rAur- ixu&r.]| directors?1" over "him, that the "Duranfs had asked ....s voO won't consider it 7t he saTcT ItTs decided not to try to' resyndicate Tier "Be had been trifling with neither "But suppose you cant find brokers 4 a number of other guests to dinner. too presumptuous—but—the other day 4 any stock, but to hold it herself nor Angela, and he walked a to—" Armstrong was waiting patiently in 4 ourselves for the long pull—everything's 77ieMAN good furlong before he could devise so HNItard gesticulated broadly. 4 the aisle, and keeping closer to Carol 4 put off for three or four weeks much as an opening sentence. At "Why, as a matter of fact, we don't 4 than Hilliard liked, and there was also anyway. I'm having a copy mailed to length he cleared his throat. fare very much if we don't! That's a bright-faced boy of nineteen or twenty I the house—there's some news In It I "I've just decided," he said, "that NOBODY the commoner method, and that's the who had promptly attached himself thought you might like to see." I'm growing old." way to get our money bp"k almost ni I to Angela—his name was Waring, and A "Good! That leaves you free, "Yes She was immeasurably sweet once, and then play on velvet. But il 4 he was the grandson of the patriarchal 4* doesn't it? You'll stay on with us instead of working through brokers and distant, and Hilliard's courage KNEW clergyman, with the head of Moses then? Don't say no. I insist on It!" faltered. we were willinjr to tie up our capitai and the spirit of youth, who presently !h 4 4 "No, I couldn't do that! It's awful "I have indeed. I've made a most: •l little longer, we'd make considerably came down to join the little group, and kind of you, but—" more money in the long rnn, as yoi touching discovery. Do I look complete it. So that altogether there "You talk to him, Angela!" laughed grandfatherly. Miss Durant?" fan plainly see. We'd advawe our were nine people who finally sat down Mr. Cullen. "You make him stay. "No I'd hardly say that." hundred and twentv thousand dollars By to table and Hilliard's dream of quiet 4* 4k You've got more Influence over him wait until dividends eould be declared He made a gesture of gratitude. 4* progress and harbored conversation than I have, anyhow. And don't you "You've earned my permanent thanks. «nd then sret the stock listed on the was shattered In a twinkling. dare to let him get away without a curb and hcr'n fn feed it out to the But I am growing old. How do I Holworthy Hall 4 It was all very homelike, and all 4 promise—understand?" He passed on, know? Didn't you ever read Leigh public through a fi^al agency. Tbere'd ,very friendly, but to Hilliard, sitting and left them together. Hunt?" be twice as much in it for us, hut we there between Carol and her mother, it "You walk along with me, sir!" said "Just a little." There was a trace wouldn't he in that perfectly rielightful the occasion was peculiarly acute. He Angela, imperially. "And you'd better Copyright fey OoM, Mead Company. lno of warmth creeping into her voice. po«dt'nn.of owning a lot of valuable had long since discarded any residue behave yourself—I'm fierce!" Hilliard held his breath: «!fooK- vh'eh literally hadn't cost ns of his active fears he was confident At the same moment that he looked anv^'nor Or. o^ course. we could offer in his disguise to the yearningly toward Carol, who up Bay I'm weary, say I'm sad some of the «!ares to our personal point of recklessness, for he had Say that health and wealth have missed SYNOPSIS. ahead by the doorway was already friends at a fair price, and reimburse covered the windings of the trail by an me captive to the wily Armstrong, young ourselves that way. Knowing that it's Say I'm growing old, but add— infinite variety of methods and yet Rufus Waring was glaring belligerently Angela kissed me! CHAPTER I.—In a base hospital at wofh trn ot-. fifteen, we wouldn't feel without having any tangible facts to toward Hilliard. Neuilly, France, his face disfigured beyond vory srii'lty about selling it to personal He had spoken the lines magnificently, grasp, he was subtly warned to remain recognition, an Amer|can soldier The masquerader smiled In defeat, "fnna'n^anros at eight or nine, would with the precise humor and on sentry duty over his poise. serving in the French army attracts attention then smiled with sudden realization of we? Why not—when we know for a by his deep despondency. Asked He was gratified that the conversation, pathos which go to make them immortal. the woman-child clinging to him., He by tho surgeons for a photograph to guide '•ertaintv that it ought to go tip to flfreen? after one natural enough eddy, "I'm glad she fits into the