The Ely miner., 1912-03-29
CHAPTER I.
Dan Blair.


Tho fact that much he said, because
of his unconscionable slang. was in
comprehensive did not take from the
charm of his conversation as far as
the duchess of Breakwater was con
cerned. The brightness of his expires
sion, his quick. clear look upon them
his beautiful young smile, his not toe
frequent laugh. his new gayness," as
the duchess called his spirits, his gu
pernal youth, his difference, credited
him with what nine-tenths of the hu
man race lack-charm.
His tone was not too crudely west
ern; neither did he suggest the ultra
east. with which they were familiar
American women went down well
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 were in the armory when
the 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 Breakwater,
Lady Galorey. his hostess, greeted
them
oh, here you are, are you? Lord
Mersey, Sir John Fairthrope." She
mumbled 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:
From Blairtown, Montana"
And give him a gun, will you, Cor
donT Lady Galorey spoke to her
husband.
L discovered Mr.. Blair, Edie," the
duchess announced, "and 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 it blind. Right! Thanks. That's
so, Lady Galorey, l didn't know there
was to be any shooting until the duch-
ess let it out"
To himself he thought with good-na-
tured amusement, Afraid I'll spoil
their game record, maybei" 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
'corraP-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 I'd 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 a cropper myself on the
mare. She fell, Pm sorry to say, Edie,
and hacked her knees quite lot. One
Of those disguised bitches, you know.
was coming along leading her when
ran on your friend"
The young duchess was sfSader as
\ willow, very brunette, with a beauti-
tul, discontented face.
I'm going to show Dan Blair off,"
Lady Galorey responded, going t.
give the debutantes chance"
Placidly nodding, the duchess lit
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.
rs he such a catch?"
Neither of the women had walked
out with the guns. The duchess had
= bad foot, and Lady Galorey never
went anywhere she could help with
her 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 quantity of sta
tionery and the red leather desk ap-
pointments.
"Sit down and smoke II you like.
Lily; I'm going to fill out some lists"
mo, thanks, I'm going up to my
rooms and get Parkins to massey this
beastly foot of mine. l must have fall
en- on 1t. But tell me first, is Mr..
Blair a catch?'
Lady Galorey had opened an ad-
dress book and looked up from it to
reply:
Something like ten million
pounds"
Heavens! Disgustingi"
The richest young man west of
some river or other At any rate he
told me last night that it was clean
money | dare say the river is re-