The Cairo bulletin., 1914-02-08
CHAPTE Err n,
Vanity Valiant.
THE witness is excused"

over his eyeglasses. ~ h his gave
lifted, and . statuesq girl, in the
rear of the room, LAID aer delicatel,
gloved hand ION . oonpa MONS and
smiled slowly without v ithdra wing her
gaze, and with the faintest tint of col
or in her face. 1aal 49,. la =.
| Katharine Fargo neither smiled no,
flushed readily Her smile was an in
dex OF her whole personality, languid
symmetrical exquisitely perfect. The
little group with whom she eat looked
somewhat out OF place in that mixed
assemblage. Smartly groomed and
palpably members OF set to whom
John Valiant was familiar. they had
had only friendly mods and smiles for
the young man at whom SO many there
had gazeds withjaundiced eyes.
To the general public which read ts
daily newspaper perhaps none Of the
| gilded set was better known than
Vanity Valiant The new Panhard
he drove was the smartest car on the
avenue, and sthe' collar on the white
bulldog that pranced OF dozed on its
leather seat sported q diamond buckle
To the spacewriters Of the social col
umns, he had been perennial inspira,
ton The patterns of his waistcoats
and the splendors of his latest bache.
lors. dinner at Sherry 's-with suob
items the public had been kept suf'.
ciently familiar To it. he stood a per.
feet symbol OF the elder ease and in.
solent 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 q
resentment that was sharpened by his
apparent nonchalance.
Long before the closing session 1t
had been clear that, as far as indict-
ments were concerned, the investiga.
ton would be barren Of result OF
individual criminality, fight 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.
The jostling crowd focked out into
the square, among them fresh-faced
girl on the arm of a gray.bearded man
In black frock coat and picturesque
broad-brimmed felt hat. She turned
her eyes. to his. ...-
so that. she said, is John Valiant!
I'd almost rather have missed Niagara
Falls. | must write Shirley cambridge
about it. I'm SO sorry | lost that
picture of him that | cut out Of the
paper" ......
Il reckon he's not such bad lot"
said her uncle. He hailed cab.
Grand Central Station he directed,
with glance at his watch, land be
quick about It, We've Just time to
make our train ,
Some hours later, IN an inner Office
OF downtown sky-scraper, 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 satchel with
a paddock on its handle. whose con-
tents-several bundles of crisp papers
he had been turning over in bis
heavy hands with look OF incredu-
lous amagement A sheet containing
mass of figures and memoranda lay
among them. t.s- s.. .f.t 81
The shock was still on his face when
a knock came at the door and man
entered. The newcomer was gray
haired, slightly stopped and lean
jowled, with humorous expression on
his lips. He glanced in surprise at
the Uttered table.
Fargo said the man at the desk,
do you notice anything queer about
me-"
His friend grinned mo, Buck" he
said judicially, unless It's that neck
tie. 1t would stop Dutch cfock,"
Hang the naberdashery Read this
from young Valiant He passed
over letter.
Fargo read. He looked up. "Securi.
ties aggregating three millions he
said in a hushed voice. Why, unless
I've been misinformed, that represents
practically all his private fortune"
The other nodded. Turned over to
the corporation with his resignation as
a yice-president, and without blessed
string tied to en- What do you think
of that?"
Think! IT'S the most absurdly
| idiotic thing !. ever met. Two weeks
| ago, before the investigation -
but now,- when it's perfectly certain
| they can bring nothing home to him"
He paused. of course. suppose It'll
save the corporation Ell? But It may
be ten years before. Its securities pay
| dividends. And this is real money,
| Where the devil does he come In
| meanwhile?" aef-,4
The receiver pursed his lips. q
knew his father" he said "He had
the same crazy quixotic streak"
He gathered the scattered docu
ments and locked them carefully with
the satchel in safe. Spectacular
| young asst" he said explosively.
| 81 should say sol" agreed Fargo
| do you know used to be afraid my
Katharine had leaning toward him
| But thank God she's sensible girl,'