The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-05-21

SN'a
ling or.
On this particular morning neither
the major nor the doctor was In EVIL
dence. the former having gone on,
early. and the latter being at the mo
ment In his once. as the brassy buzz
OF a telephone from time to time an
nounced. Two OF the green wicker
rocking-chairs or tho porch. however
were In agitant commotion. Mrs. Ma,
son was receiving a caller In the per,
son OF Mrs. Napoleon Clifford.
After all these years." the visitor
was saying In her customary italics
THE broad "A" which lent a dulce,
softness to the speech OF her hostess
was scorned by Mrs. Poly. her own
as" being as narrow as the needle
through which the rich man reaches
%heaven.) I'VE came here from Rich.
mond when ! was a bride-that's
twentyone years ago-and Damory
Court was forsaken then. And think
what a condition the house must be In
now! Cared for by an agent who
comes every other season from New
York. Trust q a TO do work like
that"
I'm glad a Valiant 10 4 occupy H."
remarked Mrs. Mason In her sweet
1ute.like voice. 1T would be sad TO
zee any one else there. For after all.
the valiants were gentlemen"
Mrs. clifford shifted. Would you
have called Devil-John Valiant a gen.
tleman? Why. he earned the name
by the dreadful things he did. My
grandfather used 10 say that when his
wife lay sick-he hated her. you know
he would gallop his horse with all
his hounds full-cry after him under
her windows. Then that CHASTITY story
OF the slave he pressed to death In the
hogshead OF tobacco"
Il know" acquiesced Mrs. Mason.
He was q cruel man and wicked. too.
Yet OF course he was n gentleman. In
the South the test OF q gentleman has
never been what he does. but who he
Is. But his grandson, Beauty Valiant.
who lived at Damory Court thirty
years ago. wasn't his type at all. He
was only twenty-five when the duel
occurred"
He must have been brilliant" said
the visitor. TO have founded that
great corporation. It's q pity the son
didn't take after him. Have you seen
the papers lately? 1t seems that
though he was TO blame for the wreck.
ing OF the concern they can't do any.
thing TO him. Some technicaiity In
the law. ] suppose. But II q man 10
only rich enough they can't convict
him OF anything. Why he should sud.
denly make up his mind TO come dovn
here ! can't see. With that old AZ.
fair OF his fathers behind him, !
should think he'd prefer Patagonia"
Il take It. then. madam" Doctor
Southall's %forbidding voice rose from
the doorway. that you are familiar
with the circumstances Of that old Of.
fair. as you term it!"
The lady bridled. Her passages at
arms with the doctor did not invaria-
bly, tend 10 sweeten her disposition.
I'm sure ! only know what people
say" she said.
"'People?'" snorted the doctor iras-
chilly. "Juzt another name for q com.
munity that's a perfect sink OF mean.
ness and malice. II one believed all
he heard here he'd quit speaking to
his wi grandmother"
You will admit. | suppose" said
Mrs. Clifford with some spirit. tina,
the name Valiant isn't what IL used
TO be in this neighborhood?"
Il will, madam responded the doc.
tor. When Valiant left this place "a
mark OF good taste. I've always consid.
cred IT. he left II the worse, II posi-.
BILE. for his departure. Your remark,
however, would seem TO imply de-
merit on his part. Was he the only
mar who ever happened to be at the
lucky end OF a dueling ground?"
Then II isn't true that Valiant was
a dead shot and Sassoon intoxicated"
Madam" said che doctor, II have
no wish 10 discuss the details OF that
unhappy incident with you or anybody
else, ] was n OF those present, but
the circumstances you mention have
never been descanted upon by me-"
Il see by the papers" said Mrs. Gif.
ford, with an air OF resignedly chang.
Ing the subject. they've been investi.
eating the failure OF the Valiant Cor.
poration. The son seems to be get.
ting tho sharp end OF the stick. Per-
haps he's coming down here because
they've made II so hot for him In
New York. Well. I'm afraid he'll find
this county Disappointing"
He will that!" agreed the doctor
savagely. mo doubt he imagines he's
coming to a kindly countryside OF gen.
tle-born people with souls and imagi.
nations; he'll find he's liz In a section
that's entirely too ready to hack at his
fathers name and prepared In ad.
vance to call him Northern scum and
turn up It's nose at his accent--a com.
munity so full OF dyed-in.the-wooi
%snobbery that II would make Boston
look like a poor-white barbecue. I'm
sorry for himl"
Just then from the rear OF the house
came q strident voice:
"Yo'. Raph'eii Take yo' hans
outer dem cherriesi Dom yo' know Of