The Dolores star., 1920-10-08
ruApTeR x-Continued.


.somethlng elseT
., ,ood deal else" said Hilliard. ab-
.,.r-sd. But that's no reason for
:. to bother you with 1t. didn't know
II was so apparent
Silence.
ar's not my habit" said the doctor
,,ssspt,y, "to offer any advice unless
IN asked for 1t. Gratuitous advice
,.,sr did anybody any good. Aud no.
,odr takes 1t unless 1t costs some
,,Irr-and not often then. And I'm
,stber your regular physician nor
.or, ronfessor. But II l had made a
diagnosis at this present minute I'd
,.v that you need preacher a great
,.o, more than you do doctor"
.1 do" said Hilliard, look.
IN, up sharply. only It's out
\, the question Just personal things.
doctor-nothlng l can very well talk
about"
"your trouble" said Doctor Durant.
isn't physical as much as 1t is spir-
,tusL. It's nothing but taut nerves. It's
nothing but your struggle against the
restraints you put upon yourself. How
do know You've told me so g.
avery time I've seen you. It's in your
fse. my hoy. It's In your eyes. Con
ranty And It looks as though the
conference is about over be
cause II that isn't Carol coming up the
reps, my ears aren't half as good as
they used 10 be"
Both men were on their feet ns she
came in. swirIng.
didn't know you were coming up to-
rghtl Suppose I'd missed you :"
He merely smiled, and made no an
gwer: nor did lie 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
nIllar corner of the sofa; Hilliard was
standing by the fireplace, peering
down into the empty CRATE. He coughed
harshly, and an expression OF utter
bopelessneSs crept into his eyes. He
turned abruptly.
well" he said. Just how much
would you have cared II you had?"
There was stately old lamp stand.
Ing at height behind the sofa; its
shadows were gracious and It's light,
as II crept through n shade OF painted
'ellum, touched Carol softly. In n
delicacy of radiance which was infin-
itely caressng Her hands were lying
Idle In her lap; she bent her head. and
Viewed them studiously.
"Why, | should have cared great
deal" she said. I'm always dlsap-
pointed when | miss seeing friend OF
mine. What makes you so pessimistic,
all Of sudden?"
HIlliard reddened. and his eyes grew
brighter.
"Friendshipw he said tardily.
What m accordlonlike sort OF thing
tha. isw
why. Mr.. Hilliard :" Her tone was
at the same time interrogatory and re-
proachful
Oh I'm not speaking Of you" he
taio. only Of the thing itself. :.
IT'S OLE or little. close or distant
ana IL hasn't anything to say about 1t
You'll have to excuse me-I
was thinking out loud :"
Please do" she said. "You were
on the way to be Interesting. Think
out loud some more"
lilIliard glanced sharply at her.
Don't laugh at me !" he said, almost
roughly. For heavens sake. don't
you know that the one time you
shouldn't laugh at u man is when he
deserves lt?"
NhroFs attitude was vaguely less
suggestive of ease
-, l wasn't laughing at you" she said.
truly But what you said was so
so queer"
oh' yes.' Hilliard's accent was
very nat Il suppose it was. 1t must
nave oeeh. l always seem to be
more or less up in the air when | come
:" see you, don't I? The last time we
Neu ABOUT friendship"
But that was at least month ago"
sue said hastily. "and In the mean
.,me you've been just as nice and
.neertul as anybody. thought you
we're all over your troubles"
oheerfulness wasn't what you
asked "a, for" Hilliard swallowed hard.
came up here. Miss Du.
WI W.T. 10 have really serious talk with
a., really serious. It's been
,,ra a'ed 100 long already. 1t took me
IN :, s'',o days to get my courage up
~, anu and now I'm here.
n pa even know how to begin"
sra1 scowled heavily into the vacant
. n ace' and held out his palms with
,ha,e hehahic gesture as though to warm
lnat m at an imaginary blaze. "You
+, ' ne said absentiy. "your father
n, very extraordinary man-very."
T.. ne compliment to the doctor had
v,,. % 'hvariable effect upon her; she
s'owed under it.
v,. i've always known that I'm
u ~ you realize It. too"