The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-06-25

vi tue Street ana tnat tn0Se VINO Stlll
were willing to halt and pass the time
OF day were uncommOnly FESTIVE about
1t. Syracuse hadn't yet arrayed itself
officially against him, and a part of
Syracuse was outwardly as pleasant as
ever, but there wasn't the slightest
question that the story had leaked out,
and that it had got itself adherents.
The end was plainly in sight; Arm
strong's report was due. Only the Gull
lens and the Durants and one or two
other OF the James street families were
quite as cordially attentive as former
ly; and to billiards. vast chagrin, they
rather Overdid II he seemed to
feel in the steady warmth of their
friendship sort of blindly unseason-
able resolution to support him, whether
or no. This. infinitely more than the
cooling manner of the majority, CALLED
him necessarily. 1t was as though
they rallied to his defense before the
need OF 1t 1t was as though they
conceded in advance the necessity of
such defense.
So billiard waited, waited :.
smiling upon the world his hollow
smile, carrying through the city the
body OF knaye and the face of a
martyr and the soul of a gentleman
and in the watches of the night,
he was perplexed to find that his eyes
were sometimes wet, but never when
he was thinking of himself-always
when he was thinking of Angela, or
Carol, or-unexplainabiy-of a COM
mon-enough representative of the
French bourgeoisie named Pierre Du-
tout.
On the eighth day, he CHANGED to
meet DIR. Durant by accident in front
of the Physicians building at Iigh,noon.
"Hello, there! You're just in time,"
said the Doctor. cheerfully. 'Tm go
ing over to the University club for
lunch. Won't you Join me? I want
your advice. I'm the worst business
man in the world-you probably know
that by this time. And 1 trust my
friends for friendship; but when
want advice, / go to an expert. So
you qualify on both counts. Come
along over"
Hilliard was flattered, but not de-
ceived.
''Im not sure that my advice is
worth anything half as expensive as
luncheon, Doctor"
The older man took him by the arm,
and impelled him across the street
''That depends on your appetite" he
laughed. "Come along, and help me
out on decision I've got to make
About an investment"
Hilliard hung back for a moment,
while suspicion dawsed on him.
what sort of investment, Doctor?"
he queried.
"You come and sit down." urged the
Doctor, seductively. "And we'll talk
1t over later. But first of all" He
patted his waistcoat. Lets eat"
Hilliard was almost too grateful to
speak; the Doctors strategem was pat
ent, but In all chivalry the invitation
couldn't be declined. Once inside the |
doors of the club, however, he became |
panicky; for his first sweeping recon-
nOissance included half a dozen men
whose late behavior had indicated that |
they knew.
The Doctor drew billiard under the |
mantle of his own unassailable posi-
ton, and plowed ahead with the utmost |
He nodded here and there,
he spoke to members right and left he |
bowed across the room; always his |
rather than his person,
seemed to be escorting and guarding
billiard; and Syracuse couldn't decline |
to acknowledge man who was under
he Doctors adequate protection. Those
who spoke to the Doctor also spoke to
billiard; there was no way out of 1t,
md they spoke as casually as they
could. They also nodded to him, and
bowed, but when his back was turned,
hey became low-voiced and commune
,ative, and he knew it.
(To BE CONTINQED3