squeezed her arm out of sheer affection. th$K In making over his face, he offers They'd bless ns for it!" meter," he said thoughtfully, "because was whirled away from the vicissitudes derision a picture of the Savior, bidding "Rut the main point the staggering I can understand just how Leigh Hunt of Dicky Morgan, for he had talked them take that as a model. They do "Your gallant cavalier'll cover me thing about it. is—" his fill on that particular subject. For felt about Jennie." so, making a remarkable likeness. He Was So Close to Her That Their with horrid welts and bruises for "Ts that if the public gets ten or fifteen a time, he amused himself by watching "And—how do you think that was?" Sleeves Touched. this!" he said warningly. "Don't CHAPTER II.—Invalided home, on the per cent dividends." said Hilliard. "Very sensitive," said Hilliard, "and Angela and Waring playing their boat he meets Martin Harmon, New York make him jealous, now!" They were you spoke of Dicky Morgan as a very "or buys at ten and sells a few dollars perhaps a little repressed and—decrepit." world-old game across the table after broker, who is attracted by his remarkable now bringing up the rear of the procession dear friend of yours. Miss Durant, I higher, it thinks it's lucky and in the features. The ex-soldier gives his that, he paid a little polite attention He smiled reminiscently. "I in the hallway. want to do everything in the world I name as "Henry Hilliard," and his home meantime, the underwriters make'anything to Mrs. Durant, and to the clergyman suppose there are very few things in "I'll make 'em well again," said Angela. as Syracv»e, New York. He left there can for you, and he was my dear up to a thousand per cent, and and then snatching an opportunity unlooked life that make a man feel more mindful under a cloud, and is embittered against "I am a good nurse, aren't I?" friend as well as yours. I'm not disloyal jret it in a few months. And I've of his own crudity and general for, he gave his kindest smile his former fellow townsmen. Harmon He was convulsed by her air of conquest. to him, or to you, or to myself— makes him a proposition to sell mining known some of these syndicates to to Carol, and for an instant took the worthlessness than to have a child's but I should like more than I can ever stocks in Syracuse, concealing his identity. turn over in a few days." monopoly from Armstrong. And he spontaneous affection." It was the "By the old-fashioned method?" He He accepts it, seeing in it a chance tell you to feel that I had done my utmost testing venture. She looked at him "Oh. I want to do it!" said Angel? had hardly looked down once into her to make good and prove he has been underestimated. could hardly believe that this was the to take his place. No one can do sidewise. October-brown eyes before the mystery ecstatically. "I want to do it! Dad girl he had taught to climb trees, and that literally—I am not so vain—but I "More than if—if it weren't a Let's be a syndicate and go out to of his restlessness was as clear as make slingshots. CHAPTER III.—In Syracuse "Hilliard" feel, and I have felt from the time we child?" Montana until it's over! Come on' crystal, and Hilliard was thoroughly (in reality Richard Morgan) is accepted "I'll—" She stopped and blushed. met each other, Dicky would have dumfounded, and confused. Let's!" Hilliard laughed cheerfully a» "I think so." His tone was faultless. as a stranger. He visits James Cullen, a The others were all on the steps these wanted us to be friends." former employer, relating a story of the It had come upon him, a quarter of "A woman can make a man feel her. two were in the dusky vestibule. Waring death of Richard Morgan, and is surprised "That's—that's wonderfully thoughtful like Romeo, but it takes a very young an hour ago, as they exchanged their "Tn this particular case." hi? said, at the regret shown by Cullen and was fretting impatiently outside. of you," said Carol, softly. "And girl to make him feel like Launcelot— first superficial sentences, that he was his youthful daughter Angela. While at "the syndicate's about half formed "Would you?" asked Hilliard. He and I think he would have wanted at my age." the Cullen home Carol Durant, Morgan's lonelier than he had ever imagined, IVothing final, but it's pending. And il intended only to tease her but all at that ... if he'd known. ." Her former fiancee, makes a call. "She is adorable. Isn't she?" His but he hadn't realized, until this immediate is good—so good that 1 doubt if any once her head came up, and he could eyes were suspiciously dim and Hilliard's heart jumped at her cordial acceptance contingency, that this sensation 'ayman could break into it with a colt1 CHAPTER IV.