The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-06-06
UNMASKING
| DARRO
BY Evan Macpherson
Copyright, 1909,
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When Buxton, the English CORE
spondent. called that evening on Miss
Blanche Kershaw for the fifth time
in four days, he found Darro sitting
with her.
The two men were introduced, and
almost the first thing Buxton said was,
Il suppose you spell your name like
the Derreus at home-'the dauntless
Derreus.' they're called in my County
D-e-r-r-e-u."
1t was dark. and the three were gath.
cred on the porch of the kershaw res.
idence. where no artificial light served
TO reveal the breadth of the smile
with which Miss Kershaw greeted this
remark. Darro was a rather under
sized man, with eyeglasses. extensive
college antecedcnts and decided liter
ary tastes SO far as his conversation
might Indicate.
Il certainly do not" he said in his
habitual weary drawl. Life is roc
short. spell my name just as it is
pronounced-D-a -r-r-o-and | am far
from dauntless."
by Jove. how odd" said Buxton
81 was rather in hopes YOU might turn
out to be cousin of the Derreus OF
Derreuly Manor. | was born in that
neighborhood myself; names pronounce
ed exactly like yours. And there's an
old rhyme dating from goodness
knows when:
brand nor halbert lance nor arrow.
Checketh charge of dauntless Derreu
Then I'm quite sure | can't be Of
kim" Darro persisted I'm afraid Of
everything, from Mausers TO mice"
The hostess laughed.
AT least you ought to be ashamed
to make such a confession to Il British
er, Mr.. Darro. Think of our national
reputation
Il do. | think it brutal. Physical
courage, if it ever was desirable,
quality. lost all its recommendation
centuries ago"
by Jove." Buxton exclaimed. You
must pardon me if seem a little I'M
prepared for all this. You know was
a correspondent with your army at
Santiago
That was where you met our force
full friend Wicklcy." said Darro
ITO whom | owe the delightful priv
ilege of Miss Kershaws acquaiut-
ance"
You have every reason to be CRATE
full to Wckley; but, for all that, con-
slider him anAmerican of an objectional
type"
All of this Miss Kershaw seemed to
be enjoying in Il quiet way. Then they
talked OF other things till Darro left
them.
That's most interesting double
enigma" said Buxton, IAN American
ami Darro. you know"
Il hope you'll stay with us until you
find a solution of him. Mr.. Darros
ambition to be thought timid is notori-
Gus here"
Isn't it very singular ambition:"
Very. That may be the solution of
the enigma"
y pause, and then Buxton mustered
up courage to ask. Miss KcrShaw.
you couldn t-ah-feel interested in a
man like that?"
81 don't know. Brave men are so
common with us, and, you know.
rather likeexotcs"
Buxton hardly enjoyed the suspicion
that this girl found him interesting as
a rarity and that she valued the timid
Darro proportionately higher as lie
was the rarer Then, again. he felt
chilled at the thought that she could
possibly entertain a degenerate taste
for towards.
Buttons sojourn in the place was
uncertain. wire from his chief in
London might any day send him on to
San Francisco or back to New York.
so he made up his mind to ask Wick
ley about it that very night
This was easy enough, for they oc-
cupied rooms in the same hotel, but
hard on Wickley, who had just fallen
asleep when the Englishman's knock
caused him to dream that the place
was on fire. The interview was I'M
satisfactory to both parties, Buxton
only obtaining the assurance that
Darro was Il crank, with a forcible rec
ommendatiUn to go for further infor-
nation either to the man himself or to
the father of all lies, while Wickley
fell asleep again with the vague idea
that the correspondent was preparing
an article on The American Coward"
SO it came about that Darro. on his
way TO his uncle's law Office, was hail
ed by Wickley.
Say. Dauo, you want to let up on
that timidity poppycock of yours. All
very well to give home folks that old
song, but don't try it on an English
newspaper correspondent"
81 suppose you mean Buxton Has
be already told you of our conversation
last nght?"
Told me. He may have told it to
all the English 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"
Il suppose it was at Blanche Ker-
shaw's. He seems smitten In that
quarter, and know he was going
there last night"
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