Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-23
CHAPTER ~.
"Handsome DAM"

Standing in the middle OF the road.
watching the dust cloud that trailed
the fast disappearing motor car. Mr..
Maitland cut a figure sufficiently for
lorn and disconsolate to have distilled
pity from the least sympathetic heart.
His hands were thrust stifiiy at full
arms length into his trousers pockets:
a rumpled silk hat was set awry on
the back OF his head: his shirt bosom
was sadly crumpled; above the knees.
to q casual glance. he presented the
appearance of q man carefully attired
in evening dress: below. his legs were
sodden and muddied. his shoes Of
patent leather twin wrecks. Alas for
jauntiness and elegance. alack for ease
and aplomb:
"Tricked," observed Maitland. cas-
ually. and protruded his lower lip.
thus adding to the length of a cOunten-
ance naturally long. "Outwitted by
chit Of a girl, Dammit"
But this was crude meiodrama Real
izing which, he strove to smile; sor-
ry failure.
Handsome Dan" quoted he; and
cooking his head to one side eyed
the road inquiringly. Where in thun-
der d'you suppose she got hold OF that
| name?"
Bestowed upon him In callow col
lege days. It had stuck burr-like for
many a weary year. or late. however.
its use had lapsed among his acquain.
tances; he had begun to congratulate
himself upon having lived 1t down.
And now It was resurrected, flung at
him in sincerest mockery by q woman
whom, to bis knowledge. he had never
before laid eyes upon. Odious appella-
ton. hateful invention Of an ingenious
| enemy!
Handsome DAN She must have
known me all the time-all the time I
was making an exhibition Of myself
Wentworth know no one Of
that name. Who the dickens can
she be-"
II Il had not been contrary TO his
code OF ethics. he would gladly have
! raved. CRASHED his teeth. footed the
dance Of rage with hts shadow. In
deed. his restraint was admirable. the
, circumstances considered He did
nothing whatever but stand still! for
matter OF FIVE minutes. vainly racking
his memory for a cine to the identity
/ Of Miss Wentworth"
At length he gave It up in despair
and abstractedly felt for his watch fob.
| Which wasn't there. Neither. investi-
cation developed. Vas the watch. At
which crowning stroke o! misfortune
the timepiece must have slipped
| from his pocket into the water while
he vas tinkertng with that infamous
carbureter- turned eloquent
/ Iy red in the fare.
The price" he ned!tated aloud.
! with an effort 10 resume his pose. is
q high one To pay for . wave q gray
glove and the echo Of pretty laugh. "
With which final fling at Fortune he
set Oh again for Maitland Manor.
trudeing heavily but at . round pace
through the Dust that soon settled
u,,oa the damp cloth Of bis trousers
legs and completed their ruinstion.
But Maitland was beyond being dis
.nrbed by such tribes. A wounded
vanity engaged his soIicitBde TO the
exclusion Of al other interests.
A. the end ~ Is minutes h~ had
covrrcd fhe remaining distance b..
:~c~n Grecnscid station ard Maitland
Manor. For Ave minutes moro nc
strodc YEARLY over the side path by
The box hcdge which set aside his apocS-
trai scres from the public highway. ~
length. with sn exclamation. he paused
o, the erst opcnins IN the living bar
ries: . vide sntrspcs from which .