Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-07

q warmth creeping into her voice.
HiIliard held his BREATH
Say rm weary. sav Tn sadi .
Say that health and wealth have
missed met
Say TN growing old. but add
Angela kissed mol
He had spoken the lines masnfff-
Gently, with the precise hunsor and
patiros which 10 70 mako them i'm
mortal. 'rm glad she ATS into the
meter" he said thoushtfuliy. DE
oause Z ean understand Just how
Leigf, hunt felt about Jennie"
"And--how DO you think that
wasT'
every seasitiver said Hfliiard,
land perhaps little repreased and.
deorcpits He smiles rerrintscentiy
IT suppose there are very few thinyb
In life that make naan feel more
mindful Of his own crudity and gen.
eral worthlessness than to have a
ohird's spontaneous affection" II
was the testing venture. She looked
at him sidewise.
"More than if--if It weren't q
chiId?"
II think So" His tone was fault
less. "A woman can make man
feel like Romeo. but It takes very
young girl to make him feel like
Launcelot--at my age"
"She ie adorable. isn't sheT' His
heart jumped at her cordial 40
csptance Of his statement. "Only-
she's II. Mr.. billiard"
II know" he said gravely. "And
that's why I'm so conscious of my
own senility. Because all that beau
tiful innocence and ignorance Is
doomed, Miss Durant--who knows
that I'm not the very last person to
see It! Today. I'm only a much older
man, some one she likes; tomorrow.
may be man without the only,
and the, more she liked me. the less
she'd show 1t. But there's been
mighty little Of that sort Of thing for
me in the last few years from any
body, and I do appreciate It, and I'm
not ashamed Of 1t. either"
4-P
NO" she said. you couldn't be.
you're too human" She smiled at
him, and he was transported at the
proof of her sympathy. eff were in
your place. I'd want to feel the same
way about It,"
He thanked her in his heart. He
had saved both Angela and himself,
and held his pristine advantage.
But there was no disputing the
fact that he had made an active en-
envy Of Warning, and an alert rival
out Of Armstrong. He smiled grimly
as he looked at the man ahead.
"Mr. Armstrong seems to be very
nervous" he said. Not that I can
blame him for wanting to be in my
place. 1On the contrary, I'm sorry for
HIM"
THAT shows a very good disposi-
tion," she said demurely.
Perhaps it does. and perhaps II
doesn't. believe every man owes 1t
to himself to get what he wants. If
he does, he's success; If he doesn't
its his own fault"
As he said this, they came abreast
Of the others, and Armstrong, who
had heard the final sentence, whirled
toward Hilliard.
Regardless of methodist" he de-
manded.
"why-to some extent" laughed
Hilliard. why not?"
Armstrong delayed, so that the two
men were a few PAGES behind the
rest Of the group. rs that your reg
ular creed. Mr.. Hirliardr'
my creed isn't composed Of words
Mr.. Armstrong. but OF aottons?"
They had spoken 50 quietly that
no one perceiving them would have
remotely suspected that CHALLENGES
had been offered and accepted.
ACTIONS do speak louder. OF
course"
mime" said Hilliard, will give
you no offense. Butt generally get
what I want"
$50 do I. Shall we shake hands ION
it," Armstrong was very affable, but
tremendously in earnest.
with pleasure. I can count on
your generosity, see"
ana L on your courtesy"
THANK YOU" He went compliment
ly forward; but inwardly he was
stepped in perturbation. The man
was so deadly sure Of himself. Could
1t be that he was taottly engaged to
Carol, in spite of what Angela had
surmised, or so nearly on the road to
an understanding with her that Hill
lard was only making fool of him
self? ~
Armstrong laughed gently. It was
like a dagger thrust In billiards
heart.