The new age. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?, 1902-09-27
tJNMASKING
DARRO
By Evan Macphers'
Copyright, 1909,
BJ The =. s. Mcclure Company

When Buxton, the English core I
spendent.- called that evening on MSS '
Blanche Kershaw, for the fifth the
in four days, he found Darro sting
with her. L,
The two men were introduced. no
almost the lirst thing Buxton said VAS
81 suppose you spell your name Ike
the Derreus at home-'the dauntess
Derreus, they're called in my coury-
D-e-r-r-e-u."
| II was dark, and the three were 9Th
cred on the porch of the kershaw 'es-
idence. where no artificial light seEed
10 reveal the breadth Of the saile
with which Miss Kershaw greeted his
remark. Darro was a rather unier-
sized man, with eyeglasses, extenive
college antecedents and decided ter
ary tastes. so far as his conversation
might indicate.
81 certainly do not" he said In his
habitual weary drawl. Life is toe
short. | spell my name just as is
pronounced D-a-r-r-o-and am far
from dauntless."
, "Rv love. how odd said Buxon.
az was rather i'm hopes YOU might Urn
, out TO be a cousin of the Derreu' OF
Derreuly Manor. | was born in hat
, neighborhood myself; names prOnomc-
ed exactly like yours. And there'san
old rhyme dating from goodness
! knows when:
"Brand nor halbert, lance nor arrow
Checketh charge of dauntless Derreu
4 ssThen I'm quite sure can't lie OF
kin" Darro persisted. I'm afraid or
, everything. from Mausers to mice
e The hostess laughed.
e "At least you ought to be ashamed
= to make such confession to n British
= or. Mr.. Darro. Think of our national
$ reputation"
|. 81 do. | think il brutal Physical
/. courage. if it ever was desirable
/ quality. lost all its recommendations
centuries ago.
.'By Jovew Buxton exclaimed. You
u must pardon me If | seem little IN
:. prepared for all this. You know | vas
g a correspondent with your army al
Santiago"
THAT was where you met our force
full friend Wickley." said Darro.
= ITO whom | owe the delightful pEV
u ilege of Miss Kershaw's acquant
= ance.''
% "You have every reason to be grgte
d full to Wickley: but. foI all that con
lie slider him an American of an objectona
+ type"
Re All of this Miss Kershaw seemed I
III be enjoying in a quiet way. Then the
lie talked of other things till Darro lei
them. =,
OF That's most interesting doubl
ar enigma" said Buxton. IAN Amerlca
e. and q Darro you know"
er 81 hope you'll stay with US until 20
ne find a solution of him. MIR. Darro
ambition to be thought timid Is motor
IN Gus here"
TO isn't II Tery singular ambitonT'
IT. Every. That may be the solution
the enigma"
al A pause. and then Buxton muster'
ift mn courage to ask. Miss Kersha'
Ter Won couldn't-ah-feel interested in
IN man like that?"
on IL don't know. Brave men are
common with us, and. you Know
rather like exotics.'
Buxton hardly enjoyed the SUSPECT
to that this girl found him interesting
Der a rarity and that she valued the TIN
Is Darro proportionately higher as
ath was the rarer. Then, again. he I
er. chilled at the thought that she col
ent' possibly entertain a degenerate Ia
W for towards.
Buxton's sojOurn In the place v
was uncertain. A wire from his CHIEF
u,e' London might any day send him on
the San Francisco or back to New fo
one SO he made up his mind to ask WI
ley about 1t that very night
rom This was easy enough. for they
his ,,,,,a, -oo,,s IN tho Same hotel.
'"e hard on Wickley. who had Just RAJ
asleep when the Englishman's KIN
euo caused him to dream that the pl
ni.n was on fire. The interview was
neip satisfactory to both parties. BuS
ne ouly obtaining the assurance
Darro was n crank. with forcible
'e'. ommendation to go for further In
nation either to the man himself o
w. the father of all lies. while Vic
s,'une fell asleep again with the vague
..ae,, that the correspondent was prepa
an article on "The American Cowa
- So 1t came about that Darro. on
way to his uncle's law office. was
ed by Wickley.
Say. Darro. you want to let NJ
,sor, mat timidity poppycock Of yours.
, ,n.o very well to give home folks that
.oaon song. hut don't try 1t on an EN-
~ - newspaper correspondent"
,orm 81 suppose you mean Buxton.
~ =, he already told you OF our convers'
lation 'as. n,sht' ala
Ie OK lou me- nc n'"' -
"A liz. all the English newspapers by
a no time. He woke me up at midnig
!, 90. ask me If il were true"
ING For moment Darro looked
enough for his favorite part.
"Did he tell you where we met!
81 suppose /: was at Blanche
,uired shaw's. He seems smitten In
quarter. and | know he was