—Hilliard repeats to Carol see that her eyes were big and soft loneliness dissolved into a of his statement. "Only—she's had carried over until now. He his story of Morgan's death and is deeply chisel." Again, he excused himself or* and frightened. She was hardly seventeen, great spasm of longing which held seventeen, Mr. Hilliard." moved by the evidence of her deep feeling was prevented, by the very limits of tlif ground of salesman's license. "Bur and to Hilliard she had never for the supposed dead man. He resolves, him and shook him and left him weak the project which had brought him "I know," he said gravely. "And that's the fundamental. Mr. Cullen— ceased to be the child of two years however, to continue the deception. with impotence that's why I'm so conscious of my here, from releasing any of his sincere that's how the thing is done, and that's ago. He bent and kissed her her "Then I'll stay in Syracuse," he said own senility. Because all that beautiful thoughts he hadn't comprehended, until how the public carries the whole burden lips were trembling, expressive. CHAPTER V.—Next day Hilliard gathers abruptly. "Provided—provided you innocence and Ignorance is he had learned the truth just now of financing, and doesn't know from Angela that Carol had always "Now we've got to hurry," he said. won't be offended if I do have to want doomed, Miss Durant—who knows by actual experience, that loneliness it." loved Dick Morgan, and while delivering "Come, dear!" to know you for yourself—just a little that I'm not the very last person to $s nothing but an aggravated state of to her a letter supposedly from her former He assumed an attitude of easy unconcern. It was the tone he would naturally selfishly. I'm afraid that isn't very see It? Today, I'm only a much older fiancee realizes that his affection is self-repression. Never In all his life, Angela, her breath coming use to a child, but he had an uneasy unchanged. His welcome by Doctor Durant, clear—it's difficult to separate it—but man, some one she likes tomorrow, not even when he had lain for months rapidly, was regarding him with awestruck feeling that he had used it to a woman. Carol's father, also shakes his resolution you see—" I may be a man without the 'only,' in hospital In France, had he been as eyes. Mr. Cullen, his mouth to continue the deception, but he Children's lips aren't expressive. "Don't try to explain," she said, subdued. lonely as today, and at this moment, and the more she liked me, the less conquers it. drawn to a perfectly straight line, was And he had another intuition—still "I know how hard all this must she'd show it. But there's been when he was surrounded by people he cause tneyve got a selling organization gazing spellbound at the orderly array more upsetting to him—which was be for you—and I think perhaps you mighty little of that sort of thing for knew intimately, and when he was enjoined already established, and plenty of of figures on the envelope. need my friendship as much as I need from sharing In their community me in the last few years from anybody, ustomers who look to them for advibe) "And this—is a genuine mine?" he yours." of mind. and I do appreciate It, and I'm and It's agreed that they'll pay managed presently. Before he could reply, there was a not ashamed of it. either." Carol, looking up at him with what us—say, four dollars a share for what "In my opinion, it's a very wonderful flutter of indescribable gracefulness "No," she said, "you couldn't be. wasn't exactly a smile, but was at they think they can sell. The brokers prospect," said Hilliard, and he believed before them. Angela was courtesying least a cousin to it—that well-remembered You're too human." She smiled at then do some advertising, send out every word of that solemn statement. in mock obeisance to the floor. Behind flash of sympathetic interest— him, and he was transported at the their circulars and bulletins and her, Waring was watching her possessively. Carol spoke to him under cover of the proof of her sympathy. "If I were in pamphlets to their customers, and sell Mr. Cullen folded the envelope, and general conversation. your place, I'd want to feel the same that stock to the public for anywhere then suddenly, as though too cautious "If your majesties will wake up half "A penny for your thoughts!" she way about it." from six to eight dollars a share. That to betray his profound absorption a second," she said, "everybody's going proffered. He thanked her in his heart. He is, the public is glad enough, when the (which he had been betraying frankly to walk up around the Sedgwick farm "They aren't worth It," said