Show VALIANT 5 f V I 1 A T nallie LP ERNINIE NIE P 00 da 6 6 LAUPEN TOUT j y ov lay awa gayy v SYNOPSIS john valiant it rich society favorite add suddenly e n IY discovers that the valiant corporation po ration t ten which his fattier father founded and W pera which itch was the principal cipal source ot of ills hla wealth th has ham fall bulled I 1 ilo 1 0 voluntarily turns turna its ills private edior fortuno tt i no to tho the receiver fur for tho the ilia entire remaining consist of 0 un an old motor CUT cur it a III bull dos dog and INvin cry court a neglected d estate batata in virginia on the way IVRY to 1 ory court ho meets shirley dand r rl allo I 1 lo it an n auburn haired beauty and le do eten 1 that he lei Is going to like virginia im men soly Shir shirleye shirleys leys nimber mrs MM dand and major bristow a lige rpm ingo e n ve during mitch pell 11 t Is 1 r vented that hint lice tho major r Vali ants fattier father and it a man a s a oon were rivals for tho the hand ant of mrs airs in tier her youth auth kassoon R and nd valiant fought it a fuel duel on tier her accod account n t in I 1 which v tho the former was killed valia vallant t ind ands q demory court overgrown with ivoe boeda do a and nd greevers evers tind nd decides to tho the place valiant le from tho he bit hotd of a 11 snake which lefile bit batog him film tho the deadliness of the bit bite 03 c shirley mucks th the e polson poison from tile tho wound and saves his 1 life ife vallant valiant learns for tho the first time that its ills father loft left vir urnia on account of a duel in which hocter docter or southall and major bristow acted as lila his fat tiers seconds second valiant and sharley become good fri friend endi mrs dandridge taints faints when she alia meets valiant for the first time vallant dl II covers that he has LL fortune in old walnut trees CHAPTER continued 1 I got over it before I 1 was waa old enough to mako myself a butt of hilarity tho the doctor retorted 1 I see BOO by the papers invented a now lanco dance called the grizzly bear I 1 bellevo theres another named tho the yip knoodle kyoo kyo dlo odle I 1 hope youve got em cm down pat to show tho the young folk tonight daristow Cri Dri stow tho the major got up tip with some irritation southall ho he said bald sometimes im tempted to think your remarks verge upon the personal you dont have to watch TOO me dance it II you dont choose to no thank god muttered the doctor 1 I prefer to remember you ou when you still preserved a trace of dignity twenty odd ago it if dignity the majors blood was rising now consists in your eternal tasteless bicke rings I 1 want none of it what on earth do you doit do it for you bad aad some friends once friends I 1 snapped the other tho the fewer I 1 have the betherl bet terl the major clapped on ills his straw hat angrily strode to tho the door and opened it but on tho the threshold lie ho stopped and presently shut it turned back and resumed lits his chair tile the doctor was re lighting tila ills cigar but an odd furtive look had slipped to his bis face and tho the hand that struck the watch match was unsteady for foi a time both sat smoking at first in silence then talking in a desultory way on indifferent topics finally the major rose and tossed his cigar into tile tho empty grate ill be off now he said 1 I must be on the field before the others As he wont went down the steps steab a carriage drawn by a pair of dancing grays plunged past who are those people with the chalmers I 1 wonder bald the doctor IThe yee strangers here the major peered oh he said over ever his shoulder 1 I forgot to tell tel lyou you thais silas fargo the railroad president from now new york and hla his daughter katharine ills his private cars down on the siding at the judges hes chief counsel for tho the road in this state bo be at the tournament I 1 reckon bo be there wont you the lector was putting some phials and instruments into a worn leather bag no he said shortly im going to take a ten mile drive to add 4 friendel snapped the other the fewer I 1 have the betherl Bett Bet crl terl to this countes coun tys population I 1 expect but im coming to tho the dance prom ased valiant I 1 would in a moment of temporary aberration CHAPTER A virginian runnymede juno julie in virginia Is something to remember today tho the master of court deemed this a true say eay ing for the air was like wine and the drifting white wings of cloud piled above the amethystine ramparts of the far blue ridge looked down upon a violet world bound in green and silver to tn his bis bedroom valiant stood look MS mc into the depths rif of an ancient wardrobe presently he took froni from a hook it suit of white flannel in which ho he ar rr yea himself bim self over his soft shirt he knotted kno a pale gray scarf the modish white aft and the rolling panama threw yut jut in fine bon contrast the keen lun un fanned anne twe and dark brown browd eyes in the hall belov ho he looked about him with satisfaction for tile the last three days lie ho had labored tirelessly to fl til the place for tile the evenings event tile tho parlor now showed walls walla trimmed rimmed with straight back chairs and the grand piano long ago put in order had been relegated to tile tho library that instinct for tho the artistic which