The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-03-05
CHAPTER V.-continued.

g.
It was perhaps five minutes before
that door was reopened, and during
the interval, Hilliard had an oppor-
tunity to wonder if the doctor had re-
vsed his Office hours; otherwise, he
should now be down in the Physicians
building, receiving patients. 1t oc-
Cured spontaneously to Hilliard that
both Carol and her father were con-
ceivably harassed by cOntrition, but
as he estimated the extent to which
their sorrow might go Judging
by Carols distress of last night, and
the potential truancy of the doctor to-
day-he was possessed of gripping
emotions. Had they cared so deeply
for him, then? Angela and Carol had
said so; but he had doubted what he
most wanted to believe. Was this adj
ditional proof? Had the doctor cared
so deeply that in order to hold con-
verse with Dick Morgans sole eXecu-
tor, he would interrupt the sacred
routine Of his practice? Too late! Too
late to care. too late to sympathiZe,
only the winter garment of repent
Ance was left for theml billiard
couldn't comprehend why, when he
rad risen this morning so refreshed in
mind and body, he should now be so
rnutterably wearied in both.
Carol returned, followed by a gen
rlcman of sixty; and as the doctor en-
cred. the room was suddenly per-
Yaated by an atmosphere of calm, and
indy peace. He was a large man,
arge of feature and large of instinct;
his forehead was that Of an intel
'ectualist; his eyes We're those OF a
dreamer; his chin denoted rugged
capabilities, and the stubbornness Of
answering ethics.
"NIr. Hilliard?" His voice was
pitched low, but its resonance was
striking. Thirty years ago the doc or
had been famous baritone; and there
was still one church in town which
dated its musical supremacy from the
choir he had organized and directed.
doctor Durant" The two men
cIasped hands firmly. billiard, eX-
periencing the dreaded sinking sensa-
fion which came upon him as often as
he exposed himself to yet another old
acquaintance, hardened as he per-
ceived no recognition in the doctors
eyes. The inevitable reaction left MIN
momentarily weak.
"It was good Of you to take this
trouble, Mr. billiard appreciate It,"
billiards denial was highly cour-
teous: it was harder to hate the doc
tor than he had planned.
mo, doctor--it would only have
been blamable if hadn't"
st insist that it's good Of you.
You knew Dick intimately, l under
stand"
billiard nodded.
every intimately, sir, considering
the length of time" He perceived that
Carol was holding the letter lightly
folded in her hands; she intercepted
his glance, and colored proudly.
"It it did belong to me, y
she said, subdued "And can
never thank you enough never
"My daughter" said the doctor,
presently, "has told me the one great
fact" He paused, then went on
gravely. II accept it, and it needs
very little comment. What most con-
Germs me now is to know the lesser
facts. have some hope, Mr.. billiard,
that Won can make the lesser seem the
greater; and the greater, the less.
want you to clear up the one cloud
that still dims our knowledge. l hope
Won can tell US something about Dicks
reasons for doing this thing-for go
ing abroad at all, and for enlisting,
and for"
billiard WINGED; the doctors autop-
sy on his character was considerably
more disconcerting that Mr.. Cullen's
had been.
"Doctor Durant, l can't think it's
fair To put Dicks motives under the
MICROSCOPE like that! Why not for
get everything but the attending cir
cumstances II the one great fact
He"
sI'm not unfair said the doctor
eJowlv. "Pve never been unfair if ]
could help IT, and certainly not to this
man. above all others. Here is case
in which a man who laft us most I'M
heroical1y comes back 20 rs, in spirit
at least, as hero. The particular