The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-05
UNMASKING
DARRO.
= Evan Ma cpber4seo.

correspondent was preparing an article on
1.-THE American Coward
So it came about that Darro, on his way to
his uncle's law office, was hailed by Wickley
Say, Darro, you want to let up that
timidity poppycock of yours. All very well
to give home folks that old song, but don't
try it on an English newspaper correspond
ent Il
II suppose you mean Buxton. Has he all
ready told you of our conversation last
. night?"
Told me! He may have told it to all tho
Engllsh newspapers by this time. He woke
me up at midnight to ask me if it were true"
For a moment Darro looked pale enough
for his favorite part
DID he tell you where we metz"
suppose it was at Blanche kershaw's.
| He seems smitten in that quarter and know
| he was going there last, night
Darro managed to recover his meek pose
"You know, Wick1ey, I don't think much Of
physical courage
All right, then. I only hope Buxton will
\ mention your name in his story We don't
want the whole city to get that sort of repu-
tation."
Darro was disturbed. His uncle noticed il
| when he entered the office and demanded tha
| cause.
There's an Englishman here'-
| Before he could finish the door of the onter
| office opened, and Buxton fresh and cheer
| full, entered. Darro was with him in moment
! showing most abnormal eagerness for tha
| meeting
ooh, here you are!" said Buxton you'll
pardon my coming here during business hours
won't you? I've got to start for California
| this evening-Wire from London just reached
me-but before I go I want YOU to tell me
1--WE English newspaper men like to be accu-
rate and fulD where you were during the
Spanish war;
81 was in the law school of western uni
versity when the war began, said Darro.
michigan, Ell? Thanks. Enlisted in the
Michigan volunteers under the name of Dobbs.
Remember the day you sneaked out from
under cover and brought in that wounded
boy when the sharDshooters were swarming
| in the mango trees?"
| Judge Mason was by this time an attentive
4 listener to the conversation. The Office boy
also listened and capped
my name is Darro, Mr. Buxton said the
pattern of peacefulness, struggling with him.
self.
''But it used to be Dobbs in 1898, just for
few weeks. 1t will make an awfullv pretty
story for my paper. Odd 1 didn't begin to
think of the resemblance until
You're not going to put my name in the
, paper?''
"Story won't be any good without it. Brand
nor halbert-'"
Before. the Engishman could repeat any
more of the ancient rhyme Darro had him by
the throat 1t might have ended in strangu-
t lation had not the others interfered.
' ooh, the whole thing is clear now beyond
the shadow of a doubt said Buxton when
he saying goodbye to Blanche kershaw
+ that afternoon. First 1 began to think of
the likeness last night lying awake. When
saw him this morning it was palpable. Then
: when he few at my throat-doesn't weigh as
t much as by thirty pounds-why, that settled
k it, ~
o "For you, dare say, said Blanche. For
me there nothing to SETTLE
d ''You never believed all that talk Of his %
= "Of course not. Still l. all Of US. ought
: to be very grateful to you for unmasking
e ! him.
+ tAnd what do I get?'' the Englishman
: asked.
:, "My sincere thanks. Sorry, have nothing
RI better to offer"
Z ''The exposed impostor gets the higher re-
Y ward. Is that iustice?"
e II don't know. Bon goyage!'