Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-06-25
CHAPTER xl-continued.


ship as opponents. And wouldn't for
the world have agreed to it if it could
have had the slightest connection with
with your own private affairs.
It hasn't-it can't have. I give you
my word on that; it's been settled
without the slightest reference to any
thing else. But since it hasn't, and
since Rufus asked me as favor
and promised to tell you about it
and it's absolutely commercial"
That's enough. Pm glad you're
going to do it." billiards. voice was
gruff; it was tribute to his compan-
ions code Of ethics. "Know anything
about mining?"
"Not thing. But I'm to go to a law
firm in Butte-and of course it's only
formality, anyway. I'll probably find
it's better than you ever claimed. But
Rufe asked me-"
81 see. Well-now about this other
matter
Armstrong was watching the west
bound express as it felt its cautious
way through Railroad avenue to the
station.
"Yes?"
Hilliard was suddenly ashamed of
himself; ne was forced to concede that
his rival had the advantage of him in
poise and altruism He shook himself
free of the savage resentment which
was stealing upon him.
"We're only human-both of us.
Perhaps-under the circumstance
the best thing we can say is to say
nothing except that l wish you
all the luck in the world. don't pre-
tend it isn't hard thing to say-but
I'm trying to mean it. And you GER
tainly deserve it,
"And to you." said Armstrong cheer
fully. "And no bad feelings on either
side. And nope your mine makes
million dollars for you"
Thanks" said billiard, grimly. "Pll
need it. But don't be afraid to send
Rufus your honest opinion-will you?"
"No-and I'll send il. to you, too.
That's only fair. =. I'd better be
starting.
They shook hands again across the
wheel.
You're a good sport, Armstrong
don't think I've got any resent
ment left =. except bit that can't
quite swallow on short notice.
81 know. But you don't need to
worry, old man. Your futures bright
.enough-as l hope to wire Rufus about
Saturday"
Too late, Hilliard perceived that
they were talking at cross-purposes-
Armstrong was evidently thinking
about the mine. But there was time
only for last gesture of. farewell;
and Armstrong had disappeared in the
depths of the trainshed. Armstrong
the victor, and the inquisitioner
was on the road to Butte
Work, hard work. the panacea and
the salvation of those who are sore
distressed, even this cheapest relief
was denied billiard He was left alone
with his problem, wrestling with 1T
once more in the black darkness Of de-
spondency, and knowing neither
means of simplifying it, nor coun-
selor to whom he could turn for aid.
He conceded that there was only one
thing for him to do, and he intended to
do it, but he was harassed because he
had so much time to think about it.
Not since the frst sickening shock of
a
his own purpose; it was merely the
machinery of it which perplexed him.
His confidence in himself gradually
returned; he was abnormally calm and
determined; he had no more idea of
resisting his impulses than he would
his orders. The thing was there to be
done, and he, regardless of his own fu-
ture, was there to do it.
Overnight, he had occupied himself
with some elementary accounting.
With Harmon's check, his outstand-
ing balance for expenses, and what
money he could raise by selling his
runabout and a few personal possess
sions. he had on hand a matter of
ninety-six hundred dollars; Syracuse
had entrusted him with sixty-two thou
sand. To compromise pro rata with
his creditors-this was apparently his
only resource, and yet how insufficient
a reparation it was! He knew that 1t
had been his duty to investigate the
Montana property before he began to
exploit it he knew that his self-intro-
duction 10 Syracuse had been blatant
II inexcusable, and that not even the
fact that he had been carried away by
the drama of it could ever be excused.
His intricate fabric Of deception, now
that he inspected it from this different
viewpoint, was Enthusiastically. He
could be traced-if anyone cared 20
spend the time, and the energy. If
Armstrong-or Rufus Waring-cared
to spend it, for example. Of course,
there was always the refuge of flight,
but in Flanders, men learn not to de-
isert their posts, and Hilliard had
learned thak lesson among the first.
Loyalty to the cause of fighting had
grown automatic; flight was simply in
conceivable to him.
Yes, he could gather his resources
and place them, together with himself,
in the hands of his subscribers, and
their vengeance would be twofold
once fol- their loss out of pocket, once
for me loss cut of faith. He had de-
Il