Hilliard. had saved both Angela and himself, prospect's a good one, to pay seven or for at least twenty minutes), tossed it tract to get some fresh air. Coming?" "I was thinking about myself." and held his pristine advantage. eight dollars (because every share's back to Hilliard. He continued to regard her steadily, As they stood together, drenched But there was no disputing the fact going to be worth ten) for what cost "When you've got a syndicate that'i! and he was alarmed to discover that with regret for the confidences that let me in for say, thirty cents," he that he had made an active enemy of the broker four dollars, and cost us might forever remain unsaid, a maid he was losing one of the abilities 1 Waring, and an alert rival out of one dollar—which we've already got said, with elaborate humor, "just pass which had made him so sure of himself. appeared in the doorway. Armstrong. He smiled grimly as he back from the brokers, and we've still along the good word, will you?" He continued to hold that she "Please, ma'am," she said breathlessly, "I never try to do business with my looked at the man ahead. got the half of those 120,000 shares of "it's the Western Union—for had treated him shabbily, mercilessly ours left besides! So here's the final friends." said Hilliard, with the most "Mr. Armstrong seems to be very Mr. Hilliard." but notwithstanding that, as he gazed balance sheet!" He hastily totaled delicate touch of reproof. nervous," he said. "Not that I can at her, and perceived the sweet naturalness "Right in my study," called the doctor, the list, and handed it over to Cullea. blame him for wanting to be in my "A good principle, too, but—" Mr. which was developing out of hurrying. "Just across the hall. place. On the contrary, I'm sorry for Cullen glanced at his watch. "It's dinner Capitalization $2,000,000—200,000 shares at last week's shock, he was secretly perturbed. There you are!" and ushered him into him." time, and more too. We'd better *10. In spite of himself, he began the sanctum and considerately closed "That shows a very good disposition," get along up to the house, or the first ,ck paid to individual to see, as though by camera obscura, the door. she said demurely. owners 80,000 shares thing you know, we'll have servant dim visions of the past he was Stock' sold to syndicate for Despite the urgent summons which troubles in our midst. And you didn't "Perhaps it does, and perhaps It 1120,000 120,000 shares righteously annoyed that they should the average person feels under such doesn't. I believe every man owes it bring up that subject anyway—I rise to torment him, and still the visions circumstances Hilliard was astonishingly brought it up." He took Angela's arm to himself to get what he wants. If Total 200,000 shares came. tardy in sitting down to the receiver. Of our 120,000 shares paternally. "Just as a matter of fact," he does, he's a success if he doesn't— We sell to brokers 30,000 shares "But after all that you've been For one thing he was still it's his own fault." he said, clearing his throat. "As a through." she said, "I should think vibrating from his recent stress of As he said this, they came abreast matter of fact, Mr. Hilliard—where-, Leaving 90,000 shares your thoughts about yourself would passion for another he knew pretty We give brokers a two year abouts did you say this property is of the others, and Armstrong, who be extremely interesting!" option at 15 apiece on 20,000 shares certainly what the message was going had heard the final sentence, whirled located?" He Had Been Observed. "I'm afraid they're rather gloomy, to be, and for a third, he was somewhat toward Hilliard. Leaving 70.000 shares Miss Durant, whenever they touch on emotionally under the spell of that he had been observed. For on the "Regardless of methods?" he demanded. We pay lawyers, experts etc. 10,000 shares Shortly after dinner Angela, who what I've been through. And when the doctor's room. Hilliard had spent threshold of the outer door Carol and had fled to the telephone in answer Leaving 60,000 shares anything like this gathering here today a hundred hours in it—pleasant hours, Armstrong and Rufus Waring, as "Why—to some extent," laughed to a peremptory summons, came back builds up a comparison. I'm so that involuntarily yielding to its though turned back to inquire into the "And that balance of 60,000 shares," Hilliard. "Why not?" complacent. sorry, but I can't always master it." kindly atmosphere, and all that the atmosphere cause of Hilliard's and Angela's delay, he said, "belongs to us three. The Armstrong delayed, so that the two "Dinner at the Durant's on Sunday." "You mean the difference between a