The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1920-07-16
CHAPTER x-contInued.


;s"Why--in a way, yes."'|t
The doctor achieved perfect cir
rlet. and beamed at It.
Something elsef' 80
"A good deal else" said Hlliiard, alb
stracted. "But that's no reason for
me TO bother you with 1t. didn't know
Il was so apparent"
Silence.
Its not my habit" said the doctor
I'm asked for II. Gratuitous advice
never did anybody any good. And no
body takes II unless It costs some
thlDg-and not often then, And I'm
neither your regular physician nor
your confessor. But If i had made n
diagnosis at this present minute I'd
say that you need a preacher great
deal more than you do doctor"
az I do" said billiard, look
Ing up sharply. "Only +. it's out
Of the question. Just personal things,
doctor-Dothing can very well talk
2 about"
your trouble" said Doctor Durant,
"isn't physical as much az it is spir-
ltual. It's nothing but taut nerves. It's
nothing but your struggle against the
restraints you put upon yourself. How
do i know? You've told me so :.
avery time I've seen you. It's in your
free, my boy. rs in your eyes. Con-
Eantly. Aud II looks as though the
conference is about over -. be-
hnt fYrr mr., ha
steps, my ears aren't half as good as
they used to be-"
Both men were on their feet as she
came In, swlriing.
"Ohw she cried TO Hilliard. AZ
didn't know you were coming up to-
night Suppose I'd missed you!"
He merely smiled, and made no m
swer; nor did he speak TO her until
after the doctor, protesting a sudden
desire for solitude, had waved them
Hospitality out of the study into the
living room. Carol was in the old ia
tolllar corner of tie sofa: Iilliard was
standing by the fireplace, peerng
down into the empty CRATE. He coughed
harshly.. and an expression of utter
hopelessness crept into his eyes. He
turned abruptly.
"Well," he said, "just how much
would you have cared If you had?'
There was stately old lamp stand
Ing at height behind the sofa; its
shadows were gracious ana it's light
as II crept through a shade Of painted
vellum, touched Carol softly, in
delicacy of radiance which was lnfn-
!tey caresslng. Her hands were lying
idle In her lap; She bent her head, and.
viewed them studiously.
'Why, | should have cared n great
deal" she said. I'm always disap-
pointed when / miss seeing friend of
mine. What makes you so pessimistic,
all of n suddenT
Hillard reddened, and his eyes grew
brighter.
r"Friendshipr he said tardlly.
"What an accordionlike sort Of thing
that isp
"Why, Mr.. Hllliard !" Her tone was
at the same time interrogatory and re-
proachful.
''Oh, I'm not speaking of you" he
said. "Only OF the thing Itself. :.
It's big or little, close or distant d.
and II hasn't anything 10 say about 1t
You'll have TO excuse mel
vas thinking out loud :"
please do I" she said. "You were
ON the way TO be interesting. Think
out loud some more"
billiard glanced sharply at her.
Don't laugh at me !" he said, almost
roughly. For heavens sake, don't
you know that the one time you
shouldn't laugh at man Is when he
deserves itT
Carols attitude was vaguely less
suggestive of ease.
II wasn't laughing at you" she said,
~truly. But what you said was so
so queer"
"Oh, yes Hllliard's accent was
very fiat. II suppose 1t was. 1t must
have been. always seem to be
more or less up in the air when come
20 see you, don't II The last time we
talked about friendship"
"Bpt that was at least month ago."
she said hastily, "and In the mean
time, you've been Just as nice and
cheerful az anybody. thought you
lwsre az over your troubles
"Cheerfulness wasn't what you
asked for" billiard swallowed hard.
l@Ia,. ~. came up here, Miss Du-
lrnnt 70 have really serious talk with
Iyou $50. really serious. It's been
delayed too long already. II took me
1.-TWO. solid days to get my courage up
20 81. And and now I'm here,
Il don't even know how to begin
He scowled heavily into the vacant
fireplace, and held out his palms with
. mechanic gesture rs though to warm
them at an imaginary blaze. 'You
know" he said absently, your father
fs q very extraordinary man--very."
The compliment to the doctor had
Its invariable effect upon her; she
Ieiowed under II.
"rve always known that I'm
glad you realize II, too 49,
He stood erect, and faced her. II
do !. :. n came to me, when was
talking to him, what q great privilege