The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-06-10

presently ne SenSen SuDtle super,
charging of the atmosphere whenever
he met male acquaintance; be
couldn't deny that the greeting of his
bankers was suddenly less informal,
more lmpersonal he perceived, with a
sinking Spasm of f0reb0dlng, that
fewer people stopped to chat with him
on the street and that those who stlu
were willing to halt and pass the time
of day were uncOmmOnly FESTIVE about
1t. Syracuse hadn't yet arrayed itself
officially against him. aud part Of
Syracuse was'outwardly as pleasant as
ever. hut there wasn't the slightest
question that the story had leaked out,
and that II had got itself adherents.
The end was plainly i'm sight; Arm
strong'S report was due. Only the Gull
lens and the Durants and one or two
other of the James street families were
quite rs cordially attentive as former
ly; and 10 billiards. vast chagrn. they
rather overdid il he seemed to
feel in the steady warmth OF their
friendship n sort Of blindly unseason-
able resolution tn support him. whether
or no. This. infinitely more than the
cooling manner of the majority. CALLED
him necessarily. 1t was as though
they rallied to hls defense before the
need of ii IL was rs though they
conceded In advance the necessity of
such : defense.
So billiard waited, waited
smiling Gpon the world his hollow
smile. carrying through the city the
body of knave and the face of n
martyr and the soul of gentleman
. and I'm the watches Of the night,
he was perplexed to find that hiH eyes
were sometimes wet. but never when
he was thinking OF himself-always
when he was thinking of Angela, or
Carol or-unexplainably COM
mon-enOugh representative Of the
French bourseoise named "terre Du-
tout.
On the eighth day. he CHANGED 10
meet Dr. Durant by accident In front
of the Physicians building at nigh noon.
"Hello. there You're just in time"
Sdlu lut IOClOlp III kV-
ing over to the University club for
lunch. Won't you join mel l want
your advice. I'm the worst business
man In the worid-you probably know
that by this time. And l trust my
friends for friendship: but when |
want advice. go to an expert. So
you qualify on both counts. Come
along over"
billiard was fattered, but not de-
ceived
"rm not sure that my advice Is
worth anything half as expensive as 9
luncheon. Doctor"
The older man took him by the arm.
and impelled him across the street.
"That depends on your appetite" he
laughed. "Come along, and help me
out ON decision I've got to make.
About an investment"
Hilllard hung back for moment
while suspicion dawned on him.
"What sort of investment, DoctOr?"
he Queried.
"You come and sit down." urged the
Doctor, seductively. "And Wen talk
1t over later. But first OF all" He
patted his waistcoat. Lets eat"
billiard was almost too grateful to
speak the Doctors strategem was pat
ent, but in all chivalry the invitation
couldn't be declined. Once inside the
doors of the club. however. he became
panicky; for his first sweeping recon.
noissance included half a dozen men
whose late behavior had indicated that
they knew.
The Doctor drew billiard under the
mantle of his own unassaiIabe posi-
ton. and plOwed ahead with the utmost
serenity. He nodded here and there,
he spoke to members right and left; he
bowed across the room; always his
personality, rather than his person,
seemed to he escorting and guarding
Hilliard and Syracuse couldn't decline
to acknowledge man who was under
the Doctors adequate protection. ThOs.
who spoke to the Doctor also spoke to
Hilliard there was no way out of it
and they spoke as casually as they
could They also nodded to him. nm,
bowed. but when his back was turned
they became low-voIced and communL
cative, and he knew II.
(TO BE CONTINCED)