The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-03-26

ued his stroll
He entered the Hotel onondaga
from the east and headed across TO.
ward the newsstand. Out Of a red
and gold chair In the spacious lobby
a gentleman rose to meet nina gen
tleman who in appearance was very
fair replica of the well-known Get
Rich-Quick Wallngford, except that
he was somewhat more refined and
less obese. His animation was OBJ
vious, but he delayed TO remove both
his gray suede gloves before he offered
to shake hands with Hllha,d.
"Wellw said Martin Harmon, eff
fusively, you're looking great! Must
agree with you up here, what? Didn't
expect me, did your"
"Now Hilliard's expression was a
study; he had dealt so long with Har-
mon at a distance that he had almost
forgotten what the broker looked like.
"Why didn't you wire me you were
coming?"
Didn't know it myself until pretty
near train-time-spur of the moment.
Well, got any business yet?'
Inv0luntarily, billiard smiled, and
the smile spread wonderfully, until
Harmon caught the contagion of it and
beamed more royalty than ever. "The
man you called the 'decOy duck'--re-
member when you wrote that to me?--
well, he quacked yesterday"
Harmon put his hand on billiards
shoulder; it was an accolade.
"Really? How much?"
"Thirty." For the life Of him Hill
lard couldn't resist slight forward
thrust of his chest.
Mr.. Harmon's eyes glazed for an in
slant.
"Good-goodl That's clever work.
son! Clever and quick. But ! knew
you'd do it. Thirtyl That's flnel
Anybody elseY
billiard laughed eXultantly.
eyes, three mOre-a total of sixty
two. l mailed you a draft yesterday
morning; the others are in my pocket
now. I've just come from the bank
Great work, son !" Mr.. Harmon
breathed rapturously. "That puts us
pretty nearly where we belong. Sixty
two thousand! It's running start for
the big race! You certainly didn't get
left at the post, billiard! Deducted
1,o,, commissions ynt 80
mo; l thought you'd rather do the
bookkeeping in your own office and
send me a check"
Harmon's approval was manifest.
.You show me the drafts and III
write you a check this minute. Let's
90 sit down in the grill, and have
something. This is fine work, now
want to tell you"
81 rather thought so myself" Hill
lard had led the way to the grill and
Communicated a .side-table. 'In
fact" He lowered his voice. 'In
fact, as things have worked out, Mr.
Harmon, 1 almost wish l hadn't tried
to play it just this way. | mean"
But Harmon had already grasped
the point.
"Oho! Is that so? You must have
made a hit. And all your old friends
YOU were so het up about-weren't
they as peevish at you as you
thoughtY
mo" billiard grew warm. I'D give
a good deal" he said soberly, IF
hadn't tangled myself up in all that
imitation history. Well, I'm in for il
now. I've published so much that
didn't need tO-Im wondering how in
thunder can ever get out of it when
the time comes. That was the idea
you remember-coals Of fire. What's
bOthering me is that there's nobody to
tend the furnace"
'But l thought you were so anxious
to keep in the shaded"
eyes, but didn't need to crawl in 8
hole, and pull it in after me- Well
we'll wait and see. After I've gone a
little further-and of course, you know
I've hardly scratched the surface
yet"
Il know you haven't" The big man
tucked his gloves into his breast peck
ct and brought out a silver cigarette
case. Have oneY