Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-05-13

: library and would come dowI
7 directly. Indeed. he followed almos
on the heels Of the messenger.
why. hello, Hilliard." he said. rath
: er stiltedly. Did you want TO see me-
7 That's too bad-Tve got to leave here
in just a couple of seconds to catch
, my train. I'm going West tonight"
an take you over" said Hilliard
shortly. 'That'll save you minute OF
two-and give us time to chat. My
; cars outside"
"Why-under the circumstances
-" Armstrong; glance was divert
ed. Il don't think / can let you do
that-take me over, | mean. I'm
going West on business trip and I
don't think 1t would be very appropri-
ate for you to"
"Oh-yOu are" Hilliard felt streaks
of ice coursing along his spine. How
far West?"
Armstrong consulted his watch nerv-
onsy.
"Hilliard," he said, Il like to do
things out in the open. There are
| L
really want to invite me to ride down
to the station with you. If I'm wrong,
It's up to you to say so. One OF 'em
Is that Rufus Waring has asked me to
stop off at Butte-Tm going a good
deal further than that-and look up
some matters. for him, l guess you
know as well as do what they are.
-
billiard fumbled his hat. II see.
And-the other reasonT
Armstrong suddenly Strengthened;
and his voice had curious ring to it
"a ring which electrified billiard and
awoke the most petrifying alarms
within him.
But does one ordinarily MENTION
certain kinds Of people-in a mems
club? don't know how It is where
you come from-but here, we don't"
Hilliard smiled vapidly; it was the
utmost perversIty of emotion. for he
knew now why Carol had been so eX-
plicit in her sympathy why she |
had been so meticulous to let him
realize that she wanted him as a
friend; only as a friend /. and here
was Armstrong, concealing with diff
Guilty the triumph he was limiting at.
mo" he said harshly. "One doesn't.
but there isn't anything to keep US
from mentioning anybody we like out
side the cItfb, is There z
"Why-nOt that r"
Then I'll take you down anyway"
said Hilliard "And let's see if we
can't try to understand each other"
1t took q brave man to accept the
offer, for billiards. eyes held little to
recommend their owner as prudent
driver, or as a very pleasant compan.
ion. Armstrong, however, was already
putting on his hat.
They had driven over to the station
in silence billiard, parking the run
about carefully turned to his passen-
ger.
We've got ten good minutes" he
said. Your train isn't even in yet
go ahead and talk"
Armstrong, after a momenlary de- :
lay, put out a conciliating hand. "Old
man." he said. lets play the rest of E
this out like two sensible people. We !
won't get anywhere by pickering and I
suppose it won't do any harm for us |
TO put all the cards on the table, and :
know exactly where we stand. OF {
course, you haven't known me very +
ong, and / haven't known you ,
nut suppose, just to help along the UNI !
ace value"
billiard WINGED.
"Well--suppose we do. Then what?'
Then you can't hold 1t up against
ne for stopping off at Butte on my
way out. haven't any motive in it
promised TO do it as favor to Rufs
Varing, 1t isn't a personal issue at
II. | know exactly how 1t must APP. :
ear to you. but . I'm not that sort 4
f man, billiard. l wouldn't have
reamed of 1t myself. That's straight y
The masquerader regarded him
yielded to his evident
incerity.
"Way down deep" he said, at length. l.
know you're not. but . what's =
nat for?" He referred to Arm. -
tronS's outstretched hand. Dh =. n
II right" They shook hands solemn.
Z. "At the same time 1t would have
cen so perfectly natural for you to u.
eel like getting whatever leverage M.
Oh could" min
"There's no need of that--now," -.
lid Armstrong. His smile was proud ~,
nd brilliant, and billiard withered res,
lder Ii. .nS
well. | wasn't sure" IN
GRO BE CONTINUED n
LI.L