had mado made him a last resort in tho the vexing problems of club entertainments had aided him in the courts adornment out of tho the hit kitchens chena cassandras egg beating chatted like a watch vatch mans rattle battlo while aunt daphno daphne put tile the finishing touches to an array of lighter edi edibles tilea de destined stilled to grace the long table on 01 I 1 tile the rear porch now walled in with snowwhite snow white muslin and hung with candle lusters under the trees uncle Jef jefferson formon was oven even then experimenting with various punch compounds and a delicious aroma of vanilla came to va giants nostrils tho the red road as gallants Vali Val ants lants car ar passed was dotted with straggling pedestrians dest rians humble country folk who trudged along tho the grassy footpath foot path with no sullen regard for tho the swift cars and comfortable carriage that loft them behind sturdy barefooted children who called shrilly after him anti and happy go lucky negro youths clad in their best with sunday shoes dangling over their shoulders shoulder ij slouching in the dust all bound for tile the eaino calno mecca ecca which presently rose before him a gateway of painted canvas proclaiming the field to which t 01 opened c it ed runnymede Runny medo ile he halted his car at the end of tho the field and snapped a leash in the bull dogs collar 1 I aiato to do it old man ho said apologetically to chums reproachful look but ive got to there fire aro to bo be some stunts and in such occasions youre apt to bo be convinced youre the main one of the contestants te which might cause a mix alx up never mind ill anchor you where you wont miss anything with the excited dog tugging before him he be threaded his way through the press wilh wah keen exhilaration now and then his gloved hand touched his cap at a salutation ile ho was can of swift bird ilke glances from pretty girls here was none of tho the rigid straight ahead gaze or vacant stare of the alt city boulevard the eyes that looked at him frankly curious anti and inquiring were full of easy open comradeship some of the girls wore gowns aad hats that might that morning have issued from tile the rue do la others were habited in cheap materials but about the latter hung no benumbing self consciousness all bore themselves alike lie he was beginning to realize that there might really exist straitened circumstances even actual poverty which yet created no sort of social difference opposite the canvas covered grand stand sat twelve small mushroom tents tenta each with a staff and tiny hag flag midway lines of flaxen ropes stretched between rows of slender blender peeled saplings from whose tope floated fanged streamers of vivid bunting A pavilion of purple cloth open at the sides bides awaited tor for the committee and near the center a negro band was disposed on camp stools the brass of tho the waiting instruments winking in the sunlight the stand was a confused glow of color of light gauzy dresses of young girls in pastel muslins mullins with flowers in their belts picturesque hats bats and slender blender articulate hands bands darting in vivacious gestures like white swallows tho the gentry from the big houses the light athletic figure towed by the white bulldog bull dog drew many glances Vali ants eyes however as the they y swept the seats beats wore were looking for but one and at first vainly ile he felt a quick pang of disappointment perhaps she would not inot comet perhaps her mother was still ill perhaps but then suddenly his heart beat high for he bo saw her in the lower tier with a group of 0 f young people ile he could not have told what she wore save sate that it was of soft blue with a hat whose brim was wound with a shaded plume of the same tint her mother was not with her she was not looking his bla way as he passed her arms at the moment being held out in an adorable ado rabla gesture toward a little child in in a sint smiling ling matrons matrona mat rons lap and but a is was vouchsafed to hina before the major seized upon him and bore him to the purple pavilion for he was one of the committee but for this distraction he might have bavo seen been entering the stand with the chalmers ChaI Chal merB just as the band struck up a delicious whirl of dixie tho the two strangers whom the doctor had observed an hour before as they whirled by tho the mason house behind the judges grays silas fargo might have passed in any gathering tor for the unobtrusive city roan man katharine was noticeable anywhere and today her tall willowy figure in its champa no color lingerie gown and bat garnished with bronze and gold this ties setting in relief her ivory statuesque face drew a wave of whispered comment which left a sibilant wake behind him the party made a picturesque group as they now disposed themselves catharines Katha rines colorless loveliness contrasting cont centre resting with the eager sparkle of pretty nancy chalmers and the gipsy ilke beauty of betty batty page you call it a tournament dont you asked katharine of the judge yes ho he replied its a kind of contest in which twelve riders compete for the privilege of naming it queen of beauty theres a ball tonight at which tho the lucky lady Is crowned those little tents are where tho the noble knights don their shining armor