Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-12
CHAPTER X.
Hol WORTHY HALL

Z
CHAPTER X.
billiard Was waiting. hoping. pray
ing for a blow from fate, but fate,
which al other times had been ready
, enough for flsticuffs, and often
premature with them, refrained
from striking. The interview with
Wanng had passed without friction
land billiard had SO conuived TO
present his data that Waring had
finally declined the risk and the
night passed and the morning came,
with its accompanying horde Of old
regrets and a new and sweeping in
I rush OF fresh authorizations.
To his tortured imagination. he
WAS greater paradox than even
Hard and Dick Morgan, the living
and the dead, without the boon of
the supernatural 10 separate them.
And yet he felt that the wiekedness
OF what he had done was the wick =
edness of Dicky Morgan, and that
he, HilliaFd, the soul. was sitting in
/ impartial Judgment on Dicky Nor
gan. the flesh. He conceded the
wrong: he conceded the penalty;
nevertheless, his youth cried out 10
him for mercy.
Al the maids announcement. Doc
tor Durant, who had been occupied
with nothing more momentous than
filling a pot -bellied calabash. rose
hastily and went out into the hall
way.
Come in. billiard" he said cor
daily. Carols off looking at some
bodys rousseau somebody's
always getting married in Syracuse
she'll be in directly. Come
smoke a pipe with me, and be So
ciable."
billiard. lingering nervously by the
outer door. started at the kind voice.
You're not busy
'BusiIy composing my mind" said
the doctor He ushered Hiliiard into
the comfortable old study and mo-
toned towards a squat little snok =
ing stand. "Ail kinds of poison
there he said "Cignr-cisarets-
pipe tobacco. Suit yourself"
Hilliard laughed affectedly
You call il poison? And you a
doctor-and smoking"
An. but it's the pIeasantest poison
there is. Pm always having
! IN explain that TO Carol
I Matches? Well. what have YOU been
doing to yourself?"
"i?'' billiard didn't look at him.
! Nothing important DOCTOR
! But that's not quite true. is it,"
The tone was gentle. but il filed Hill
I lard with porteniiOus nualrns
You've heen enjoying little at
tack of insomnia. haven't YOU"
/ Hilliard WINGED
( '"hy--!-es. As matter Of fact"
! The dDctor attempted smoke
ring. and smiled at the dismal fail
/ ure
I'm sorry. Business voorhees,
"Sby--in n way. yes"
The doctor achieved perfect cir
| clet. and beamed ct il.
Something else"
\ Soou nesI eiss, Saad ftiliaTG.
distracted. But that's no reason
. for me 10 bother YOU with it. I
Gidn't know it was so apparent"
Silence.
IT'S not my ha bit" said the doc
/ tor presently. 80 offer any advice
/ unless I'm asked FOR it. Gratutous
advice never did ANYBODY good. And
Va, So, ,1,. 4,
thing-and not often then. And I'm
neither YOUR regular physician nor
/ YOUR confessor. F}ut If l had made a
diagnosis at this present minute I'd
say that YOU need preacher great
deal moro than YOU do a doctor"
u I do" said billiard.
looking up SHARPLY. Only It's
things. doctor-nothing can very
well talk about"
Your trouble said Doctor Durant.
/ isn't physical as much az It is
/ spiritual. It's nothing but taut
nerves. It's nothing but your
struggle against the restraints YOU
( put upon yourself. How do know
, re seen you. It's in your face. my
boy. lis in your eyes. Constantly
I And it looks as though the con
. ference is about over be-
cause if that isn't Carol coming III
the steps my ears aren't half as
good as they used to be-"
Both men were on their feet as she
came in swirling.
CHI" she cried to Hil'inrd. 81
didn't know You were coming up to-
night, Suppose I'd missed you."
He merely smiled and made no an
swcr: nor did he speak 10 her unit
,nfter the doctor, protesting sndder
desire for solitude, had waved then
Hospitality out of the study into thf
living room. Carol was in the old IA
n7ilisr corner Of the sofa Hilliart
was standing by the fireplace. peer.
ing down into the empty CRATE. HI
coi,shed harshly. and an expression o
utter hopeIessress crept into his eyes
He turned abruptly.
"Well" he said Just how mucf
would you have cared if you had?"
There was a stately old lamp stand
ing Mt height behind the sofa it!
shadows were gracious and Its light
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