The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-04-22

and papers and records can be Great
ed shuiiled there's reason.
The reason was that n republic need
ed men-and the lieutenant was will
Ing To be n forger II that were a CON
dtion to his being a patriot. His con
ception Of patriotism was to enlist ev-
cry able-bodled man IN the service OF
France. But at that time, the war
was still rather exclusive as far as
Americans were concerned. SO that
Dicky Morgan disappeared from earth
and there was new soldier OF the
sixty-nlnth Territorlals by the name
OF Pierre Dutout Peter No
body"
"Whati" said Mr.. Cullen.
billiard shrugged his shoulders.
81 said he told me much about him
self. He sailed under his own name.
and r dare say you can verify that
In New York. But when he landed.
he took an alias. He had wanted to
start over again, unhampered. Moth
ing could have been more opportune
than this chance. See what II gave
him He simply dropped out of the
world. II was the possibility
OF losing himself utterly that first app
pealed to him. And there must have
been a good cause"
Eyes" said Mr.. Cullen absently.
There was. But always the
ntrical, Dick was. That was so like
him-to do just that sort of thing. and
to do Il Just that way"
"As nearly as could gather" said
Hllliard, 'he had been practically
er Ostracized here. Is
that correct1" He noted that Angela
fiinched at the suggestion. and that
her head was dropping very low.
Wees, butVhere was a good rea-
son for IT,"
"Oh dad" said Angela, pleadingly,
below her breath. please don't say
things Hike that-I can't stand any
more"
"What his offense may have been,
l don't know" said billiard, plung-
ing dOggedly into his narrative. "But
he left town, so he told me, In
tremendous revulsion of feeling. His
one ambition was to make something
OF himself, TO wash out the past-to
justify his existence. And he went
overseas with the idea of genuine
service and sacrifice. And very soon,
terribly soon during night
attack they got him." Hill
lizard paused effectively. There
wasn't a chance in hundred for him
10 recover and he knew It, And then
II came to him, blindlngly and desper-
ately, that the world-that is, the
world which had known him in his
would never hear what he
had done. He had made his sacri-
fee. and II was useless. In hospital,
he was Pierre Dutout, you see i
and between that character, and his
own. was the barrier of the subter-
fuge he had grasped so eagerly-his
alias, and his false record. No one
would have any reason TO doubt that
he wasn't what he purported to be.
He craved to tell someone; to send
back a message to his old friends
and | happened to be there-and he
confided I'm me. And here | am, Mr..
Cullen. Bringing credentials. Now,
In the first place, l have a photograph
OF him, taken from his original pass
port" He produced II from his peck |
ct, and offered II to Mr.. Cullen. lis
there any mistake, sir? OR is II the |
Dick Morgan you know?"
Mr.. Cullen switched on standing |
lamp; Angela hid her face, and shrank |
back from the white electric glare.
"fes-yes. He gave the tiny pic |
ture to his daughter. There's no ques-
ton about It. Mr.. billiard"
That's Dickl" said Angela agon.
izedly.
with his signature, Of course-you
recognize II. do your?
IT'S his handwriting fast enough"
conceded Mr.. Cullen. He looked up at
Hilllard. and his brows were furrow-
ed, as though he were struggling 20
comprehend what all this had TO do
with the Cullen family. "Yes. Ora
matte boy, he was-always. Shows
don't it?"
"Dramatic-yes. That is-imagina-
tive. Venturesome. And it's a quail
ity that sometimes makes heroes, Mr..
Cullen. Would you have call
ed him bravef
"rm not sure of that. sir. l."
II would" said Angela. 81 would 7"
"Foolhardy. often. But brave :"
swat, then" said Hilliard, motion.
Ing. He was transnxed by the vision
Of Angela Cullen, who had started up
In passionate defense OF an old-time
playmate; her cheeks were flushed, her
eyes were shining. she was ineffably
appealing In her fearless grief and In
her loyalty. For the first time, Hill
lard could see how the passing years
had brought out the woman I'm her
he could see. under the dazzling light
Of the porch lamp. what an adorable
champion he had left behind him. Her
'ehemence thrilled him; his own
'heeks Redeemed. and his heart was
abruptly quickened at the sight OF
her at the same time that II CONCEAL
NJ from her fathers estimate. you
tnaxy % ha aait athas hravarv undar |