The Dolores star., 1920-08-13


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
10 the right, and an erect. middle
aged man clambered out of ham.
mock, and came briskly forward.
Back In the shadows HillIard could
detect the soft outlines of a white
dress.
"Yes7" The middle aged man was
politely brusque.
rs this Mr.. Cullen? Mr..
James Cullenr'
Yes sir" The middle-aged man
was very convincing about 1t. ayes,
sir. What can I do for your"
Hllliard bowed stiffly from the hips
"a touch of foreign courtesy which
had its effect
"If you're at leisure, Mr.. Cullen, I
should like very much to have word
with you. On--I think may call 1t
so-urgent private matters. My name
is HillIard. 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, "Dlck Morgan!" Back in the
shadows there was sudden rustic
"Where's he?"
He's dead" said Hllliard. He died
in France" Mr.. Cullen stood perfect
lty StI ht,
intently was overcome by resentment
at the knowledge that two years ago
this man had held HIllard's fate In
his thick fingers.
mol" 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
over In France Angela, did
i you hear that?"
More rustling from the shadows. and
slim figure stepping out Of them into
the foreground; 1t was Angela Cullen,
| Just over the brink Of seventeen, e1-
quisitely small and blonde, and pro-
foundly agitated by the news. Hill
| Hard bowed mechanically he had re-
membered her as a vivid little hOyden.
Queer. that his heart should skip a
beat or two at beholding her now.
But she had brought the first remem-
brance Of untroubled days back to
him, and the contrast hurt-aboml-
nably.
"Oh. dndl" she said with quick
Intake OF her breath. "Oh .
dad" And clung to him for refuge,
staring the while with wide and fear
full eyes at the tall stranger who had
delivered the laconic message.
Cullen held her close. and cleared
his throat. He was in the common
enough situation of man who feels
that he ought to be deeply moved, and
Isn't, and wonders why; and his trans
parent effort to be funereal was slight
! ly overdone.
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"
Hllliard bowed again; Mr.. Cullen.
his arm enclrcling Angela, led the way
to the hammock and Its reinforcement
of wicker chairs. The trio was
seated: Hiliard coughed delicateiy'
and after that, there was brief
silence. Gradually, the air was
charged with constraint. Here he
was, and there was Angela anu
Mr.. Cullen-all of them llttle
older, al! of them great deal moe
repressed, but even so, here they were
these three. Just as they had sat IN
the same place. on the same sort or
summer evenings. when Dicky Morgan
wasn't yet anathema. and when
"This this thing happened
some time ago. did It2 You we're
abroad yourself?'
"Yes, l was"
.I want to hear about Dick" said
Angela In a dry little voice. please
And :. and who are you' hr.
Hilliard?"
"Apgela I" said her father. reproacn-
fully. but Hllliard. coughing with
great vehemence. felt sudden In
rush of triumph which gave him con-
6dence. 1t was the triumph OF Ora
matte success; the consciousness that
whatever might come next, he had ac-
tually appeared before people VINO
knew him best. and that they saw d
stranger. He smiled. as a church-
man smiles. :.
"All pretend to be is friend OF
Dicks. l." ,-
"Oh, A friendl' Cullen's intona-
lion was curiously warped.
"Perhaps you'll understand better. u, !,
I 70 back to the beginning. snal'
"Do." Cullen motioned MIN carte.
blanche. and Hilliard took ''"s
breath. and began.