The Dolores star., 1920-09-24
CHAPTER VIII.

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ror thirty days Hilliard had listened
n tbs eulogles OF his secret self. He
md heard from hundred sources the
sms belief repeated. that Dicky Nor
nm. given time and counsel. would
nave made the city as proud of him for
bis Intrinsic worth as II now was
proud Of him for his military valor.
This praise OF DIcky Morgan had mt
FIST stunned HIlliard: after that. 1t
bad exalted him; stlll later. 1t had
ibased his soul. He had longed.
csaselessly, during that third period
Of his introSpectlon. to take the city
10 his heart, to reveal himself. to an
swer for Dicky Morgan's failures and
10 pledge himself anew to the achieve
neut which Dlcky Morgan's friends
bad prophesied; and then he had been
overwhelmed by the recollection that
be bad made this course impossible.
Il be had only known that all his de-
| ceptions were needless. II he had
only known that Dicky Morgan could
have come home, and been forgiven
What anguish he could have saved
and what repentance! And the prob
lem was still the same-should he
continue. safe In his masquerade. to
The goal he had set for himself. or
ibonld he risk the worst, and salve
IL conscience by renunciation?
By far the most distressing factor In
MS puzzle was his relationship to Car
d Durant He had seen her only half
dozen times during the month. and
never alone-the fates or Armstrong
Dad circumvented him-but he was
head over heels In love with her again.
md he sensed. from fugitive glances
ano q stray word or two on her part.
mat she wasn't entirely averse to him.
but what would Carol think II she
NEW that this grave and tender
Stranger was hiding behind the wrath
u Dicky Morgan-lt was thousand
umes the worse! II she were ever
Truly In love with Henry HIlliard. 1t
vas impossible
And then there was little Angela
Cullen
And In addition. there was the seri-
Gus business OF making good: he was
40 longer impelled to 1t by resentment.
su1 tather by unadulterated ambition {;
m''' TOO. he would see destroyed by
IN! admission of his deceit. To con-
unue IN the game was to lose his prob
w. 10 relInNulsh 1t was to lose all
.N' and even now. his Joy and pride
was contained In precisely those things
.nlch he must give up. II he decided
w. 'ear OF the mask Of hypocrisy; and
"' sei-respect was rising out of the
uu' OF what he never should have
done at all.
mnen he thought Of his worldly am
i@u0as' he was profoundly regretful
VIZ 1a' ne had talked professionally with
~. ~, cullen. To be sure. the matter
~ .ohe up casually and naturally,
.nu the opening had seemed too good
~. oe missed; at the same time, Hill
Is ,u couldn't help rejecting that It
ru oeen premature. 1t might prove,
=, mutually. to have been just the prop
\. yu'se 10 produce results; 1t might
w. uat Cullen would become 80 impa.
' 'hat he couldn't be restrained.
uu would leap without looking. and
.va. .ur'her than he Intended. and yet,
NM. SINCE that preliminary Interview,
hs hau known that he had made
UIeach In his own fortresses that
f,a' aau rendered 1t possible for an in
nt,oa Nahd logical enough) investi-
to va 70 begin, or for mild suspicion
-. 'e ana gain momentum before
n ''' devised the means of combating
in,,,a.a anu although HlllIard believed
n 80 IN the goods he had to sell,
/. t ev the difficulty of the market
h,..." s" now tlmorous IL the average
el,A. and he knew that there
M ~. sy very easily come a time at which
INA ansue would be remembered.
!, .u%embered adversely.
d by ~. ne was irrttat.
him t,e sas tone Of Harmon's letters to
t>p,I,.s. view York. Harmon was en-.
b,ss .., ana confident: he was rs-
nron.s s3urdily on HillIard To break
ayitsI,,..a a' acumsn Of the upstate
haN ~. but he thought that Hii.
V,asi NJ making haste too slowly; hs
mat oil Hilliaph r.~A.a - 4.