Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-05-13
CHAPTER x-continued.

"Why-in way, yes"
The doctor achieved a perfect cir
clet. and beamed at it.
Something else?'
~ good deal else" said billiard. alb
stracred. But that's no reason fol
me to bother you with it, l didn't know
IL was so apparent"
Silence.
ITS not my habit" said the doctor
presently, ito offer any advice unless
I'm asked for II. GratuitOus advice
never did anybody any good, And no
bOCt takes IL unless ii costs some
thirc-and not often then. And I'm
nei her your regular physician nor
yorr confesSor But if had made a
dia ,nosis at this present minute I'd
say hat you need preacher great
de9 more than you do doctor"
81 do" said billiard, look
ing up sharply. "Only -. it's out
of NE question. Just personal things,
dOctor-nOthing l can very well talk
ab,lut,"
"'our trouble" said Doctor Durant,
isn't physical as much as it is spr-
ltuai It's nothing but taut nerves. It's
nothing hut your struggle against the
restraints You put upon yourself. How
10 ! now? You've told me so q.
ave, time I've seen you. It's in your
''scA my boy. It's in your eyes. Con
Ma1tly. And 1t looks as though the
irnference is about over be-
~, hnf iSpit tiF1Cr no
steps. my ears aren't half as good as
they used TO be"
Both men were on their feet as she
HAme in. swirling.
"Oh!" she cried TO billiard. IL
didn't know you were coming up to-
uIght! 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
nliar corner of the sofa Hillard was
standing by the fireplace, peering
down into the empty CRATE. He coughed'
harshly, and an expression of utter
hopeIessness crept into his eyes. He
turned abruptly
SWELL" he said. 'just how much
would You have cared If you had?"
Ia
There was stately old lamp stand
ing at height behind the sofa; its
shadows were gracious and its light, |
NJ it crept through shade of painted |
rellum, touched Carol softly, in a
ielicacy of radiance which was infn-
!tely caressing. Her hands were lying |
Idle in her lap; she bent her head. and
viewed them studiously.
"Why, | should have cared a great
deal" she said. I'm always disap-
bointed when miss seeing a friend of
mine. What makes you so pessimistic.
al of sudden?'
Hilliard REDEEMED, and his eyes grew
brighter.
"Friendship" he said tardily.
What an accordionlike sort of thing
that is!'
"Why, Mr.. Hflliard!" Her tone was
Mt the same time interrogatory and re-
rroachful
ooh, I'm not speaking of YOU" he
taid. "Only of the thing itself.
It's big or little. close or distant
and ii hasn't anything to say about 1t
You'll have to excuse mel
was thinking out loud :"
please dol" she said You were
on the way to be interesting. Think
Out loud some more
billiard glanced sharply atsher.
Don't laugh at me !" he said. almost
,0ughly. For heavens sake, don't
rOu know that the one time you
laugh at a man is when he
deserves u?"
Carols attitude was vaguely less
suggestive of ease.
81 wasn't laughing at you" she said
truly. But what you said was 81
so queer"
"Oh. yes" billiards. accent was
cry flat. II suppose it was. II must
ave been. | always seem to be
lore or less up in the air when | come
o see you, don't /? The last time we
alked about friendship"
"But that was at least month ago"
he said hastily, land in the mean
Ime youv- been just as nice and
heerful as anybody. | thought you
'ere all over yOhr troubles"
"CheerfulneSS wasn't what you
sked for" billiard swallowed hard
| came up here, Miss Du.
ant, to have Il really serious talk with
QUE really serious. It's been
elayed too long already. II took me
NO solid days to get my courage w
, II. And and now I'm here,
don't even know how to begin"
He scowled heavily into the vacant
replace, and held out his palms with Il
mechanic gesture as though to warm V,
lem at an imaginary blaze. "You
now" he said absently. 'your father CO
very extraordinary mnn-very." AT
The compliment to the doctor had 81
$ invnrlable effect upon her; she
owed under II. III
1--WE always known that I'm NJ
4 Ia | -.