Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-05
American Sunday Monthly Magazine Section

the plain.
Two or three times he tripped on ground
briers, and once came down heavily on his
knees. The shock did not sweeten his
temper and he swung forward, scowling,
determined to find out once and for all
which was the better man, his father S
only son or the progeny of the late lord OF
the pungaloo."
He was destined to discover which was
the better man.
But the way he went about it was rather
odd; as he caught sight of slanted gun
glittering above the ground just ahead of
him, tough carpet of briers caught sight
of his right foot and seized it.
He went into the pit on his ornamental
head.
The abruptness of his intrusion resulted
in three incidents; his own momentary un-
consciousness, dog fight, and a terrific
whack on Edna Ritter's left ankle from the
barrels of his gun.
She thought that she was going to faint
from the sheer pain of the blow, until she
saw him open his eyes and sit up beside her.
Then her fathers daughter understood that
this was no time for fainting. SO she pulled
the dogs apart Cuffed her own canine, and
showed him behind her, where he crouched
growing defiance at the red-ticked one.
When the young man had thoroughly
realized what had happened, the first thing
he did was to blush.
Good heavens!" he said. "What can
YOU think of mel Is there any use in my
asking?'
"Was it ground-briers? she asked seri~
ously. The pain of her ankle still siCkened
her, but she managed to smile.
Il suppose sol don't know any other
reason why should present myself to you
on my head. . . Did | by any chance
hurt you?
No." she said
81 am very thankful, " he breathed, look
ing into the clearest, bluest eyes he had ever
seen.
There remains for me only my exit, y
said the young man. THAT exit is pre-
pared by abject apologies-which you will
inwardly deride and scorn-and then these
stammered words of contrition will be duly
followed by the most humiliating retreat
since Moscow"
She laughed with the slightest trace of
embarrassment.
First" he said. although it doesn t
mitigate my oflense, may say that | never
dreamed you were the occupant of this
shootng-pit?"
"Who did you expect to find here?"
"A man-some individual wearing the
surname of Ritter"
"Oh."
"A poacher, a nuisance, an impudent
claim-jumpcr whose father-while alive
tormented the courts with maddening and
endless litigation over the title to this land
That's who | expected to find here.
"Oh. What did you intend to do to
him." she asked, blue eyes very starry and
wide
Bounce him." said the young fellow.
Then perhaps this is your property
had better
ooh, beg of you'll" he cried, red as a
pppin again" pease-if you could be
gracious enough to accept the shooting
privileges from such a-an idiot as am
But am not sure that care to"
Had this exquisite young creature guessed
who he was? And, if so, was she, like the
others, already busy with schemes concern
ing the only son and heir of the recent
William de Montfort Clifton?
And suddenly it came into his head to lie
May | name MYSELF" he asked pleas
antly.
Please. . . But think know who
you are"
He said with stifened smile on his lips
"Who do you suppose me to be?"
"4ou are Mr.. Clifton, of Montfort House
are you not?"
Il was afraid you might think so, because
said that this land belongs to me-" he
returned Carelessly. "And so it docs
temporarily-but | merely lease it from