The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-04-22
CHAPTER V.-Continued.


3
II was perhaps five minutes before
that door was reopened, and during
the interval, billiard had an oppor
tunity to wonder If the doctor had re-
vised his office hours otherwise, he
should now he down in the Physicians
building, receiving patients. 1t oc-
Cured spontaneously to billiard that
both Carol and her father were con-
ceivably harassed by contrltion, hut
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 I'm order to hold con-
verse with Dick Morgan's 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 Hilliard
couldn't comprehend why, when he
had risen this morning so refreshed in
mind and body he should now be so
unutterably wearied in both.
Carol returned. followed by gen.
tleunan of sixty; and as the doctor en-
tered, the room was suddenly per-
meated by an atmosphere of calm, and
kindly peace. He was a large man,
large Of feature, and large of instinct;
his forehead was that of an intel
lectualist; his eyes were those of
dreamer: his chin denoted rugged
capabilities. and the stubbornness of
answering ethics.
"Mr. Hilliard?" His voice was
pitched low, but its resonance was
striking. Thirty years ago the doctor
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 Durantl" The two men
clasped hands firmly. billiard. ex-
ton which came upon him as often as
he exposed himself to yet another old
acquaintance, hardened as he per-
celved no recognition in the doctors
eyes. The inevitable reaction left him
momentarily weak.
at was good of you to take this
trouble, Mr.. billiard. I appreciate IT,"
billiards. denial was highly cour-
ttous; IL was harder to hate the doc
tor than he had planned.
mo, doctor-it would only have
been blamable If l hadn't"
81 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 II did belong to me-"
she said. subdued. "And I 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. 81 accept II, and 1t needs
very little comment. What most con-
Germs me now is to know the lesser
facts have some hope, Mr.. Hiliard
that you 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. / hope
you 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 charscter was considerably
more dlsconcertlng that ur. Cullen's
had been.
doctor Durant, l caat think it's
fair to put Dicks motives under the
microscope like that Why not for
get everything but the attending cir
cumstances to the one great fact
He"
"rm not unfair" said the doctor
slowly. i've never been unfair II I
could help II. and certainly not to this
man, above all others. Here is case
in which q man who left us most un-
heroical,y comes back TO us, In spirit
49,