The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-05-07

charging of the atmosphere whenever
he met male acquaintance he
couldn't deny that the greeting of his
bankers was suddenly less informal,
more impersonal; he perceived, with q
sinking spasm OF f0reboding, that
fewer people stopped to chat with him
on the street and that those who still
were willing to halt and pass the time
of day were uncommOnly FESTIVE about
1t. Syracuse hadn't yet arrayed itself
officially against him, and part OF
Syracuse was outwardly as pleasant as
ever, but there wasn't the slightest
question that the story had leaked out,
and that 1t had got itself adherents.
The end was plainly in sight; ARM
strong's report was due. Only the Gull
lens and the Durants and one or two
other of the James street families were
quite as cordially attentive as former
ly; and to billiards. vast chagrin, they
rather overdld il he seemed to
friendship a sort of bindly unseason-
able resolution to support him, whether
or no. This, infinitely more than the
cooling manner of the majority, CALLED
him necessarily. 1t was us though
they rallied to his defense before the
need of it it was as though they
conceded in advance the necessity Of
such defense.
Go TJi1IfopH xVuffnd M'uitn6
smiling upon the world his hollow
smile, carrying through the city the
body of knave and the face of a
martyr and the soul of a gentleman
and in the watches Of the night,
he was perplexed to find that his eyes
were sometimes wet, but never when
he was thinking of himself-alwayS
when he was thinking of Angela, or
Carol, or-unexplainably-of a CONS
mon-enOugh representative of the
French bourgeoisie named Pierre Du'
tout
On the eighth day, he CHANGED to
meet Dr. Durant by accident in front
of the Physicians building at nigh noon.
"Hello, there! You're just in time"
said the Doctor, cheerfully. I'm go
ing over to the University club for
lunch. Won't you join me? | want
your advice. I'm the worst business
man in the world-yOu probably know
that by this time. And | trust my
friends for friendship; but when |
want advice, I go to an expert. So
you qualify on both counts. Come
along over"
HiIliard was fattered, but not de-
ceived.
'I'm not sure that my advice Is
worth anything half as expensive as a
luncheon, Doctor"
The older man took him by the arm,
and impelled him across the street.
"That depends on your appetite" he
laughed. "Come along, and help me
out on decision I've got to make
About an investment"
Hilliard hung back for moment
while suspicion dawned on him.
"What sort of Investment, DoctOr?"
he queried.
"You come and sit down." urged the
Doctor, seductively. "And Wen talk
it over later. But first Of all" He
patted his waistcoat. Lets eat"
billiard was almost too grateful ITO
speak; the Doctors strategem was pat.
ent, but in all chivalry the invitation
couldn't be declined. Once inside the
doors of the club, however, he became
panicky; for his first sweeping recon
noissance included half dozen men
whose late behavior had indicated that
they knew.
The Doctor drew billiard under the
mantle of his own unasSailable posi-
ton, and plowed ahead with the utmost
serenity. He nodded here and there,
he spoke to members right and left; he
bowed across the room; always his
personality, rather than his person,
seemed to be escorting and guarding
billiard; and Syracuse couldn't decline
to acknowledge man who was under
the Doctors adequate protection. Those
who spoke to the Doctor also spoke to
billiard; there was no way out Of it,
and they spoke as casually as they
could. They also nodded to him, and
bowed, but when his back was turned,
they became Iow-voiced and communi-
cative, and he knew it.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)