Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-05-29
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
8
For thirty days Hilllard had listened
10 the euogies of his secret self. He
had heard from a hundred sources the
same belief repeated, that Dicky Nor
gan, given time and counsel, would
have made the city as proud of him for
his intrinsic worth as it now was
proud of him for his military valor.
This praise of Dicky Morgan had at
first stunned billiard after that, it
had exalted him; still later, it had
abased his soul. He had longed.
CeaSelessly. during that third period
Of his introSpection, to take the city
to his heart, to reveal himself, to an
swer for Dicky Morgan's failures and
to pledge himself anew to the achieve
ment which DiCky MOrgan's friends
had prophesied and then he had been
overwhelmed by the recollection that
BE had made this course impossible.
II he had only known that all his de-
CeptiOns were needless. If he had
only known that Dicky Morgan could
have come home, and been forgiven
What anguish he could have saved
AMI what repentance! And the prob
lem was still the same-should ne
continue safe In his masquerade. to
the goal he had set for himself, or
should he risk the worst. and salve
his conscience by remuneration?
BY far the most distressing factor in
this puzzle was his relationship to Car
Of Durant. He had seen her only half
dozen times during the month. and
never alOne-the fates or Armstrong
had circumvented him-but he was
head over heels in love with her again.
and he sensed, from fugitive glances
ana strav word or two on her part,
that she wasn't entirely averse to him.
But what WOULD Carol think If she
knew that this grave and tender
stranger was hiding behind the wrath
or Dlcky MOrgan-it was a thousand
times the worse II she were ever
truly in love with Henry billiard, it
was impossible!
And then there was little Angela
Cullen
And in addition, there was the serl-
Gus business of making good; he was
70 longer impelled to it by resentment,
nut rather by unadulterated ambition ::
ms too, he would see destroyed by
any admission of his deceit. To con-
uhue IN the game was to lose his prob
"y' to reiinquish it was to lose all
eise; and even now. his JOY and pride
was contained in precisely those things
when lie must give up. If he decided
10 ,ear off the mask of hypocrisy; and
IFS Se3-respect was rising out of the
u.ad OF what he never should have
done At all.
"hra ne thought Of his worldly am
."'ns' he was profoundly regretful
,.a' he had talked professionally with
''. 'A''en To be sure. the matter
'a. come up casually and naturally.
-' d4e opening had seemed too good
~ r missed; at tle same time. Hill
-' couldn't help rehectine that II
"a4 been premature. 1t might proye.
-.ia Y. 10 have been Just the prop
Nurse "a produce results: It might
. Cullen would become so tmna-
mat be couldn't be restrained
would leap without looking. and
~ .t'lAef than he Intended, al.d vet.
r SINCE that preliminary interview.
'..afa BAD known that he had made
'7a.a in his own fortresses. that
44 rendered it possible for an IN
r... lsnd logical enough) investi-
70 begin. or for mild suspicion
arse and gain momentum before
-'- devised the means Of combating
,.-.. ana although Hiluard believed
-ly 10 the goods he had 70 soil
eae7 Tie difficulty of the market
" now timorous is the average
,-.... ard he knew that there
H. very easily come time AZ which
a. alsle would be remembered
SO remembered adversely 49,
81 rs connection he was lrri+a+.
s.- tone Of Harmons letters n
New York Harmon vos on.
w. and confident: he was "a.
t---- NY On HIlIiard to break
c.-.. Tie acumen Of the upstate
l.-- 49, oat he thought that Hill
o,ra4 .lasing haste too slowly: he
mat al billiard needles r. do
' 70 devote hmsa.f - 80 A. ~ -