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

That's All Want-Tlmel"
tain his mood of arrogant conquest,
and ii was Imperative FOR him to main
tain It, inasmuch as his first ordeal
was so soon to come. More than that,
he had an ancient grudge against this
hOstelry, for 1t had successfully de-
clined to continue his credit, refused
To honor his checks. and. toward the
last, had politely suggested that he
refresh himself somewhere else. Ore
OF his most CALLING memories was con-
nected with this very ENTRANCE; his
cheeks grew hot as he fought the
vision down.
"Now!" said HillIard, on the outer
threshold.
lie knew, from meticulous study and
practice, the full effect of his manner,
which was distinguished, patrician. He
knew the almost Irresistible magnet
ism which had befallen him by acct
dent. He had been prcpared-in his
own imaginati0n-for the battery of
interest which Mas promptly trained
upon him. And yet. as he pursued his
luggage toward the desk, he faltered In
his pride. he felt as though the ser
rOwful eyes of all Syracuse were riy-
eted upon him tile well-recalled SUR
roundIngs unnamed him. and he WAS
Impelled to halt. lift up his hands in
token of surrender, and to cry out:
This Is not I! This is not +! 1t is
the man | might have been-If you
and had understood eaeiI other!'
SO great was his anguish that in that
moment he honestly believed that II
was the equal fault of the city, and Of
himself. that he had gone forth dis
credited.
Behind the desk stood a clerk and
billiards. heart ~!ripped-the manager
who had rendered him the ultimatum.
billiards pen split a blot OF Ink on
the register: his ears We're tuned for
the speech Of recognition which would
blast his dreams of triumph. and send
him of again in multiplied disgrace.
"Yes. sir" said the clerk with ex-
IRENE Difference. "und about what
price, sir?"
The manager, who had been scrutin-
lzing billiard intently, whispered
something to the clerk; the clerk bit
his lip and looked up sharply; the
pr0digal WINGED, and stifened. par,
Tor C--ten dolIars?" asked the CLERK.
Very comfortable room, sir Z.
'FRONT.'
The manager. as billiard retreatcd.
said inipatiently to the clerk: "What's
the matter with you, Jimmy, anyway?
Don't you know how to size up a man
yet? Don't ask q man like that what
he'll have-tell 'em what we've got !"
Upstairs, Hllliard went limp from
the reaction. He had doubted what he
knew-and this was proof OF his lack
Of innocence. But the manager-whO
two years ago had called him by his
first name-the manager had looked
him full in the face, and made not the
fairteSt sign Of recognition!
II was In improved confidence. then.
! ina lie went tphh " ulltfltI anu it-
liberately chose a central seat in the
most popular Of the three available
rooms. He was actively eager to be
observed; now that he had passed his
first examination. he craved test after
lest; no inquisltion could be TOO
urgent for him. And at the nearest
table sat q business man he knew, and
a girl he knew; from their matter-0f
fact effectiveness, he judged that they
had been married during his absence
they gaZed Unfortunately at him. hut
only in admiration. He mentally
checked off his iist--that made a trio
of old acquaintance who failed to.
know him. Facing him, a dozen feet
away, sat a mai who had been Hill.
liard's employer for an epochal six
weeks-this man. too, was obviously
interested, but u~nenlightened. Four,
A dinner party, comprising six girls
and six young men, filed gayly past
him every one of the twelve he had
known well, some of them intimately
they looked down at him in passing.
and, without exception, went on in
ignorance. 4 tiny r~oseieaf OF q cir
was rather '~nOticeably attracted &c
him; she spoke to her partner. who
turned, and stared, and nodded In the
bored fashion of any escort to whom
Il handsome stranger is pointed our
aud HAliard could have laughed aloud
1t the irony of the incident. They
had known each other for a Dozen
| yssrs- that E1rl and billiard; In the