The Raymer enterprise., 1920-09-23

0uI 0m kSVWbox O10s Ao" Wv
know? Didn't you ever read Leigh
Hunti" g. .l..g L.
.Just a little" There was trace
Of warmth creeping into her voice.
Hilliard held his breath:
Say I'm weary. say I'm sad:
Say that health and wealth have missed
me;
Say lin growing old. but add
Angela kissed me!
He had spoken the lines magnlfi'
Gently. with the precise humor and
pathos which 90 to make them Inn
mortal. I'm glad she cts into the
meter" he said thoughtfully. because
I can understand just how Leigh Hunt
felt about Jennie"
"And-how do you think that wasT
Every sensitive" said Hilliard. "and
perhaps a little repressed and-de-
crepit." He smiled reminiscently. Il
suppose there are very few things In
life that make q man feel more mind
full Of his own crudlty and general
worthlessness than to have child's
spontaneous affection" II was the
testing venture. She looked at him
sidewise.
"More than if-if II weren't
chIldw
II think no." His tone was fault
less. "A woman can make . man feel
like Romeo. but 1t takes very young
girl to make him feel like Launcelot-
At my age"
"She IL adorable. isn't sher His
heart jumped at her cordial accept.
ance Of his statement. "Only-she's
seventeen. Mr. billiard"
II know" he said gravely. "And
that's why I'm SO conscious Of my
own senllity. Because all that beau
tiful innocence and ignorance Is
doomed. Miss Durant-who knows
that I'm not the very last person to
see It? Today. I'm only much older
man. some one she likes: tomorrow.
I may be a man without the only
and the more she liked me. the less
she'd show It. But there's been
mighty little Of that sort of thing for
me In the last few years from any
body. and ] do appreciate It. and I'm
not ashamed Of 1t. either"
"No." she said. 'you couldn't be.
You're too human" She smiled at
him, and he was transported at the
proof Of her sympathy. III were in
your place, I'd want to feel the same
way about It."
He thanked her In his heart. He
had saved both Angela and himself,
and held his pristine advantage.
But there was no disputing the fact
that he had made an active enemy Of
Waring. and an alert rival out Of
Armstrong. He smiled grImly as he
looked at the man ahead.
"Alr. Armstrong seems In De very
nervous" he said. mot that / can
blame him for wanting to be In my
place. On the contrary, I'm sorry for
him."
THAT shows . very good DISPOSE
ti0n." she said demurely.
Perhaps 1t does. and perhaps II
doesn't. ! believe every man owes Il
to himself 10 get what he wants. II
he does. he's a success; II be doesn't
it's his own fault"
As he said this, they came abreast
Of the others. and Armstrong. who
had heard the hnal sentence. whifled
toward billiard.
Regardless Of methodsr he de-
manded.
"Why-to some extent" laughed
billiard. "Why notf'
Armstrong delayed. 20 that the two
men were few PAGES behind the rest
Of the group. "ls that your regular
creed. Mr.. HilllardY
my creed isn't composed Of words,
Mr.. Armstrong. but Of actions"
They had spoken 30 quietly that no
one percelving them would have re-
motely suspected that a challenge had
been offered and accepted.
factions do speak louder. Of course"
'Aline," said Hilllard, twill give you
no offense. Butt generally get what
want"
$50 do Shall we shake hands on
TT" Armstrong was very affable, but
tremendously In earnest.
"Wlth pleasure. I can count On
your generosity. l see"
"And on your courtesy"
thank you" He went complacent.
ly forward; but inwardly he was
STEPPED In perturbation. The man
was SO deadly sure of himself. Could
II be that he was taeitly engaged to
Carol, In spite Of what Angela had
surmised, or so nearly on the road to
an understanding with, her that Hill
Hard was only making 4 fool Of him.
self
Armstrong laughed gently. II was
like dagger thrust In billiards
heart.