IMTKkfliATlONAL PALLS PRESS ippWfPS^ -w Twinn fAGE THRE| to nave oeen just the proper eventually, to him, an echo of youth and glarinwa "I don't suppose it'll seem like a Rich-Qulck Wallingford, except that It The banker continued solemnly: course to produce results might which mocked him, derided him, .Indicted very important thing to you," he said, he was somewhat more refined and "You probably know a lot more be that Cullen would become so impa* him ... a translation of rather awkwardly, "but It's important less obese. His animation was obvious, about him than I do, then, but tient that he couldn't be restrained, The MAN just the the unutterable sadness which welled enough to -me, Mr. Hilliard, to be but he delayed to remove both and would leap without looking, and same, I wanted to make sure. That's up in his throat and choked him. worth taking time over—to be perfectly his gray suede gloves before he offered all." He turned, but Hilliard stopped lenp further than he intended, and yet. She was playing the "Liebestraum." frank with you. I've got five hundred to shake hands with Hilliard. him. e\er since that preliminary interview. NOBODY dollars I want to put in some "Well!" said Martin Harmon, effusively, "Well, what do you know about Hilliard had known that he had made His shoulders went up convulsively. high-class, gilt-edged speculation. Mr. "you're looking great! Must him?" a breach in his own fortresses that and he was chilled to the heart. Cullen gave me some pointers, and agree with you up here, what? Didn't "Before I answer that—is he a he had rendered it possible for an informal Liebestraum! It was a taunt, a savage KNEW now I'm interested in your copper expect me, did you?" friend of yours?" The question was (and logical enough) investigation cynicism, a challenge to his inward mine. Only—and this is where the "No!" Hilliard's expression was a too blunt to be diplomatic, and too suggestive to begin, or for mild suspicion self. The waves of it battered hitch comes in—I've sort of got Into study he had dealt so long with Harmon to be disregarded. to arise and gain momentum before his unresisting conscience the piercing the swing of the law, you know, and at a distance that he bad almost he had devised the menns of combating "Not exactly that he's a rather tenderness of it damned him, that makes men—well, what you might forgotten what the broker looked like. good acquaintance, though. In a business it. And although Hilliard believed By while it awoke his dormant passion, call judgmatical. You get so you want "Why didn't you wire me you were way only—what he is socially I implicitly in the goods be bad to sell, and set his will to vibrating. Liebestraum—and to look at everything from all four coming?" he knew the diihculty of the market don't know, and I don't think I much the dream of his love sides. And I thought maybe because "Didn't know It myself until pretty tie knew how timorous is the average care." O was a phantasm which his brain reeled Holworthy Hall of the—the attending circumstances— 4 near train-time—spur of the moment "So you don't need any advice about investor: and he knew that there 4* to contemplate! The lump in his you'd be kind enough to explain the Well, got any business yet?" 4 his business connections?" might very easily come a time at which throat came near to him. strangling 4 whole thing to me. Would you?" Involuntarily, Hilliard smiled, and bis harangue won Id be remembered, "Why, I think not." He was nettled It seemed to Hilliard that hours Hilliard, who didn't know whether the smile spread wonderfully, until i» Copyright fey OoM, Mwd OoApu U» and remembered adversely. by the banker's manner. must have elapsed before he had the to be touched or amused, compromised Harmon caught the contagion of it and 4 "The only thing about It," said the In this connection he was irritated strength to rise, and cross the room. by nodding gravely. beamed more royally than ever. "The by the tone of Harmon's letters to His brain was buffeted by wildly giddy vice president, nettled In his turn by "There's one thing I'll have to tell man you called the 'decoy duck'—remember passions he was only partly aware Hilliard's brevity, "is that if you'd said him from New York. Harmon was enthusiastic. you, though," he said "I don't advise when you wrote that to me?— SYNOPSIS. that Carol, trying to rise from the you didn't know him very well, I'd and confident he was relying any one to gamble in copper mines, or well, he quacked yesterday." bench, was wide-eyed and intuitive apprehension. have offered you some suggestions. I'd sturdily on Hilliard to break anything else, Waring, unless that Harmon put his hand on Hilliard's a at have expected you to thank me—I CHAPTER I.