implied, he took time to survey were standing. brokers are making a market and establishing men were a few paces behind the rest she announced. "All three of us. family over here and a family over all four walls before he took up a price and in order to protect He could not tell, of course, whether of the group. "Is that your regular Very quiet, Carol said. So I accepted there?" the receiver. And after he had listened they had actually seen him. It was themselves, they can't afford to creed, Mr. Hilliard?" —and that means you've got to stay "Exactly," he said. "Down to the to the telegram, and ordered a let the stock sell under the price possible that in the dusk of the hallway "My creed Isn't composed of words, with us two days more anyway, Mr. last detail—what we eat, and where copy mailed to him in care of Mr. Cullen, he had escaped certainly there Mr. Armstrong, but of actions." they're charging the public—because Hilliard. Do you mind very much?" we live, and what we talk about, and he took time to survey those walls was nothing in the manner of any one if they did, the public wouldn't buy up They had spoken so quietly that no "Mind!" Hilliard had risen half what we think about—everything." again, more closely and this was the rest of what the brokers have to of the three, when Hilliard joined one perceiving them would have remotely out of his chair. His tremendous "I've thought of that, too," she said partly for their Intrinsic significance, them, to convince him one way or the sell, but they'd buy it in the open market. suspected that a challenge had yearning to see Carol again, and his soberly. "But I'll have to confess that and partly because his feelings were So the brokers protect the market. other. But he knew that he was in a beeq offered and accepted. violent reaction at the prospect, had It wasn't until you came—it wasn't so fresh and tender that he dreaded to by what's considered perfectly critical situation he knew that to any "Actions do speak louder, of course." greatly influenced his voice, which was until after that first night at Angela's return at once to the gathering which, legitimate means, although some folks reasonable person who had seen him "Mine," said Hilliard, "will give you strident, explosive. The Cullens were —that the great difference came home as a whole, couldnt be expected to defer at that spontaneous little outburst of call it manipulation, and they keep the no offense. But—I generally get what laughing aloud at his confusion. to me. It's made me feel that it's almost to them. His eyes fell upon the sentiment, his motives wouldn't appear price up by main strength until the I want." "He's blushing!" crowed Angela. wrong—almost unendurable— doctor's desk, wandered and suddenly first dividend is paid, and after that to be very opaque. "So do I Shall we shake hands on "Look at him! Look at him!'* that we should be so warm and comfortable, focussed hard and piercingly. He they don't have to worry, because now No, the manner of those three who It?" Armstrong was very affable, but Indeed, he was crimson to the temples. and well-fed, when over on went over to the desk and slowly put erybody sees what a good thing it is, had stood on the threshold was astonishingly tremendously In earnest. Sunday—forty-eight hours! How .the continent well, I wonder out his hand and lifted up a small photograph and flocks in to take advantage of it, casual. Perhaps too casual. "With pleasure. I can count on he had spurned her!—and how he had whether we won't have to pay for this in a metal frame. and the quotations jump up to twelve Hilliard frowned, and tried to your generosity, I see." suffered from that moment until now! some time?" "Well, I'll be darned J" said Hilliard, or fifteen. Everybody's made money glimpse their various expressions. Ah "And I on your courtesy." To see her again merely to see It was at this juncture that Mrs. just above a whisper. The turning of the brokers have made theirs the public's Waring, striding stiltedly ahead, had "Thank you." He went complacently her! Business was business, and the Durant rose and Hilliard, with keen the doorknob roused him he wheeled making theirs, and when the price thunderclouds on his forehead, and as forward but inwardly he was farce must go on no matter what foresight, cannily guided Carol after with the photograph still in his .hand. Is right the syndicate sells in open for Carol steeped in perturbation. The man else happened, he must hew out his her mother into the living room, made "Hello!" said Doctor Durant, cheerfully.. market the 60,000 shares it had left, She turned to speak to Armstrong, was so deadly sure of himself. Could success he had ceased