The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Daredevil, by Maria Thompson Daviess

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Title: The Daredevil

Author: Maria Thompson Daviess

Release Date: July 17, 2004 [eBook #12931]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DAREDEVIL***

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THE DAREDEVIL

By

MARIA THOMPSON DAVIESS

Author of "The Melting of Molly," "Miss Selina Lue," "Over Paradise
Ridge, etc."

1916

[Illustration]

Frontispiece from Painting by E. Sophonisba Hergesheimer

To
Jessie Morson Grahame
Who expects "the best" of me

CONTENTS

I SPARKLING WAVES OVER HIGH EXPLOSIVES

II VIVE LA FRANCE!

III THAT MR. G. SLADE OF DETROIT

IV THE IMPOSSIBLE UNCLE ROBERT

V "HERE'S MY BOY, GOVERNOR"

VI "WE BOTH NEED YOU"

VII THE GIRL BUNCH

VIII IN THE DRESS OF MAGNIFICENCE

IX "O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE--"

X VITRIOL AND THE HOODOO

XI BUSINESS AND PIE

XII THE BEAUTIFUL MADAM WHITWORTH

XIII BROTHERS BY BLOODSHED

XIV TO BEAR MEN AND TO SAVE THEM

XV "BEHOLD, I AM A SPY!"

XVI "IMMEDIATELY I COME TO YOU!"

XVII THE TALL TIMBERS OF OLD HARPETH

XVIII THE CAMP HEAVEN

XIX ALL IS LOST

XX "YOU ARE--MYSELF!"

CHAPTER I

SPARKLING WAVES OVER HIGH EXPLOSIVES

Was there ever a woman who did not very greatly desire for herself, at
long moments, the doublet and hose of a man, perhaps also his sword,
as well as his attitude in the viewing of life? I think not. To a very
small number of those ladies of great curiosity it has been granted
that they climb to those ramparts of the life of a man; but it was
needful that they be stout of limb and sturdy of heart to sustain
themselves upon that eminence and not be dashed below upon the rocks
of a strange land. I, Roberta, Marquise de Grez and Bye, have obtained
glimpses into a far country and this is what I bring on returning, not
as a spy, but, shall I say, laden with spices and forbidden fruit?

And for me it has