious and it's light,
as it crept through a shade of painted
gellum, touched Carol softly, in
.lelicacy Of radiance which was inf1n-
italy caressing. Her hands were lying
lille in her lap; she bent her head, and
viewed them studiously.
why, I should have cared a great
DEAL" she said. I'm always disap-
pointed when / miss seeing a friend of
mine. What makes you so pessimistic,
al of a sudden?"
billiard REDEEMED, and his eyes grew
brighter.
"Friendship!" he said tardily.
what an accordionlike sort of thing
shat is %
"Why, Mr.. Hilliardn' Her tone was
at the same time interrogatory and re-
proachful.
''Oh, I'm not speaking of YOU" he
said. "Only of the thing itself
IT'S big or little, close or distant :.
and it hasn't anything to say about it
You'll have to excuse mel
was thinking out loud :"
"Please dor she said. you were
on the way to be interesting. Think
on: loud some more"
billiard glanced sharply at her.
Don't laugh at mel he said, almost
soughly. 'For heavens sake, don't
you know that the one time you
shouldn't laugh at man is when he
deserves it?"
Carols attitude was vaguely less
suggestive of ease.
Il wasn't laughing at you" she said,
"truly. But what you said was so
so queer"
"Oh, yes" billiards. accent was
very fiat. 81 suppose it was. It must
have been. . always seem to be
nlore or less up in the air when I come
30 see you, don't 1? The last time we
talked about friendship
''But that was at least month ago."
she said hastily, 'and in the mean
Time, you've been just as nice and
cheerful as anybody. I thought you
were ali over yoAr troubles"
"Cheerfulness wasn't what you
asked for" billiard swallowed hard.
81 l came up here, Miss Du-
Yant to have really serious talk with
sou really serious. It's been
delayed too long already. It took me
two solid days to get my courage up
to it. And J.. and now I'm here,
1 don't even know how to begin"
He scowled heavily into the vacant
fireplace, and held out his palms with
a mechanic gesture as though to warm
them at an imaginary blaze. "You
know" he said absently, 'your father
r. Il very extraordinary man-very.'
The compliment to the doctor had
its invariable effect upon her; she
glowed under it.
'T've always known that I'm
glad you realize it, too"
He stood erect, and faced her. Il
do IF came to me. when | was