to love her, for a familiar piece of furniture and "Get your message all right? and you and Angela and I have each and Hilliard knew. it be that he was tacitly engaged to and he had come prepared for guerilla pre-empted it it would seat two people, What's that you've found? Oh, yes— made a quarter of a million dollars For the remainder of the first stage Carol, In spite of what Angela had warfare .. but to see her again! To and no more—there wasn't the Dick's picture." without really risking a single cent! of that walk, he spoke not a word to surmised, or so nearly on the road to hear her voice! To watch that smile slightest use in Armstrong's loitering Hilliard swallowed hard, and found Because, as I said, we got our money Angela, who trudged along by his side an understanding with her that Hilliard of hers, anfl remember the team she disconsolately in the neighborhood it that his voice was queerly out of control. back right at the beginning." with God knows what tumults in her was only making a fool of himself? had shed for Dicky Morgan! had a maximum capacity of two. Furthermore, Angela, who had followed the intricacies bosom. He thought not of Angela, nor Sunday—-forty-eight hours! it was removed by several "It's—it's the same one—" of the setup with the liveliest concerned himself with the storm he Armstrong laughed gently. It was The Ciallens were still laughing at feet from the nearest listening post. "Yes—it's the same as the one yon Interest, turned pale and Cullen's jaw had stirred within her. He was absorbed like a dagger thrust in Hilliard's him, and In Angela's soprano there He was so close to her that their brought back. I've had it there ever sagged. Hilliard, returning his fountain solely with the puzzle which heart. was a note of feminine resentment, but sleeves touched he looked into the since he gave it to me." pen to his pocket with the utmost iky before him, which was to detach (Continued next week) Hilliard's ears were suddenly atone beautiful eyes which were so clear, so He took it gently from Hilliard's nonchalance, had no more apprehenworld Carol as soon as possible, and to explain deaf, unsuspecting and his will swayed replaced It on the desk. "How hand himself. Otherwise, his reputation at large—Cullen coughed raspingly. perilously. Had he prepared so long that boy would have made good if he was ashes even now. Washington.—Fifteen days field CHAPTER VII. had lived!" said the doctor, in an un­ And, to his unbounded joy, the op* It's a very pretty picture, but sup* training and not to exceed four days' and savagely for his requital, only tb portunity came soon—at the end of pose the market never goes up?" special instructions for officers and Since Friday night, Hilliard -shad dertone. "Well—they're waiting for lose his impetus at almost the first "It will as soon as there's a dividend selected enlisted men are provided in lived only for Sunday his whole existence us." glance of those brown eyes? He reflected the road, where the party halted for a In sight that's Inevitable. And even this year' national guard training program had been turned to Sunday, and Hilliard, following him outside, encountered that there was nothing to prevent moment, to take a referendum as to If It stays pegged at seven or eight, which has just been made publie when at last the morning dawned, his the two Cullens in the hall, him from being a good salesman, the route. Armstrong strayed a yard there's a huge profit for us, Isn't by Major General Carter, chief of greatest fear was that he might not and at sight of his florid host, he collected and from renewing his predilection for or two .too far, and on the instant Hilliard 7* there the militia bureau. General Carter live until dinner-time. his wits, and resumed his part Carol at the same time. The Idea of was at Carol's elbow. She said "But suppose there's never a dividend?" recommended, in view of the present On reaching Carol's side, he was in the play. courting her again, in his false character, nothing, nor did he but when the state of appropriations, that encamp* both awkward and incoherent and he was highly dramatic. "Oh!" he said. "I—I—that was from march was resumed, he was beside her ments be held before July 1, hut said "Don't we know there will be? failed to derive encouragement from one—that was a telegram from the "I know you won't misunderstand —and beating his brains for an introductory funds probably would be available to Didn't I _say we contrpl the board of the realization .gradually stole manager _of the syndicate,. Mr. Cullenj .Which fiie," he said, his heart shaking, jland remark. He had to convince hold them after that date. i* "-VS& it- -it, Jssi