The Man Who Took a Chance

Summary

Emerging from a decade of railroad construction in the Orient, the enterprising Monty Gray re-enters American society, a man of substantial means yet unburdened by aristocratic lineage. A chance encounter in a bustling hotel lobby reunites him with an old collegiate acquaintance, and amidst their convivial recollection, Monty's gaze falls upon a photograph. The image reveals a young woman of breathtaking allure, sparking an immediate, profound infatuation within him. His friend, however, swiftly punctures this budding fantasy with a dose of stark reality: the object of Monty's sudden devotion is his own cousin, held captive by the formidable will of her mother, a social climber obsessed with securing a royal union for her daughter, utterly disdaining any suitor lacking a title. Undeterred by this seemingly insurmountable barrier, and fueled by an audacious spirit, Monty Gray resolves to circumvent the matriarch's iron decree, meticulously crafting an elaborate stratagem to claim the hand of the woman who has so utterly captivated his heart.

Synopsis

Monty Gray returns to the US after spending 10 years building railroads in China. As he enters a hotel he runs into an old friend from college whom he hasn't seen in years, and they begin catching up on old times. Monty notices a picture of a young woman that his friend is carrying and, bowled over by her beauty, he instantly falls for her. However, his friend tells him that he doesn't have a chance in a million of meeting the girl, who happens to be his cousin, because her mother rules the girl's life with an iron fist and is determined that she will marry royalty and not some untitled commoner. Monty is determined to have the girl, and devises a plan to win her.