Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-26
The MAN
NOBODY
KNEW
HOL WORTHY HALL
Copyright by oood Mead 4 Co. Inc

Almost Impossible :" He was
seeing black and red. Even IL every
! body" had expected him to do this
| thing tas Angela had long since as
sured HIM what reason did he have
to hope for pardon? What would
you think" he asked, peri!ousiy "oi
man who cared enough about you
to risk everything he had in the
world . not his vsluabcs in the
sense Of money &C.. nut all his am
billions for everything; all his
dreams: all his deals; al his hopes
on a Christmas gift: What
would YOU"
She frowned adorahly.
And . .. he's not just a little bit
quixotic?"
Not at all . suppose he did II
deliberately. and after a great deal
OF thought. Jus- on the chance that
1t might please YOU? When It would
either do that--or end their friend
ship"
she fingered the small package
over and over.
why, l should think that II this
. mythical person were so very
anxious to please me he wouldn't
take quite such a risk"
But when I'm the mythical per
son myself-that's different, isn't
IT."
Why should 1t be-" She gave
him no opportunity to see her face.
You've forgotten a great deal. !
told you once that IL you knew all
that I've been . all that I've done
. you might not be so willing 10
have my friendship anyway"
No" she said, suDdued. "rve not
forgotten. but you have, I said that
! didn't believe YOU"
You're holding it all in your
hands said billiard His express
sion. as he gazed at her was in
finiteIy warming: but his voice was
even and low. y spent a good many
hours over this wondering
whether II was right for me to take
such a risk on this day. above all
others and finally. thought Il
out this way: If ii pleases you. II
ought TO make the day better yet
if il doesn't it would have been
Just as unwelcome to you at any
other time. Understand. I'll never
attempt TO excuse anything ;.
we're beyond that All can do is
to wait I'm giving YOU 49,. will
you open II now. D'oase'"
Her fingers bungled with the knot,
and ne made as tho to help her.
h1l no II
age away from him. Il want 10 open
il all myself"
Hilliard rigid. watched her. A
phrase was beating heavily against
his consciousness one of the
proverbs something about the
bread of deceit and ashes.
The knot gave way; and the tissue
wrapping. falling aside. disclosed an
oblong pastehoard box. Carol liftel
the lid and billiard caught his
breath. There were two cabinet
photopra phs; uppermost was a very
excellent likl:ness of Hil'iard him
self She looked at MIN pern'exedly:
he was getting ont his fountain pen.
His hand was cold. unsteady.
1t lacks something. doesn't it?'
he said, in an underinne. Let me
have 1t 4 moment" While she fo'-
lowed his every movement ne whOte,
with his left hand and somewhat
VA instGkincly a" inscription and
gave back the picture.
christmas, 1916 she read. with
love from Henry Hilliard.' She flush
ed hotly.
Now LOOK" he said. ignoring her
reaction. The . next one.
Mechanically she took out the second
photograph ; 1t was a duplicate of the
picture Of D!cky Morgan on the Doc
tors desk Her checks were sudden
Is devoid of color. she stared fear
fully at him without speaking.
That lacks something, too" he
said: and his voice vas Yielding to
the tremendous strain upon him.
With conspicuous care he shifted the
pen to his right hand: held ii poised
for a moment, gave her smile OF
ineffable pathOs, closed his teeth
hard. Il have very useful little
trait" he said: I'm ambideXterous.
And wrote MS HieSSbSe.
She had the evidence before her
the immitabie, uAu.istagable, orna-
| mental script of another personality.
| Christmas. lS16,-and love from
| Dick 10 Carol"
The real gift is underneath he
said. and his diction now was foreign
even to himself. But no, no;
| go on :.
Her uncertain, exploring fingers
had touched smaller Dox; it sprans
open in her palm: within, was
georgeously flashing, scinttllating,
living gem, set in platinum. her
hands, unsteady now as were his
own closed over it as tho to guard
and shelter it. Her eyes sought his.
and held them-fright was meeting
fright.
And in my thoughst," he said,
ARE all the sweet memories l have
of you and all the fragrance Of
you and in the stone there :. :.
there's a story for you to read {.
bigger than any book could hold -"
She still made no answer: she was
holding her three gifts tightly, and
staring at him, staring not in the
revulsion he had imagined, not in
the measureless contempt he had
feared, but with the wrath of a
smile trembling on her pale lips.
only one Of the photographs Is to
keep" he said thickly. One of the
two I'm giving you the chance
to say which it is which one of
the two you want to live II you
want either Of those men to go on
/ loving you {. or If you want them
i both to 20 away--for always"
4 In her eyes, there was another
1 miracle: her eyes were soft, and In