Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-04-17

ed, and yet his heart was pumping in
uneven beats; for the moment. his
throat was dusty dry.
AS he gained the level of the YER
anda, there was a stir of activity off
to the right, and an erect. middle
aged man clambered out of a ham
mock, and came briskly forward.
Back in the shadows billiard could
detect the soft outlines of white
dress.
"Yes?" The middleaged man was
politely brusque.
rs this Mr.. Cullen? Mr..
James Cullen?"
Yes sir" The middle-aged man
was very convincing about it. Yes,
sir. What can I do for you?"
billiard bowed stiffly from the hips
"a touch of foreign courtesy which
had its effect
IF you're at leisure, Mr.. Cullen. |
should like very much to have word
with you. OIL think l may call ii
so-urgent private matters. My name
is billiard. In brief. I've come up
from New York today to bring you
letter from young man named Rich
ard Morgan"
Morgan - said the older man
sharply, Dick Morganw Back In the
shadows there was sudden rustic.
where's he?"
Hes dead" said billiard. "He died
In France" Mr.. Cullen stood perfect
ly still, and Hlliard. watching him
tntently, was overcome by resentment
at the knowledge that two years ago
this man had held billiards fate in
his thick fingers.
"No" said Mr.. Cullen. "Of all
things! Well, what d'you know about
that Dick Morgan dead :" There
was surprise but little poignancy in
his tone. isn't that terrible! And
you hear that?"
More rustling from the shadows. and
slim figure stepping out of them into
the foreground; it was Angela Cullen,
| just over the brink Of seventeen, ex-
quisitely small and blonde. and pro-
foundry agitated by the news. Hill
lard bowed mechanically; lie had re-
membered her as a vivid little hoyden.
Queer, that his heart should skip a
beat or two at heholding her now.
But she had brought the first remem-
brance Of untroubled days back to
him, an6 the contrast hurt-aboml-
nably.
"Oh, dad :" she said with a quick
intake of her breath. "Oh
dadw And chung to him for refuge,
staring the while with wide and fear
full eyes at the tan stranger who had
delivered the laconic message.
Cullen held her close, and cleared
his throat. He was the common
enough situation of a man who feels
that he ought to he deeply moved. and
isn't, and wonders why; and his trans
parent effort TO be funereal was slight
ly oyerdone
ITS great shock to us-of course
he said, speaking slowly. "A great
shock, OH Mr.. Hilliard-my
daughter Well. must say |.
Suppose we sit down and talk this
over
billiard bowed again; Mr. Cullen,
Ills arm encircling Angela. led the way
to the hammock anG it's reinforcement
Of wicker chairs. The trio was
seated: billiard coughed delicately,
and after that, there was a brief
silence. Gradually. the air was
charged with constraint Here he
was, and there was Angela and
Mr.. Cullen-all Of them little
Older, all Of them great deal more
depressed. but even so, here they were,
these three. just os they had sat in
the same place. 7u the same sort Of
summer evenings. when Dicky Morgan
wasn't yet anathema. and when
This this thing happened
some time ago, did it2 You were
abroad yourSelfF'
''Yes, was
81 want TO hear about Dick" said
Angela in a dry little voice please!
And and who are you. Mr..
Hilliard ?"
Angela" said her father. reproach-
fully, but billiard, coughing with
great vehemence, felt a sudden In
rush Of triumph which gave him CON
fidence. Il was the triumph of dra-
matte success; the consciousness that
whatever might come next, he had &C
tually appeared before people who
knew hila best, and that they saw a
stranger. He smiled, as a church
man smiles.
"Al / pretend 10 be IL 4 friend Of
Dicks. L"
"Oh! A friend :" CulleA's intona-
ton was curiously warped.
Perhaps youll understand better II
l go back to the beginning. Shall II
DO" Cullen motioned him carte
blanche. and Hilliard took q long
breath, and began.