—In base hospital through the acumen of the up-state Volition had gone from person could actually afford to lose shoulder it was an accolade. Neullly, France, his (ace disfigured beyond really would. Under the circumstances. capitalists but he thought that Hilliard him he was acting without reserve, his Whole investment, and not be hurt. recognition, an American soldier "Really? How much?" without premeditation. was making haste too slowly he I can't very well go any fur- serving in- the French army attracts attention And in this particular case, since I "Thirty." For the life of him Hilliard opined that all Hilliard needed to do "Tell me!" he said thickly. "Have I by his deep despondency. Asked happen to control the situation, I won't couldn't resist a slight forward was to devote himself to a hard onslaught ^y the surgeons for a photograph to guide got a chance? One in a huudred? permit it. Does that hit you, or doesn't thrust of his chest them In making over his face, he offers against Mr. Cullen, and. after One in a thousand? But a chance?" it?" In derision a picture of the Savior, bidding Mr. Harmon's eyes glazed for an instant. that, to gather subscribers where he "Oh! Mr. Hilliard!" Her them take that as a model. They do The young man's mouth opened in chose. He said that Hilliard was plea was to his chivalry, and had to be. so, making a remarkable likeness. amazement. He had been priming "Good—good! That's clever work, wasting time, and ought to begin to "Tell me would I have himself to be a clever investigator, and son! Clever and quick. But I knew CHAPTER II.—Invalided home, on the collect signatures. Hilliard had mentioned. if I should share everything you—" to pick yawning flaws in Hilliard's underwriting, boat he meets Martin Harmon, New York you'd do it. Thirty! That's fine! in a moment of Indiscretion, One hand was pressed close to her broker, who is attracted by his remarkable and here his thunder was Anybody else?" the assistance which Angela had unconsciously breast the other was outstretched, defensive. features. The ex-soldier gives his stolen before he had had a chance to Hilliard laughed exultantly. name as "Henry Hilliard," and his home given him, and Harmon stake the aegis of his cleverness. "Yes, three more—a total of sixtytwo. as Syracuse, New York. He left there "Don't! Don't! Don't spoil what under a cloud, and is embittered against "Why—it isn't a gamble, is it? I I mailed you a draft yesterday was—" his former fellow townsmen. Harmon understood—Mr. Cullen said—" morning .the others are in my pocket makes him a proposition to sell mining "You'll have to answer me. ... I "It's safer to figure it as a gamble. now. I've just come from the bank." stocks in Syracuse, concealing his Identity. can't wait any longer. I'm not worth Waring. It's safe to figure all these He accepts it, seeing in It a chance "Great work, son!" Mr. Harmon your little finger and I know it. to make good and prove he has been underestimated. things that way. Of course, we think breathed rapturously. "That puts us but I want a chance just a fighting it's a wonderful prospect, and a prac- pretty nearly where we belong. Sixtytwo chance .... you've got to answer thousand! It's a running start for CHAPTER III.—In Syracuse "Hilliard" me, Carol ." (in reality Richard Morgan) is accepted the big race! You certainly didn't get as a stranger. He visits James Cullen, a She was trembling within reach of left at the post, Hilliard! Deducted former employer, relating a story of the him, but it never occurred to him to your commissions yet?" death of Richard Morgan, and is surprised touch her, and if it had, he would "No I thought you'd rather do the at the regret shown by Cullen and have refrained, out of sheer consciousness his youthful daughter Angela. While at bookkeeping in your own office and the Cullen home Carol Durant, Morgan's of his lack of right. His face, send me a check." former fiancee, makes a call. working tragically, awed her. Harmon's approval was manifest. "Yes," she said, hardly above a CHAPTER IV.—Hilliard repeats to Carol "You show me the drafts and I'lJ his story of Morgan's death and is deeply whisper. "There's one chance write you a check this minute. Let's moved by the evidence of her deep feeling in a thousand. There's that go sit down in the grill, and have for the supposed dead man. He resolves, much, anyway." something. This is fine work, now I however, to continue the deception. His arms went out to her—stayed— want to tell you!" dropped. He stepped backward, oul "I rather thought so myself." Hilliard CHAPTER V.—Next day Hilliard gathers of the danger zone. from Angela that Carol had always had led the way to the grill and Ahicej "Then I'll take it," he said. loved Dick Morgan, and while delivering commandeered a side-table. "In to her a letter supposedly from her former fact—" He lowered his voice. "In "But Wait a Minute!" fiancee realizes that his affection Is She had given him a chance, on an fact, as things have worked out, Mr. unchanged. His welcome by Doctor Durant, ther than this. Sorry I interrupted Implied condition which he could never Carol's father, also shakes his resolution Harmon, I almost wish I hadn't tried you." to continue the deception, but he meet. She h#d given him a chance— to play it just this way. I mean—" "No, but wait a minute! I—" conquers it. and what in the name of heaven could But- Harmon had already grasped The vice president's refusal was he do with it? the point. CHAPTER VI.