Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1920-04-21

dozen and FIRST, her mother had for.
hidden him her house.
He dlned with considerable leisure.
and smoked a cigar almost TO the end
before he left the table. When he
quilted the room, 1t was with practi.
cal assurance that his gravest fears
were groundless, but for an addition.
al precautiOn he read an evening pa
per In the lobby aud endured In safe
ty the inspection OF u score OF men
who had known him well enough 10
refuse to loan him money.
At half-past eight, vastly hesrtened
and refreshed, he equipped himself
with certain documents from his suit
case, and called for Il tsIlcab. The
address he gave the driver was high
on the eastern hills; during the last
half mile, billiard was peering out ar
the shaded lights Of houses where lie
had played In his earlier youth. The
car stopped billiard went up a stone
tagged walk. up broad stone steps,
and stood on a huge yerands. He Was
calm, and yet his knees were discOn.
certIngly unsteady he was determin-
ed, and yet his heart Vas pumping In
uneven beats; for the moment, his
throat was dusty dry.
As he gained the level Of the yer.
anda, there was a stir OF activity OF
to the right, and an erect, middle.
aged man clamhered out Of a ham.
mock, and came briskly forward.
Back In the shadows Hilliard could
detect the soft outlines of a white
dress.
Yes" The middle-aged man was
politely brusQue.
as this ... Mr.. Cullen? Mr..
James CullenF"
Yes sir" The middle.sged man
was very convincing about IL. Yes,
sir. What can | do for yOu?'
Hilllard bowed stitiy from the hips
"a touch of foreign courtesy which
had its effect.
IF you're at leisure, Mr.. Cullen, ]
should like very much TO have q word
with you. On-I think I may call It
so-urgent private matters. My name
Is billiard. In brief, I've come up
from New York today TO bring you a
letter from a young man named Rich
ard Morgan"
morgan" said the older man
sharply, "Dick Morgan !" Back In the
shadows there was a sudden rustic.
where's he?"
Hes dead" said Hilliard. "He died
In France" Mr.. Cullen stood perfect
ly stlll, and Hilliard, watching him
intently, was overcome by resentment
at the knowledge that two years ago
this man had held billiards. fate in
his thick fingers.
"No!" said Mr.. Cullen. "Of all
things! Well, what d'you know abont
that. Dick Morgan dead!" There
Was surprise, but little pOignancy in
his tone. Isn't that terrible! And
over in France! 4. Angela, did
you hear that?"
More rustling from the shadows, and
a slim figure stepping out OF them into
the foreground; ii was Angela Cullen,
JUST over the brink OF seventeen, ex.
quisitcly small and blonde, and pro-
foundly agitated by the news. Hill
Hard bowed mechanically: he had re-
m%pmhered her as a vivid little h0yden.
Queer. that his heart should SKIP q
beat or two at bcholding her nov.
But she had brought the first remem-
branca of untroublcd days back 10
him, and the contrast h~urt-aboml-
nahly.
"Oh, dad" she said with a quick
intake Of her breath. "Oh . .
dad" And chung to him for refuge.
staring the While with wide and fear
full eyes at :hr tail stranger who had
delivered the laconlc message.
Cullen held her close, and cleared
his throat. He was in the common
enough situation of a man who feels
that he ought to be deeply moved, and
isn't, and wonders why and his trans,
parent effort to be funeral was slight
ly overdone.
tits a great shock to us--of course"
he said, speaking slowly. "a great
shock. Oh! Mr.. Hillisrd-my
daughter. Well, l must say I. . . .
Suppose we sit down and talk this
over" -