The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-06-19

met each other, Dicky would have
wanted US to be friends"
Ihats-that's wonderfully thought
ful of you" said Carol softly. "And
=. and / think he would have wanted
mat Ii he'd known. :" Her
| eyes were suspiciously dim and Hill
llard's loneliness dissolved into
great spasm of longing which held
him and shook him and left him weak
with impotence
Then I'll stay In Syracuse" he said
abruptly. Provided-provided you
won't be offended If do have to want
to know you for yourself-just little
selhshly. I'm afraid that isn't very
clear-it's difficult to separate it-but
you see
Don't try to explain" she said, sub
dued. Il know how hard all this must
be for you-and / think perhaps you
need my friendship as much as l need
yours"
Before he could reply, there was
lutter Of indescribable gracefulness
before them. Angela was courtesying
in mock obeisance to the floor. Behind
her, Waring was watching her pos
sessively.
II your majesties will wake up half
second she said, "everybody's going
70 walk up around the Sedgwick farm
tract to get some fresh air. Coming2"
AS they stood together, drenched
with regret for the condolences that
might forever remain unsaid, q maid
appeared in the doorway.
Please, ma'am," She said breath
lessly, its the Western Union-for
Mr.. billiard"
Right in my study" called the doc
tor, hurrying. Just across the hall.
Ihere you arei" and ushered him into
the sanctum and considerably closed
the door.
Desplte the urgent summons which
the average person feels under such
circumstances billiard was astonish-
ingly tardy in sitting down to the re-
celver. For one thing he was still
vibrating from his recent stress of
certainly what the message was going
to be, and for a third, he was some
what emotionally under the spell of
the doctors room. Hillfard had spent
hundred hours In it-pleasant hours.
SO that involuntarily yielding to its
kindly atmosphere, and all that the at
mosphere implied, he took time to sur
vey all four walls before he took up
the receiver. And after he had lis
tened to the telegram. and ordered a
copy mailed to him In care of Mr.. Gull
len, he took time to survey those walls
again, more closely; and this was
partly for their intrinsic significance,
and partly because his feelings were
so fresh and tender that he dreaded to
return at once to the gathering which,
as whole, couldn't be expected to de-
fer to them. His eyes fell upon the
uoctor's desk, wandered and suddenly
focused hard and piercingly. He
went over to the desk and slowly put
out his hand and lifted up small pho
tograph in metal frame.
well, I'll be darned ~ said HiIliard.
just above whisper. The turning of
the doorknob reused him; he wheeled
with the photograph still In his hand.
"Hello!' said Doctor Durant, cheer
fully. "Get your message all right?
What's that you've found? Oh, yes
Dicks picture"
billiard swallowed hard, and found
that his voice was queerly out Of con-
troll.
''It's--it's the same one"
''Yes-it's the same as the one you
brought back. I've had it there ever
since he gave 1t to me-"
He took it gently from billiards
hand replaced it on the desk. "How
that boy would have made good If he
had lived r said the doctor, in an IN
dertone. "Well-they're waiting for
u.s."
billiard, following him outside, en-
countered the two Cullens in the hall,
and at sight of his fiorid host, he col
lected his wits, and resumed his part
in the play.
"Oh"" he said. 'T-I-that was from
one-that was telegram from the
manager of the syndicate, Mr.. Cullen
he said it's decided not to try to re
syndicate any stock, but to hold 1t
ourselves for the long pull-every-
things put of for three or four weeks
anyway. I'm having copy mailed to
the house--there's some news in it
thought you might like to see."
Good! That leaves you free.
doesn't 1t? You'll stay on with us
then? Dent say no. insist on til"
mo, l couldn't do that. It's awful
kind of you. but"
'You talk to him. Angela r. laughed
Mr.. Cullen. You make him stay. |
You've got more influence over him
than | have, anyhow. And don't you
dare to let him get away without Il
promise-understnnd lie passed on
and left them together.
"You walk along with me. sir" saitl
Angela. imperially. And you'd better
behave yourself--I'm fierce, !"
At the same moment that he looked |
yearningly toward Carol. who up
ahead by the doorway was already |
captive to the willy Armstrong. young !
Rufus Waring was glating belligerent- |
ly toward billiard.
The masquerader smiled In defeat. |
thea smiled with sudden realization of
a.. ali a