—In Syracuse Hilliard Is firm and definite. "Oho! Is that so? You must have looked upon as a capitalist and mining "I can't say another word. Not another expert, and in that capacity, In pursuance CHAPTER IX. made a hit. And all your old friends one. If you know him, that's of his object. Interests Cullen in the possibility you were so het up about—weren't of wealth in mining properties. sufficient." And he strode away across From the marbled dignity of the they as peevish at you as you The Cullens and Hilliard go to the Durant the lobby, leaving Hilliard dumfounded. Trust and Deiosit company, where he borne for dinner. "Something's Troubling Y%y." thought?" had bought a New York draft for fifteen "No." Hilliard grew warm. "I'd give Mr. Harmon, smiling broadly, half tad appraised it highly but it angered thousand dollars, and smaller a good deal," he said soberly, "if I arose from his chair as the masquerader lim, when he saw this reference writ CHAPTER VIII. ones for ten and seven, Hilliard hadn't tangled myself up In all that came slowly back to the table ren down in Harmon's letter, to have emerged presently to South Warren Imitation history. Well, I'm in for it and sat down hard. her name brought into the instructions, For thirty days Hilliard had listened street, and stood there on the sidewalk now. I've published so much that I "Well," he said. "More business?" "You Don't Mean to Say It Isn't a eve by implication. Still had he to the eulogies of his secret self. He for a moment, numbed by the first didn't need to—I'm wondering how in Hilliard shook his head. Sure Thing!" aot invited this upon himself? had heard from a hundred sources the galvanizing consciousness of success. thunder I can ever get out of it when "On the contrary." His voice had in was in a dizzying quandary, then, same belief repeated, that Dicky Mor­ It He had come back resolved to win. tlcally positive success, but I don't the time comes. That was the idea, It a curious dullness which the broker Hilliard kept his next appointmeat that in his second trial, the position he had ihind telling you that so far I haven't you remember—coals of fire. What's was quick to catch. at the Durants*. The problem failed to approximate in his first he allowed a man who couldn't afford to bothering me is that there's nobody to "No bad news, I hope?" gan, given time and counsel, would had set himself a commercial stand lose his whole subscription—and didn't tend the furnace." "I'm not sure. Let's go on discussing have made the city as proud of him for had grown so many branches, sent understand very clearly that he might "But I thought you were so anxious the mine." forth so many tentacles of bewildering his intrinsic worth as it now was ard, and, gauged by it, he was advancing tp keep in the shade?" "Not much else to discuss, Is there? confusion, that he hardly knew proud of him for his military valor. rapidly, for today's trio of subscriptions, "Yes, but I didn't need to crawl la a It's the same old mine." He looked what to say, where to turn. His one This praise of Dicky Morgan had at —to come in for so much as a plugged added to Mr. Cullen's check Intently at Hilliard. "What's got into first stunned Hilliard after that, it consolation was that the miracle nickel. And that would apply to you, of yesterday (and Mr. Cullen had 'hole, and pull it in after me! Well, which had been performed upon him too." had exalted him still later, it had we'll wait and see. After I've gone a acted as though he had gained a personal you, anyway. In the last couple of minutes? abased his soul. He had longed, had given him a mask of impenetrable The law student gasped, Incredulous. victory in persuading Hilliard to little further—and of course, you know You've lost all your pep. You ceaselessly, during that third period calm. At least, he didn't have to wear accept it), made up a glittering total, I've hardly scratched the surface look as though you've seen a ghost." his forebodings on his countenance. of his introspection, to take the city "You don't mean to say It Isn't a yet—" a stupendous total apd already Hllliard's "Maybe I have," said Hilliard, with to his heart, to reveal himself, to answer And yet, almost the first words Carol sure thing?" earned commissions formed a "I know you haven't." The big man a short laugh. for Dicky Morgan's failures and said to him were: "Something's "Is any speculation? You see I'm tucked his gloves into his breast pocket sum to gloat about Despised as a "Well?" troubling you. Mr. Hilliard." to pledge himself anew to the achievement not working very hard to take your salesman, he had sold to four impartial and brought out a silver cigarette Hilliard regarded him with an odd which Dicky Morgan's friends He was momentarily demoralized, five hundred away from you, Waring." business men the commodity hardest case. "Have one?" Intermingling of respect and alarm. and came near showing it—tried to had prophesied and then he had been The boy scowled. "Thank you. And you might take in all the world to sell. Scorned The respect was a holdover from the pass it off with a laugh. overwhelmed by the recollection that for his behavior, he had made his "I suppose it's really too small for these drafts now three of 'em. Right? past—from the early Impression he he had made this course impossible. "Did I make it as plain as all that?" sales on the basis of a character which Good. Well—any developments?" you to bother with. Is that what you're had formed from Harmon's