The Ordway new era., 1920-07-16
CHAPTER iv.-continued.

s.
And . and ! want to thank you
now" she said In n tone which would
have fallen as n blessing upon the ears
OF any other man alive, "for speaking
as though you loved him. And for
all you did for him. Perhaps you
know already . perhaps you can't
know but I'm trying TO tell you,
because he WIS he was one of
my very dearest friends"
His brain snapped; he bent down
to her.
You loved him-too?' ne said, un-
controilnbly
yes" she said. "once-I loved him,
too"
Alone in the appointed guest room
or the Cullen home-for Mr.. Cullen
had been as good as his word. and
sent car to fetch his visitors be-
iongings-IIilliard lighted cigarette
<nn acquired taste. but advisable as
minor deception, since he had been
notorious for his taste in cigars) and
Srinned expansively Leisureiy he be-
gan to undress, but before his shoes
were quite unlaced. he sat back com
fortably In his chair and mcditnted.
"Ali serene so far" he said. But
when Carol came In :. :" He shook
his hend vigorously. "Well. it's over
anyway. The doctor :" Hill
tiard's face darkened. There's the
man want to get at! Pious old hypo-
crite, And he didn't think deserved
n hn In fl,a fo 10 pf hat TO m,
let him make money out of this deal,
nut it's all in the game. Goals of fire
Hut ten thousands lot from the doc
tor we'll say ten thousand"
He closed his eyes dreamiiy; and
his thoughts reverted from Doctor
Durant to the Doctors daughter.
"Carol-Carol I" lie murmured. zone
minute there. thought I'd crack. And
] was 'one of her dearest friends I
was. was II And she loved me-ouce
Once Pity 1t wasn't twice! Pity she
and the doctor didn't say so the night
they kicked me out SO neatly. Well,
=. business is business After
they've made their money out of It.
aud found out this man billiards,
some little gold-plnted whiriwind all
by himself e. Cad cant | see their
faces when they get the truth OF 4"
With the cigarette dropping from his
lips. he stood up and swept clear
space in the table. From his suitcase
he exhumed tablet Of thin transpar-
ent writing paper of kind not sold In
America; 1t was the paper on which
the letter to Cullen from Richard Nor
"a . 81.
fuck that Hilliard had brought the re-
mainder OF the tablet from New York
with him. He tossed blob of ink
from his fountain pen and inspected ii
critically.
Too black he decided. and went to
the bathroom. where he hnlf-emptied
the reservoir Of the pen and refilled It
with water.
That ought to be just about right
-. sort of pale and mysterious and
war-strength."
He seated himself Mt the table, took
the pen in his left hand aud inscribed
circles on the paper; scribbled n
WraDiagiess sentence and laughed
gently.
Funny row some people can he
zuiHrsestrOus and take so long to
-cnFtne 1t. II I hadn't caught n bullet
In my arm. and tried to write left
handed in the hospital. I'd give myself
away up here in no time. Writings
too blamed distinctive. But. ns 1t is.
eft Hand. very large and plain, is
Henry Hiiiisrd-" Here he shifted
the pen to the other hand-"And
Rixtt-anL. small and curllcuc. is
,sosr. dead Dlcky Morgan-'one of her
dearest friends I'm glad killed tina,
chap oG-he never amounted to hill
OF beans anyway. But this Hilliard
persona live wire, boy, n live wire =
And with grin of sardonlc humor
he wrote on the Himsy paper. slowl,
and q little irregularly. as though II
phyxicai discomfort:
"Neuilly, 7-l9-l5.
no natter what you ever think. n,
matter what you have ever thought.
have loved you"
He grimaced. pondercd diligently
and made correction.
81 have always loved you more thai
o,y avn life. You said my Ideals hn
fs'ieu-do you think SO now? dom
si,,-...' thiuk they're almost whn