The citizen., 1920-05-13

malnder OF the tablet from new York
with him. lie tossed blob Of ink
from his fountain pen and Inspected II
critically.
TOO black" he decided, and went to
the bathroom, where he half-emptied
the reservoir Of the pen and refilled II
with water.
THAT ought to be Just about right
. sort Of pale and mysterious and
war-strength."
lie seated himself at the table, took
the pen in his left hand and inscribed
circles on the paper; scribbled a
meaningless sentence and laughed
gently.
Funny how some people can be
ambidextrous and take so long to
realize Il. II hadn't caught a bullet
in my arm, and tried TO write left
handed in the hospital, I'd give myself
away up here in no time. Writings
too blamed distinctive. But, as 1t is,
Left Hand, very large and plain, is
Henry Hilliard-- Here he shifted
the pen TO the other hand-"And
Right-and, small and curlicue. is
poor. dead Dicky Morgan-'one OF her
dearest friends I'm glad killed that
chap Off-he never amounted to hill
OF beans anyway. But this billiard
persona live wire, boy, live wire r.
And with a grin OF sardonic humor.
he wrote on the fiimsy paper, slowly
and little irregularly. as though in
physical discomfort:
"NeuIlly, 7-19-15.
"No matter what you ever think, no
matter what you have ever thought,
have loved you"
He grlmaced. pondered diligently,
and made correction.
81 have always loved you more than
my own life You said my ideals had
fallen-do you think so now? l don't.
dearest; | think they're almost what
you would have them. And It may be
that simply because of that. I've loved
you more every day, and"
Hilllard sat back, and his eyes were
softly luminous.
Suppose, by the luck OF the very
devil, l should fall in love with her
again7" he said aloud. Suppose /
shouldr He tossed away his cigarette
and rested his head In his hands. "Oh,
Carroll did care ~ His shoul-
ders shook spasmodlcally then all at
once he flung himself out Of the chair
and took to tramping the floor In a
hurricane OF emotion. His face was
set I'm granite; he caught sight of II In
a mirror. halted and himself was
stunned by the transcendant mask
which covered his soul In revolt. The
work Of the surgeons was not far
short OF miraculous; he couldn't upset
II, not by any effort OF his will. The
eyes might flash. or lower. or chilli
the other features were still calm and
strong In their splendid glory. Even
now. the face which he saw reflected
most hurried Of all passing strangers
TO new. II Uniformed, assurance in
the brotherhood OF man.
"You dirty blackguardi 7" said Hill
Hard, showing his teeth. He went
penslvely back TO the letter, studied II.
gazed at the floor.
But after ALL" he said, mo matter
what she or anybody else did TO me
and N can kill two birds with
one stone. and be what I've wanted TO
be-all except this damnable way of
going about II. She acted as
though this Internal lying letter would
please her-that's not the point; It's a
quicker way 10 get at the doctor >.
Well, II gets her letter | never In
tended 10 write and Dutout's
war cross, too =, that'll make II all
the easier. I'll give her that
Angela was going TO have II, stlll.
So | was 'one OF her dearest
friends was II What's that worth to
Henry IIilliard. bringing back the
news from the frontT He shifted
scornfully. Ten thousand dollars-l
hope. And the doctor'll make twenty
out OF II. -, Cad that's turning the
other cheek with a vengeaneel
Hanged II don't almost wish he'd
lose his rotten money! But that can't
be helped-lll get some satisfaction
somehow"