resplendent If he had only known that all his deceptions "No," she said, "it wasn't plain at hadn't been questioned since the day driving at?" "What?" Harmon tapped his cigarette offices In New York, and Harmon's all." were needless.! If he had of his arrival. His mind and his Hilliard smiled cordially. case in the palm of his left contempt for money. He had considered only known that Dicky Morgan could His laugh was remarkably hollow, muscles demanded action to relieve "It is, and it isn't From any one I hand. "Oh, you mean the mine?" his employer, at worst, a weakprincipled but he persisted in it. have come home, and been forgiven I the pressure of his spirits, he set off didn't know, I'd rather not touch it It Hilliard nodded. "Yes. Have you vendor of legitimate securities. What anguish he could have saved— "Why, how did you think of it. vigorously, swinging exultant. isn't a good plan, ordinarily, to have gone any further with the shaft yet? then?" and what repentance! And the problem On Impulse, he crossed the street a lot of small stockholders. But from Two or three of the more cautious men "Mr. Harmon," Hilliard said reluctantly, Was still the. same—should he "Just from your eyes," she told him. you—and if it isn't more than you for the purpose of patronizing a florist's, are holding back until something happens "I'm in a mighty awkward "What's the matter? Anything I could continue, safe In his masquerade, to where. Ignoring the conventional ought to risk—" with that" position. We can't afford to help straighten out for you? Or the goal he had set for himself, or Waring snatched at the straw. measure of the even dozen, he ordered let anything spoil this campaign, can "Shaft?" Harmon was puzzled. should he risk the worst, and salve couldn't I listen? That helps a lot, a prodigal armful of American Beauties "Well, seeing you're who you are, we?" "What shaft?" He placidly stowed his conscience by renunciation? sometimes—" She dropped her eyes, for Carol Durant. This done, and and I'm who I am, would you be willing away the drafts. "I'm not sinking any "Not If we can very well help it. and the color deepened in her cheeks. By far the most distressing factor in feeling very rich and Independent, he to give me just as much information new shafts at this stage of the game." What's bothering you?" "Isn't there anything I can do?" she this puzzle was his relationship to Carol rounded the righthand corner, and got as you would if I had twenty It was Hilliard's turn to be puzzled. "For over ten weeks now, I've been said. "Or.... that father could?'You Durant. He had seen her only half himself greeted by two citizens of times as much to put in?" "Why, I mean the old shaft on Silverbow building up a reputation—you know frighten me. ." a dozen times during the month, and standing and importance who, in hailing "Come up to the room," said Hilliard No. 1. Have you gone any what I've been doing you know how "I'm sorry. No, please don't never alone—the fates or Armstrong him, displayed a deference not impulsively and he was actuated further with it? I've told these people much depends on it. Your name hasn't think of it. I ought to be shot if I've had circumvented him—but he was ordinarily granted to the average resident solely by the obligation he felt toward we were just starting. That's right, been mentioned once I've been selling made you unhappy." head over heels in love with her again, of Hilllard's age. Would Hilliard isn't it?" all of Mr. Cullen's friends. this thing cm my own personality— The bitterness in his voice was and he sensed, from fugitive glances condescend to speak at the next meeting "You come along up to the room, and Harmon laughed noisily. holding myself out as the principal. acute and by paradox, it was caused and astray word or two on her part, and dinner of the Chamber of I'll show you everything I've got "Oh, that shaft! Don't you think Well, the man who called me outside mainly by her sweet concern for him, that she wasn't entirely averse to him. Commerce on France in wartime? Hilliard Will that do?" It's a little early to begin on that? just now—and he's one of the solid and his realization of how little he But what would Carol think If she would. And this Indication of At the last words the amateur detective Say, about ninety thousand dollars too banking crowd up here—he spoke of deserved It. knew that this grave and tender his new-won status fired him afresh. early?" had brightened. you as though he knew you. In fact— stranger was hiding behind the wraith "You always seem to be pushing the Logically enough, his swirling "I can't come now very welL But As Hilliard sat gazing at him In profound to be perfectly frank—he called me world away from you," she said, after of Dicky Morgan—it was a thousand thoughts followed a well-worn trail bewilderment a waiter slid up out there to ask me about you. Now. maybe I could run up this evening, If a pause. "Why do you, Mr. Hilliard?" times the worse! If she were ever which led him straight to Carol and I don't know what dealings you've that's all right for you." alongside him and coughed for his attention. truly In love with Henry Hilliard, It for the thousandth time he tried to ever had with him, or with anyone