The Detroit times., 1913-11-10

uIatory anna! -httting on to hair
the lackadaisical boredom of the
haplsssly rich young boulevardier-
this was the countryside q pen.picture
OF him.
Don't you consider longing for
nature . Wholesome sign?"
Perhaps. The vagaries of the
rich are always suggestive"
You think there's no chance OF his
choosing to stay here because he actu-
ally likes IT."
mot the slightest" she said in.
differently.
You are SO certain OF this with.
out ever having seen him?'
She glanced at him covertly, an
noyedly sensible sof the improperly
Of the discussion, since the man dis
cussed was certainly his patron. may
be his friend. But his insistence
had reused certain balky wilful-
ness that would have its way. "It's
true I've never seen him." she said.
but I've read about him a hundred
times in the Sunday supplements.
He's q regular feature Of the high
roller section. His idea of a good
time II . dog banquet at Sherfy's.
Why, a girl told me once that there
was a cigarette named after him-the
Vanity Valiant"
An angry CLINT slanted across his
eyes. For some reason the silly story
on her lips stung him deeply. "You
find the Sunday newspapers always
so dependable"
Well" she flashed. "you must know
Mr.. Valiant. Is he q useful citizen?
What has he ever done except play
polo and furnish spicy paragraphs
for the society columns?'
"Isn't that beside the point? Be-
cause he has been an idler, must he
necessarily be a--vandal?"
She laughed again. HE wouldn't
call Il vandalism. He'd think 1t de.
cided Improvement to make Damory
Court as frantically different as pos
sible. suppose he'll erect a glass
cupola and a portecochere, all up-to-
date and varnfshy. and put orchid
lighthouses where the wilderness gar.
den was, and q modern marble cupid
instead of the summer-house. and lay
out = kite-shaped track"
Everything that was impulsive and
explosive in John valiant's nature
came out with a bang. mol" he
cried, whatever else he Is, he's not
such z preposterous ass as that"
!. She faced him sQuarely now. Her
eyes were sparkling. Since you
know him so intimately and so high
ly approve Of him"
mo, no." he interrupted. "You mis-.
take me. shouldn't try to justify
him. His flush had risen to the
roots Of his brown hair. but he did
not lower his gaze. Now the red
color slowly ebbed. leaving him pale.
HE has been an idler-that's true
enough-and till q week ago he was
'idiotically rich But his idling 10
over now. At this moment, except
for this one property. he is little
better than q beggar."
She had taken hasty step or
two back from him. and her eyes
were now fixed on his with a dawn
ing half-fearful question In them.
It'll the failure of the Valiant
Corporation, he had never heard Of
Damory Court, much less been aware
that he owned It. It wasn't because
he loved 1t that he came here-no!
How could It be? He had never set
foot In Virginia in his mortal hfe."
She put up her hands to her throat
with q start. Gamer" she echoed.
Camel"
"But II you think that even he
could be so crassly stupid. so monu-
mentally blind to all that is really
fine and beautiful"
"Oh!" she cried with flashing com
prehension. "Oh, how could you!
You"
He nodded CURLY. Yes" he said.
II am that haphazard harlequin. John
Valiant. himself"
(ContJnued.l