The Ordway new era., 1920-07-02

ed, and yet his heart was pumping In
uneven beats; for the nome I, his
throat was dusty dry.
AS he gained the level of the ver-
anda. there was stir of activity of
to 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 white
dress.
"Yesr The mIddIe-aged man was
politely brusque.
as this Mr.. Cullen? Mr..
James Cullen?"
"Yes sIrl" The mlddle-aged man
was very convincing about it. ayes.
sir. What can I do for you?"
Hllliard bowed stiffiy 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 i may call 1t
so-urgent private matters. My name
Is Hilliard. In brief. I've come up
from New York today to bring you a
1Oubs
ard Morgan"
"Morganl" said the older man
sharply. "Dlck Morganr' Back In the
shadows there was a sudden rustic.
where's he?"
Hes dead" said HilIIard. HE died
In France" Mr.. Cullen stood perfect
ly still. and Hilllard. watching him
iptaptiv uoS oyar,np,a hy rasap t,apt
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
over In Francel Angela, did
you hear that2"
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. ex-
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-abomi-
nably.
"Oh. dadr' she said with a 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
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.
''It's great shock to us-of course"
he said. speaking slowly. "A great
shock. oh! Mr.. Hilliard-my
daughter. Well, I must say l. .
Suppose we sit down and talk this
over"
his arm encircling Angela. led the way
to the hammock and its reinforcement
of wicker chairs. The trio was
seated: Hilllurd 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 a great deal mo.e
repressed. but even so. here they were,
these three, just as they had sat in
the same place. on the same sort OF
summer evenings, when Dicky Morgan
wasn't yet nnathema. and when
This this thing happened
some time ago. did it7 You were
abroad yourself2"
"Yes. was"
II want to hear about Dick" said
Angela In dry little voice. please
And and who are you, Mr.
Hilliard?"
angela !" said her father. reproach.
fully, but Hilliard, coughing with
great vehemence, felt a sudden in.
rush of triumph which gave him con.
fidence. 1t was the triumph of dra.
matte success; the consciousness that
whatever might come next. he had ac.
tually appeared before people who
knew him best. and that they saw a
stranger. He smiled, as church.
man smiles.
"All pretend to be is n friend Of
Dicks. l."
"oh! A friend!" Cullen's intona.
lion was curiously warped.
perhaps you'll understand better II
go back to the beginning. Shall II
DO" Cullen motioned him carte
blanche. and HIlllard took Ioni
breath. and began.