The citizen., 1911-12-08
CHAPTER /.
Dan Blair.


Ia, fact THAI mncn ne said. bececse
Of lis unconscionable slang. was in
eomprehensible did not take from the
charm Of his conversation as far as
the duchess Of Breakwater was con-
cerned. The brightness of his express
sion. his quick. clear look upon them.
his beautiful young smile. his not too
frequent laugh. his new gayness." as
the duchess called his spirits. his su-
pernaI youth. his difference. credited
him with what nine-tenths of the hu-
man race lack-charm
His tone was not too crudeiy west
ern; neither did he suggest the ultra
east. with which they were familiar.
American women went down we'll
enough with them, but American men
were unpopular. and when the visitor
arrived. Lady Galorey did not even an
nounce him to the party gathered for
the first shoot"
The others we're in the armory when
tie ninth gun. young chap, six feet
Of him. blond as the wheat. cleanly set
up and very good to look at, came in
with Lily, Duchess of Breakw ater,
Lady Galorey. his hostess, greeted
them.
oh, here you are, are you? Lord
Mersey. Sir John Fairthrope" She
mumbed the rest of the names of her
companions as though she did not
want them understood, then waved to-
ward the young chap, calling him Mr..
Dan Blair. and he. as she hesitated,
added
Prom Blairtown. Montana"
And give him gun, will you. Cor
DOM" Lady Galorey spoke to her
husband
Il discovered Mr.. Blair, Edie," the
duchess announced. land he didn't
even know there was a shoot on for
today. Fancy"
Il guess" Dan Blair said pleasant
ly, I'll take gun out of this bunch"
and he chose one at random from sew
eral indicated to him by the game
keeper. Il get my best luck when
go 1t blind. Right! Thanks. That's
so, Lady Galorey. didn't know there
was to be any shooting until the duch-
ess let 1t out"
To himself he thought with good ma.
tured amusement. Afraid I'll spoil
their game record. maybe! and went
out along with them. following the in
sular noblemen like a ray of sun.
smiling on the pretty woman who had
discovered him in the grounds where
he had been poking about by himself.
Where, in heavens name. did you
'corraf-word of his own-the dear
boy, Edith? How did he get to Os.
dene Park, or in fact anywhere. just
as he Is. fresh from Eden?"
Thought Id let him take you by
surprise. dearest. Where'd you find
DAM"
Down by the garden house, feeding
the rabbits, on his knees like a little
boy. his hands full Of lettuces. I'd
Just come cropper myself on the
mare. She fell I'm sorry to say, Edie,
and hacked her knees quite a lot. One
OF those disguised bitches. you know.
was coming along leading her when
ran on your friend"
The young duchess was slender as
willow. very brunette. with beauti-
full discontented face
I'm going to show Dan Blair of"
Lady Galorey responded, going to
give the debutantes chance"
Placidly nodding, the duchess lit a
cigarette and began quoting from Dan
Blair's conversation: 81 fancy he
won't let them worry him. he's too
busy!'"
You mean that you're going to
Keep him occupiedy"
The duchess didn't notice this.
"ls he such catch?"
Neither Of the women had walked
out with the guns. The duchess had
a bad foot. and Lady Galorey never
went anywhere she could help with
ner husband. She now drew her chair
up to the table in the morning room.
TO which they had both gone after the
departure Of the guns. and regarded
with satisfaction a quantity of sta.
uonery and the red leather desk ap-
pointments.
Sit down and smoke If you like.
LILY; I'm going to fill out some lists"
No, thanks. I'm going up to my
rooms and get Parkins to massey this
oeastly foot of mine. must have fall
en- on 1t. But tell me first. Is Mr..
Blair catch?"
Lady Galorey had opened an ad-
Dress book and looked up from 1t to
reply:
Something like ten million
pounds"
Heavens! Disgusting!"
Inc richest young man west OF
some river or other. At any rate be
old me last night that 1t was clean
LQOQGY' dora tho rfuor ia rQ.