The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-03-19
CHAPTER II.
Vanity Valiant.


THE witness is excused"
In the ripple that stirred across the
court room at the examiners abrupt
conclusion. John Valiant, who had
withstood that pitiless HAN OF ques-
lions. rose. bowed 10 him and slowly
crossed the cleared space to his coun-
sci. The chairman looked severely
over his eye glasses. with his gaYel
lifted. and statuesque girl, In the
rear OF the room, laid her delicately
gloyed hand on a companions and
nmiled slowly without Withdrawing her
gaze, and with the faintcst tint OF col.
or In her face.
Katharine Fargo neither smiled nor
flushed readily Her smile was an in
dex Of her whole personality languid.
symmetrical, exqulsItely perfect The
little group with whom she sat looked
somewhat out OF place In that mixed
aseemblage Smartly groomed and
palpnbly members of get TO whom
John Valiant was a familiar, they had
had only friendly mods and smiles for
the young man at whom so many there
had gazed with iaundiced eyes.
To the general public which read it's
daily newspaper perhaps none OF the
cilded set was better known than
Vanity Valiant" The new Panhard
he drove was the smartest car ON the
avenue, ana the collar on the white
bulldog that pranced or dozed on its
leather seat sported a diamond buckle
TO the spacewrlters OF the social col,
umns. he had been a perennial inspira-
tlon The patterns Of his waistcoats.
aud the splendors OF his latest bache-
lors dinner at Sherry's with such
items the public had been kept SUN.
ciently familiar To IL, he stood a per
feet symbol OF the elder ease and in.
solemt display OF inherited wealth,
And the great majority OF those who
had found place In that roomy cham.
Der TO listen TO the ugly tale OF squan.
dered millions, looked to him with a
resentment that was sharpened by his
apparent nonchalance.
Long before the closing session II
had been clear that. as far an indiot-
ments were concerned, the tnvestiga.
tion would be barren of result. or
individual crimlnGllty. flight and sui.
eide had been confession. but more
sweeping charges could not be brought
home. The gilded fool had not brought
himself into the embarrassing purview
Of the law.
Tho jostling crowd fiocked out into
the square. among them fresh.faced
! girl on the arm OF a gray-bearded man
In black froek coat and picturesque
broad. brimmed felt hat. She turned
| her eyes to his.
so that" she said, rs John Valiant
I Id almost rather have missed Niagara
/ Fails | must write Shirley cambridge
about Il. I'm so sorry lost that
\ paper"
4 reckon he's not such a bad lot.
| said her uncle. He hailed cab.
Grand Central Station" no directed,
with a glance at his watch. "and be
quick about IT, We've just time to
make our train
/ hANhH AHANAt ~ etli AhH1i UNIV
OF a downtown sky-serapeF. the newly.
appointed receiver Of the Valiant Cor
poration. heavy. thick-set man with
narrow eyes. sat beside a table on
which lay small black satehel with
paddock on It's handle. whose con
tents several bundles OF crisp papers
| he had been turning over In his
heavy hands with a look OF incredu,
lous amaxement A sheet containing
a mass OF figures and memoranda lay
among them
The shock was still on his face when
a knock came at the door. and a man
entered, The newcomer was gray,
haired. slightly stopped and lean,
| jowled. with a humorous expression on
hts lips lie glanced in surprise at
+ the Uttered table
Fargo. said the man at the desk
do you notice anything queer abou,
me-"
His friend grinned NE. buck" H.
said tudieially. unless It's that neck
+ tie II would stop a Dutch clock"
! Hang the haberdashery, Read thi
from young Valiant" He passed
over q letter