Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-03-18

uneven beats; for the moment, hi.
throat was dusty dry.
| AS he gained the level of the yer
Ianda, there was a stir of activity of
to the right, and an erect, middle
aged man clambered out of a ham
mock, and came briskly forward
Back in the shadows Hilliard could
detect the soft outlines of u white
dress.
"Yes?' The middle-aged man was
politely brusque.
SIS this Mr.. Cullen? Mr.
James Cullen"
Eyes sir!" The middle-aged man
was very convincing about it. Eyes
sir What can l do for you?"
Hilliard bowed stiffiy from the hips
"A touch of foreign courtesy which
had its effect.
III you're at leisure, Mr.. Cullen, l
should like very much to have word
with you. On-I think I may call it
so-urgent private matters. My name
is Hilliard. In brief, I've come up
from New York today to bring you a
letter from a young man named Rich
ard Morgan"
'Morgan!" said the older man
sharply, Dick Morgan!" Back in the
shadows there was a sudden rustic.
where's hep"
He's dead" said Hilliard. "He died
in France" Mr.. Cullen stood perfect
ly still, and Hilliard, watching him
intently, was overcome by resentment
at the knowledge that two years ago
this man had held billiards fate in
his thick fingers.
Nor said Mr.. Cullen. "Of all
things! Well, what dyou know about
that! Dick Morgan deadr There
was surprise, but little poignancy in
his tone. isn't that. terrible! And
over in France! Angela, did
you hear that?'
More rustling from the shadows, and
a slim figure stepping out of them into
the foreground; it was Angela Cullen
just over the brink of seventeen, ex-
quistely small and blonde, and pro-
foundly agitated by the news. Hill
lard bowed mechanically; he had re-
membered her as 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-abomi-
nably.
"Oh dadw she said with quick
intake of her breath. "Oh
dad" And chung 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
MS throat. He was in the common
enough situation of a man who feels
hat he ought to be deeply moved, and
sn't, and wonders why; and his trans
parent effort to be funereal was slight |
Y overdone.
ITS great shock to us--of course"
lie said, speaking slowly. "a great
hook. Oh! Mr.. Hilliard-my
laughter. Well / must say l.
suppose we sit down and talk this !
YER"
billiard bowed again; Mr.. Cullen,
is arm encircling Angela, led the way
o the hammock and its reinforcement
f wicker chairs. The trio was
Gated: billiard coughed delicateIy,
nd after that, there was a brief
Hence. Gradually, the air was
harged with constraint. Here he
,as, and there was Angela and
fr. Cullen-all of them little
lder all of them great deal more
oppressed, but even so, here they were,
lese three, just as they had sat in
ne same place, on the same sort of
evenings, when Dicky Morgan
'asn't yet anathema, and when i.
This this thing happened
)me time ago, did 1t? You were
broad yourself?"
Eyes, l was"
81 want to hear about Dick" said
ngela in a dry little voice. "Please!
nd and who are you, Mr..
illiard?"
angela !" said her father, reproach-
lily, but billiard, coughing with
eat vehemence, felt sudden in J
sh of triumph which gave him CON
lence. 1t was the triumph of dra-
attic success the consciousness that {
hatever might come next, he had ac-
ally appeared before people who I
lew him best, and that they saw n
ranger He smiled, as church /
m smiles.
"All l pretend TO be is friend of 9
ck's. L" il
"Ohi A friend ~ Cullen's intona- h
IN was curiously warped. c
Perhaps you'll understand better n h
90 back to the beginning. Shall To- /,
DO" Cullen motioned him carte Z
inche, and billiard took long Ii