The Irish standard., 1920-04-10

~" TT0S IllSQU0W
"That's Al ! Want-Timel"
tain his mood of arrogant conquest.
and 1t was imperative for him to main-
tain it. inaslnucll as his first ordeal
was so soon to come. More than that
he had an ancient grudge against this
hostelry. for it had successfully de-
clincd to continue his credit, refused
to honor his checks. and. toward the
last, had politely suggested that he
refresh himself somewhere else. Ore
Of his most CALLING memories was con-
nected with this very entrance; his
cheeks grew hot as he fought the
vision down.
"Now!" said Hilliard. on the outer
threshold.
He knew, from meticulous study and
practice, the full effect of his manner,
which was distinguished, patrician. He
knew the almost irresistible magnet
ism which had befallen him by acci-
dent. He had been prepared-in his
own imagination-for the battery Of
interest which was promptly trained
upon him. And yet as he pursued HE
luggage toward the desk, he faltered In
his pride. he felt az though the sor-
rowful eyes Of all Syracuse were riv.
eted upon him; the well.recalled sur
roundings unnamed him, and he was
impelled to halt. lift up his hands IN
token Of surrender. and to cry ont:
"T'his Is not I This is not II Il 10
the man I might have been-if you
and had understood each otheri"
So great was his anguish that In that
moment he honestly believed that It
was the equal fault Of the city, and Of
himself. that he had gone forth dis
credited.
Behind the desk stood clerk and
billiards heart tripped-the manager
who had rendered him the ultimatnm.
billiards. pen split q blot of ink on
the register: his ears were tuned for
the speech Of recognition which would
blast his dreams Of triumph, and send
him of again In multiplied disgrace.
"Yes. sir" said the clerk with ex-
treme difference. land about what
price. sir?"
The manager, who had been scrutin.
izing Hilliard intently, whispered
something to the clerk; the clerk bit
his lip and looked up sharply; the
prodigal WINGED. and stiftened. "Par-
lor C-ten dol'ars?' asked the clerk.
"very comfortable room. sir :.
Front"
The manager. as HIlliard retreated.
said impaticntly to the clerk: whats
the matter with you. Jimmy, anyway
Don't you know how to size up man
yet? Don't ask man like that what
he'll have-tell 'eln what we've got !"
Upstairs. Hilliard went limp from
the reaction. He had doubted what hs
knew-and this was proof Of his lack
of innocence. But the manager-who
two years ago had called him by his
first name-tl,c manager had looked
him full in the face, and made not the
faintest sign Of recognition! ell a
It was in improved confidence, then,
that he went down to dinner and de-
liberately chose central seat ip tho
most popular Of the three available
rooms. He was actively eager to be
observed; now that he had passed his
first examination. he craved test after
test; no inquisition could be too
urgent for him. And at the nearest
table sat business man he knew, and
a girl he knew; from their matter-of-
fact attentiveness. he Judged that they
had been married during his absence;
they gazetl interminably at him. but
only In admiration. He mentally
checked of his list-that made q trio
Of old acquaintances who failed to
know him. Facing him, q dozen fest
away. sat man who had been Hil-
'liard's employer for an ep0chal SIX
weeks-this man. too. was obviously
interested. but unenIightened. FOuri
A dinner party, comprising SIX girls
and six young men. filed gayly past
him; every one Of the twelve he had
known well. some Of them intimately:
they looked down at him in passing,
and, without exception. went on IN
Ignorance. A tiny roseleaf of a girl
was rather noticeably attracted. 70
him; she spoke TO her partner. who
turned. and stared, and nodded in the
bored fashion Of any escort to- whom
. handsome stranger is pointed out:
and Hi'liartl could have laughed aloud
at the irony Of the incident They
had known each other for dozen
years. thai girl and Hilliard; IN ths