The Raymer enterprise., 1920-10-21
CHAPTER x-continued.

I'm sorry. Business wOrrlesT
"Why--in n way. yes"
The doctor achieved a perfect cir.
elet. and beamed at II.
Something else?"
"A good deal else" Said H'lliard. nb-
stracted. But that's no reason for
me to bother you with 1t. didn't know
II was so apparent"
Silence.
''It's not my habit" said the doctor
presently. ITO offer any advice unless
I'm asked for It. GratuItous advice
never did anybody any good. And no.
body takes II unless II costs some
thins-and not often then. And I'm
neither your regular physician nor
your confessor. But II | had made a
diagnosis at this present minute I'd
say that you need preacher a great
deal more than you do doctor"
II do" said HillIard look.
ing up sharply. "Only It's out
Of the question. Just personal things.
doctor-nothing cdn very well talk
about"
"Y0ur trouble" said Doctor Durant,
isn't physical rs much as 1t Is spIr-
itual. It's nothing but taut nerves. It's
nothing but your struggle against the
restraints you put upon yourself How
do l knOwi You've told me so :.
>vorv TINA Tsyo panp ynu It'v In vnur
fare. my hoy. It's In your eyes. Con
stantly. And It looks as though the
conference Is about over be-
rause II that isn't Carol coming up 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.
oh" she cried to IIIlIard. 81
didn't know you were coming up to-
night! Suppose I'd missed yOu!'
He merely smiled. and made no an
swer: nor did he speak to her until
after the doctor. protesting a sudden
desire for solitude. had waved them
Hospitality out Of the study into the
living room. Carol was In the old IA
nlllar corner OF the sofa Hilliard was
StandIng by the fireplace. peerIng
down into the empty CRATE. He coughed
harshly. and an expression OF utter
bopeessness crept into his eyes. He
turned nbruptly.
"Well." he said. lust how much
would you have cared II you hnd!"
There was stately old lamp stand.
ing at height behind the sofa; Its
shadows were gracious and Its light,
as It crept through shade Of painted
vellum. touched Carol softly. In
delIcacy Of radiance which was nfin-
itely caressing. Her hands were lying
idle In her lap: she bent her head. and
viewed them studiously.
"Why. l should have cared a great
deal" she said. "Tm always dlsap-
pointed when ! miss seeing a friend OF
mine. What makes you 50 pessimistic,
all Of a suddep?"
Hllliard reddened. and his eyes grew
brighter.
Friendship" he said tardIly.
"Whnt an accordlonlike sort Of thing
that Isr'
"Why, Mr.. Hilliard" Her tone was
at the same time interrogatory and re-
proachful.
"Oh. I'm not speaking Of you" he
said. "Only Of the thing Itself. &.
It's big or little. close or distant :.
and Il hasn't anything to say about It
You'll have to excuse mel
was thinking out loud :"
"Please dol" she said. "You we're
on the way to be interesting. Think
out loud some more"
lillllard glanced sharply at her.
"Don't laugh at me !" he said, almost
roughly. For heavens sake. don't
you know that the one time you
shouldn't laugh at man Is when he
deserves it2'
Carols attitude was vaguely less
suggestive Of ease.
~ wasn't laughing at you" she said.
"truly. But what you said was 50
so queer"
"Oh. yes" billiards. accent was
very fiat. II suppose 1t was. 1t must
have been. always seem to be
more or less up In the air when come
to see you. don't II The last time we
talked about friendship"
"But that was at least a month ago."
she said hastily. "and In the mean
time. you've been Just as nice and
cheerful as anybody. thought you
were all over your troubles"
"Cheerfulness wasn't what you
asked for" Hilliard swallowed hard.
II came up here, Miss Du.
rant to have really serious talk with
you really serious. It's been
delayed too long already. II took me
two solid days to get my courage up
to II. And and now I'm here,
don't even know how to begin"
He sc0wled heavily into the vacant
fireplace. and held out his palms with
q mechanic gesture as though to warm
them at an imaginary blaze. "You
know" he said absently. "your father
Is q very extraordinary man-yery."
The compliment to the doctor had
its invariable effect upon her; she