The Ely miner., 1920-05-07
BY HoLwoRTHY HALL
billiard neryously addressed himself


Miss Durant-that eventually he'd
have succeeded in Syracuse?"
II never doubted It," she said 10y
ally.
And then the three of them fell ST.
multaneously to musing, and for the
space of minute or two there was
quiet; the sort of quiet which comes
just after the benediction. 1t was the
benediction which Carol had bestowed
upon wretched sinner who sat there
| wondering how he could ever escape
from the tolls of his own cleverneSs.
SLOW long are you to De in town,
Mr.. Hilliardw inquired the doctor, ir-
relevantly,
''That I can't say, sir. had no
other errand than this"
you've never been here before?
That is, you haven't friends here?"
He had expected this question and
prepared for it.
Several years ago." he said casual
ly, II came to Syracuse half dozen
times one winter-on business. / sup
pose could find my way around even
now, if had to. But comparatively
speaking, I'm stranger"
you're business man, Mr.. Hill
liard?"
81 told you he was, DEAR" said
Carol.
Hilliard nodded.
"YeS, Doctor Durant. That isl
was. / have no business connections
now. That's why my plans are so un-
certain"
Again heavy silence. Hilliard was
cursing the impetuous haste which had
caused him to lie himself into an in
vulnerable network.
"Fm sorry" said the doctor, rising
abruptly, "but I've consultation at
half-past twelve. Thank you again,
Mr.. Hilliard, for coming to Us; you've
lightened my heart tremendously.
hope we shall see you again before
you CO."
II hope so," said Hilliard, DULY. He
was whipping his brain to find way
out; but how could he explain those
manifold, cruel falsehoods which once
he had thought to be his retributiOn?
The doctor gave him cordial smile,
a parting pressure of the hand, and
went out directly, leaving the two
young people quite alone.
Hilliard, impelled to go and equally
constrained to stay, fidgeted in his
vacillation. He was uncomfortable
and unhappy, yet curiously enough he
had no inclination to depart. He as
sured himself that he cared not the
snap of his finger for Carol Durant; on
very presence; still he fingered, wish
ing that he hadn't stultified himself.
"And you really came all the way up
here just to be kind to us?" she said.
"Just to be kind to Dick" he cor
rected.
Carol was winking hard; Hilliard
sprang to his feet. He could never
bear to see woman cry; IT. was i'm
material to him who she was, or what
the circumstance; he was powerfully
affected-distraught. His single aim
was to console her-it was q selfish
aim designed primarily to relieve him
self.
"But it's easy to see," he said des-
perately, "why he was so anxious to
have me come. I. 1 have twice
as many reasons to envy him now,
Miss Durant., /. really have And
:. and. unlike your father, can pity
him, too, for"
"Oh!" she said, smiling tremulously
up at him through the misty veil of her
tears. "But y-you see, Mr.. Hilliard
you're quite mistaken 1
=. I wasn't pitying Dicky; 1 was
pitying mel"
He bit mis- lip sharply No reproach
could have gone deeper.
'That was your letter, you said?"
"Oh, yes" she said. "It c-couldn't
have been for anyone elsel Thank
you so much =. for bringing it :"
He was trying to analyze the emo
tions which stirred him. He had told
himself over and over again that his
love for her was numb; and yet here
he was :. unsteadily balanced =.
tormented by her grief and Iy-
ing to her in the next sentence-to
protect his previous lies, and to give
to her what comfort he could.
II want you to have his war cross,
Miss Durant {. think it belongs |
to you more than to anyone else. |
. :" He stopped and stood irreso- |
lutte; for she had broken down COM |
pletely. He watched her and slowly |
the blood burned In his cheeks! He |
tried to order his thoughts. to select |
his action if he still loved her, |
he was there to console her; il not |
+. he ought in all humanity to con-
sole her just the same, even if it took |
another of those inexcusable decep-
tions. For an instant he was on the |
point of succumbing to wild impulse |
to blurt out the truth and take the
consequences
He started; for she had motioned |
to him-motioned him away. He hes
itated -. was it love, or repentance.
or only his disquiet to see d woman
cry? She motioned again, hysterical-
iy -.
Hilliard's brain snapped; Syracuse
had sung his praise too late. The doc
tor with his isms and dissections was
too late-Carol herself was too late
with tears. His jaws came together;
he glanced at her once more and then,
in obedience to her gesture, he turned
and tiptoed quietly from the room.
The front door closed quietly behind
him Tho DANGER of Snconnnhinn -.