Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-04-16


uneven beats; for the moment, his
throat was dusty dry.
| AS he gained the level of the YER
anda, there was a stir of activity off
to the right, and an erect, middle
aged man clambered out Of a ham
mock, and came briskly forward.
Back in the shadows Hilliard could
/ detect the soft outlines of a white
dress.
| "Yes?" The middle-aged man was
politely brusque.
SIS this Mr.. Cullen2 Mr..
James Cullen?"
''Yes sir!' The middle-aged man
was very convincing about it. "Yes.
sir. What can do for your"
billiard bowed stifiy from the hips
IA touch of foreign courtesy which
had its effect.
IF you're at leisure, Mr.. Cullen,
should like very much TO have a word
with you. 0n--I think l may call 1t
so-urgent private matters. My name
is Hilliard. In brief, I've come up
from New York today to bring you a
letter from young man named Rich
ard Morgan"
"Morgani" said the older man
sharply, "Dick Morganlr Back in the
shadows there was sudden rustic.
"Wheres he?"
He's dead" said billiard. HE died
In France" Mr. Cullen stood perfect
" still. and billiard, watching him
intently, was overcome by resentment
at the knowledge that two years ago
this man had held billiards. fate in
his thick fingers.
mol" said Mr. Cullen. "0f all
things Well, what d'you know about
that Dick Morgan dead!" There
was surprise, but little poignancy in
his tone. ISN'T that terrible And
over in Francel III. Angela, did
you hear that?"
More rustling from the shadows. and
a slim figure stepping out of them into
the foreground; it was Angela Cullen,
| just over the brink Of seventeen. ex-
| quisitely small and blonde. and pro-
foundly agitated by the news. Hill
lard bowed mechanically; he had re-
membered her as a vivid little hoyden.
Queer, that his heart should skip a
beat or two at beholding her now.
But she had brought the first remem-
brance of untroubled days back to
him, anC the contrast hurt-abomi-
nably.
"Oh, cadl" she said with a quick
intake of her breath. "Oh
dadw And clung to him for refuge,
staring the while with wide and fear
full eyes at the tall stranger who had
delivered the laconic message.
Cullen held her close, and cleared
his throat He was III the common
enough situation of a man who feels
that he ought to be deeply moved and
isn't, and wonders why; and his trans
parent effort to be funereal was slight
" overdone.
ITS great shock to us--of course"
he said, speaking slowly. "a great
shock. OH Mr.. Hilliard-my
daughter. Wen, must say |. .. !.
Suppose we sit down and talk this
over"
billiard bowed again; Mr.. Cullen,
his arm encircling Angela. led the way
to the hammock an6 its reinforcement
/ Of wicker chairs. The trio was
seated; billiard coughed deIicately,
and after that. there was bfief
4 silence, Gradually, the air was
charged with constraint. Here he
was. and there was Angela and
| Mr.. Cullen-all of them little
older. all of them a great deal more
| depressed. but even SO, here they were,
these three, just las they had sat in
the same place, 81 the same sort OF
summer evenings. when Dicky Morgan
wasn't vet anathema, and when
This this thing happened
some time ago, did It? You were
abroad Sourself?"
Eyes. was"
81 want 20 hear about Dick" said
Angela in dry little voice. "Please I
And aud who are you, Mr..
/ Hlliara?"
"Angelar' said her father. reproach.
fully, but billiard. coughing with
great veheuenee, felt a sudden in
rush of triumph which gave him con-
hdence. 1t was the triumph of dra.
matte success; the consciousness. that
whatever might come next. he had ac-
tually appeared before people who
knew him best. and that they saw a
stranger He smiled, as a church
man smiles.
"Ali pretend to be is friend Of
Dicks. -
"ohl A friend!" Cunels lntona.
ton was euriously warped
Perhaps youll understand better If
| 80 back to the beginning. Shall II
DO" Cullen motioned him carte
blanche, and billiard took tong
| breath. and began.