The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-03
UNMASKING.
DARRO
BY Evan Macpherson


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 We're 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 antecedents and decided liter
might indicate.
Il certainly do not" he said in his
habitual weary drawl. Life Is too
short l spell my name Just as it il
| 1 am far
from dauntless."
by Jove, how oddr' said Buxton.
Il was rather In hopes you might turn
out to be cousin of the Derreus Of
Derreuly Manor. was born In that
neighborhood myself: names pronounc-
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 l 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 q British
er Mr.. Darro. Think Of our national
reputation"
81 do. l think 1t brutal Physical
courage. II it ever was a desirable
quality, lost all its recommendation
centuries ago"
by Jover' Buxton exclaimed. "You
must pardon me If | seem a little un-
prepared for all this. You know I was
correspondent with your army al
Santiago"
THAT was where you met our force
full friend Wickley," said Darro.
ITO whom l owe the delightful priv
ilege of Miss Kershaw's acQuaint
ance."
You have every reason to be CRATE
full to Wickley: but. for all that I con
slider him an American of an objectional
type"
All of this Miss Kershaw seemed te
be enjoying in quiet way. Then they
talked Of other things till Darro left
them.
That's most interesting double
enigma" said Buxton, IAN American
and a Darro. you know"
81 hope you'll stay with US until you
find a solution of him. Mr.. Darro'f
ambition to be thought timid Ia notori
GUS here"
Isn't it a very singular ambitionr
Every. That may be the solution oi
the enigma"
. A pause. and then Buxton mustered
up courage to ask. Miss Kershaw
you couldn't-ah-feel interested In {
man like that?"
| Il don't know. Brave men are st
common with us, and, you know,
rather like exotics."
Buxton hardly enjoyed the suspicion
that this girl found him interesting a
a rarity and that she valued the timit
| Darro proportiOnately higher as b,
was the rarer. Then, again, he fel
chilled at the thought that she coult
possibly entertain q degenerate tastl
for towards.
Buxton's sojourn In the place wa
? uncertain. A wire from his chief II
, London might any day send him on t,
, San Francisco or back to New York
> | SO he made up his mind to ask Wick
r ley about it that very night.
t This was easy enough. for they oc
cupied rooms In the same hotel. bu
hard on Wickley. who had just fallel
t asleep when the Englishman's knocl
, caused him to dream that the plac
2 | was on fire. The Interview was un
! satisfactory to both parties. Buxto
p only obtaining the assurance tha
n Darro was a crank. with forcible re(
ommendation to go for further infoI
e nation either to the man himself or I
the father Of all lies, while Wickle
e fell asleep again with the vague ide
a that the correspondent was preparin
/ an article on The American Coward.
3 So 1t came about that Darro. on hl
$ way to his uncle's law Office, was hal
4 ed by Wickley.
t Say. Darro. you want to let up o
: that timidity pOppycock Of yours. A
very well to give home folks that ol
song. but don't try 1t on an Englis
newspaper correspondent"
: 81 suppose you mean Buxton. Hs
u he already told you Of our conversatio
o last nlght?'
o ''Told me, He may have told 1t I
s all the English newspapers by tn
time. He woke me up ut midnight
l. ask me II 1t were true"
For moment Darro looked pa
d enough for his favorite part.
Ibid he tell you where we met"
r. 81 suppose 1t was at Blanche Ke
E. shaw's. He seems smitten In thl
quarter. and know he was goin
3, there last night"
e Darro managed to recover his NEE
pose. You know. Wickley, don
e think much Of physical courage
y "All right. then. I only hope Buxtc
e will mention your name In his stOr
IS We don't want the whole city to 8
\ that sort Of reputation"
DarrO was disturbed. His uncle n