else "That'll be just as good Eight "I didn't know that I do," he said was Impossible I set a future date, depending on the up here, but it struck me that if there o'clock? Fine." He held out his hand. "Gentleman wants to speak to you dispiritedly. "And It would be a And then there was little Angela outcome of his mission here, at which is anything between you and Syracuse, Waring took it limply. outside, Mr. Hilliard. In .the lobby. queer thing for me to do deliberately, Cullen— he could confess, and ask forgiveness or any of Its fairly big men, perhaps Says it's important" "I'm afraid I'm causing yon a lot when I want your friendship more And In addition, there was the serious for his mummery, and simultaneously it would be better If I knew it You of bother," he said, "but it's a pretty "Oh!" Hilliard drew the back of than anything else I can possibly imagine—wouldn't business of making good hie was ask credit for his regeneration. see, this thing I'm selling is so darned big thing for me. ... I hope yon don't his hand across his forehead. "Tell It?" no longer Impelled to It by resentment, At this juncture, he was aware that personal—" him I'll come right out Will you excuse think it's anything personal ... I "But a woman," said Carol slowly, but rather by unadulterated ambition some one had arrested him. It was "Who was he?" Harmon's voice mean my not just taking It for granted—" me a moment, Mr. Harmon?" "almost always has to be a confidante this, too, he would see destroyed by Angela's youthful suitor. rasped. "Sure! Go ahead." The promoter before she becomes a friend. ." any admission of his deceit To continue "Oh—hello, Waring!" said Hilliard "Embree—of the Trust and Deposit "Not at all. Business Is business. sat back comfortably and gave him a They sat without stirring while the in the game was to lose his probity cheerfully. "How's crime?" company." Fll expect you at eight then." Hilliard wave of dismissal. Hilliard, his pupils clock ticked off a dozen seconds. Hilliard* to relinquish it was to lose all The student of law Unshed at the nodded good-humoredly and went "Oh, yes." Harmon smoked reflectively. narrowing, went out to the doorway. scarcely knowing what he did— else and even now, his Joy and pride lively salutation, which appealed to on north. A quaint intuition overcame "Yes, we know each other. A pace or two distant one of the vice and, If he knew, Indifferent—had put was contained in precisely those things him as a reflection upon the majesty him, and he glanced back over his What did he have to say?" presidents of the Trust and Deposit both hands to his forehead, as though which he must give up, If he decided of the bar. Also, his sense of humor Shoulder. Fifty yards away the lawstudent company—a friend of Cullen's and a "It wasn't so much what he said as to calm the vicious throbbing within. to tear off the mask of hypocrisy and was temporarily atrophied. was also glancing over his very good man to know—was loitering the way he said It I suppose you've Presently, and so quietly that he Ills self-respect was rising out of the "We don't handle criminal cases," shoulder, and Waring, having less of restively. had some disagreement with these people?" never heard her, Carol was gone—she mud of what he never should have he responded shortly. "Say, when can self-possession than the adventurer, "Hello, Hilliard," he said, wrinkling had slipped across the room, to the done at all. you and I have a conference together, blushed and' jerked his head to the his forehead. "How are you? Look "Some disagreement" admitted Harman, piano. When he thought of his worldly ambitions, Mr. Hilliard?" front Hilliard chuckled and, continued here, it's none of my business, of grinning. "These up-state farmers A breath of music, light, dreamy, he was profoundly regretful "Why, the sooner the Quicker," his strolL course, but I couldn't help wondering and I love each other like a couple caressing. ... that he had talked professionally with laughed Hilliard. "What's it aboutr He entered the Hotel Onondaga how much you know about that chap of strange bulldogs. Still—" And there, on the sofa where Dicky Mr. Cullen. To be sure, the matter Waring coughed. "Business." from the east and headed across toward you're sitting with. Don't be offended "If It Isn't objectionable to you," Morgan had sat, and smoked, and bad come up casually and naturally, The time to talk about business Is the news-stand. Out of a red it's a friendly question. Simply said Hilliard, hesitating, "I'd rather taken his happiness with the utmost and the opening had seemed too good all the time—Isn't itf end gold chair In the spacious lobby my Interest in you as one of our like to know a bit about it Mr. Harmon. to be missed at the same time, Hilliard nonchalance, sat Hilliard, in tensest a gentleman rose to meet him—a gentleman clients." Waring hesitated and finally stepped The subject might come up desperation of soul, strained to the couldn't help reflecting that It who in appearance was a very "Why, I know a good deal about Into the shelter of a doorway, drawing (Continued next week) tenuous melody which floated across had been premature. It might prove. replica of the well-known Qet- him." Hilliard with him. fair