see there go their capara capari chargers A file of negroes was waa approaching the tents each leading a horse whose saddle and bridle were decorated with fringes 0 various hues in tho the center of the roped lists directly in front of the stand others were planting upright in III tho the ground a tall polo pole from whose top projected a horizontal arm like a slender gallows from this was suspended a cord at whose end swung a tiny object that whirled and glittered in jhb sun the judge explained on the end of the cord la Is a silver ring at which tile the knights tilt with lances twelve V who Is that splendid old man giving directions the one who looks like a lion rings are used the pike points are made to fit them and the knight who carries off the greatest number of the twelve Is the victor the whole thing la Is a custom as ancient as virginia a relic of course of the old jousting of the feudal ages the ring Is supposed to represent the device on the boss of the shield at which tho the lance th thrust rust was aimed how inhere interesting exclaimed katharine and turning swept the stand with her lorgnette 1 I suppose up pose all the countes coun tys F F V B s are here albe said laughingly to nancy chalmers ive often wondered by the way what became of the second families of virginia 11 oh mostly emigrated north answered nancy the ones that are left are all ancient there are families hero that dont admit they ever began at all silas fargo shook his stooped shoulders with laughter up north he said genially weve got regular factories that turn out ready made family trees tor for anybody who wants to roost in one 0 s 0 0 0 0 and now over the fluttering stand and the crowd about the barriers a stir was discernible katharine looked again at the field who Is that splendid old man giving directions the one who looks like a lion hes coming this way now major montague bristow said the judge iles hes been master of the heralds for years the tournament could hardly happen without the major im sure id like him she answered what a lovely girl he Is talking tol to it was shirley who had bad beckoned the major from the lists she was leaning over the railing why has ridgeley pendleton left she asked in a low voice he one of the twelve ile he was dut but hes ill ile ho feeling up to it when he be came but he give up till halt half an hour ago well have to get along with eleven knights i she made an exclamation of dismay poor ridgel ridge and what a pity there have never been less lesa than the full number it will spoil the royal quadrille tonight too why the committee choose some 0 one no in h his is place listen why not ask mr valiant lle he Is our host tonight im sure hed be glad to help out even without the costume egtill Eg aill he said pulling his imperial none of 0 us had thought of him ile he could ride pen Pendle tons mount of course he reflected a moment ill do it its ita exactly the right thing youre a clover clever girl shirley ile he hastily crossed the field while sho she leaned back her eyes on tho the flan meled figure long since recognized under the purple pavilion she saw the committe put their heads together and hurriedly enter in the moments wait Shir shirleye shirleys leys gloved fingers clasped and unclasped somewhat nervous nervously I 1 Y the riders had been chosen long before john valiant Vali ants s coming it if a saddle however was perforce to bo be vacant what more appropriate prop ato than that he should fill it 11 tho the thought had come to her instantly bred of on an underlying regret which she had all along cherished that he was not to take part but beneath this was a deeper passionate wish that she did not attempt to analyze to sea aw him assume his place with others long habituated to that closed circle a place rightfully his by reason ot of birth and name and to lighten the gloomy shadow that must rest on his thoughts of his hie father with warmer sunnier things she heaved a secret sigh of satisfaction as the white clad figuro roso rose in acquiescence the major returned to the grand stand and held up tip hn hand tor for silence our gra gracious clous liege he proclaimed in his big vibrant voice queen of beauty yet unknown lords knights and U squires esquires pair fair dames and gentles allf all whereas divers noble persons have and taken upon thern them to hold jousts royal and tourney you are hereby acquainted that the lists of are about to open for that achievement of arms and grand and noble tournament for which they have so long been famed but an hour since one of our noble knights pricking hither to tilt for his lady was beset by a grievous malady Ilo however lest our jousting lack tho the royal number a new champion hath at this last hour been found to fill the table round who of his courtesy doth consent to ride without armor A buzz ran over the assemblage it enst be pendleton who has defaulted said judge chalmers 1 I heard this morning he was sick chos the substitute knight I 1 wonder at the mome moment rit a single mounted herald before the tents blow a long blast on a silver horn their flaps parted and eleven knights issued to mount their steeds and draw into inte line behind him they were brilliantly decked in with slashed doublets and plumed chapeaus chateaus chape aus and short jeweled cloaks drooped |