Graham guardian., 1911-11-17

and we were talking OF tho play.
"Oh, yes, the plays. the thing"
Dorothy countered with keen relish
of the situation. II subtlety was his
intention, she would show him what a
woman Dorothy was all Of nineteen
IA woman could do. IT never would
have supposed she added, allowing
herself full measure Of mischief. that
a famous detective could be q matinee
man"
Britz WINGED. His ready good ma
ture parried her shafts, however, and
1t was with the same slow smile that
he replied:
Does the author reconcile the man
ners Of the two periods. or. is the
piece one Of those problem plays that
leave everything to the audience?
You see, Miss March," he went on.
Mulberry street gets to Broadway
occasionally"
II don't know. Mr.. Britz." She tried
to recall the advance notice Of the
production. "This Is the first time
rye seen 1t. dare say the play
wright has bridged the gap some
how"
tits a wide gap to bridge" OBJ
served the detective thoughtfully.
From reading nineteenth century nov
els, should say 1t would be hard for
the writer to hold interest with. such
groundwork for his plot. Things
were SO different 50 years ago."
Exactly what my grandfather
says" Dorothy retorted, fun flashing
In that mignon face. ''But we'll know
soon how the author has succeeded"
she added. "The orchestra Is nearing
the end Of this selection"
Even their amusements were differ
ent," mused Britz. Instead of golf,
tennis, autoing. yachting. they had
archery. croquet. sketching and square
dances-I don't suppose anybody In
society sketches nowadays. Miss
March,"
"I'd hardly say that" she replied.
There are few talented mem"
"And many women"
"Oh, almost all women are more or
less artistic" said Dorothy with con-
vicition. "But one must not be un-
Just to the men on that account"
"Well, Miss March," and his smile
from younger man would have been
called caressing, we've started with
discussion of the play, and we touched
on authorship. the founder Of the Four
Hundred, the war with Spain and a
dozen other subjects. Funny how
chatter zigzags, isn't it, was about
to say that from all understand, the
society men OF today are not as acr
complished, even II they are talented,
as the beaux Of good Queen Victoria's
girlhood. Come. now. I'd be willing
to bet a box OF bonbons you don't
know half dozen men who can draw
anything except checks"
"Oh, yes, dol" she cried gayly.
Then, meditatively, Hall dozen,
you say? Do you know. Mr.. Britz, I
think you win"
"You don't know as many as six?"
Britz inquired, as II the fate Of emi
pires hung on his winning the wager
that as yet was only a hypothesis.
'It's humiliating, isn't IT." she said
naively. "But | don't. There are two
or three, though Teddy Lorimer and
Mr.. Griswold, and that queer little
Frenchmen, Anatole-Anatole-oh,
you know who mean?'
"Anatole Daubigny?"
| "Yes--he draws the funniest. dear
est little dogs"
"And his monkeys, Miss March.
Don't forget his monkeys"
! Aren't they simply-s simply rayish-
ing?" the girl returned. "And, have
you seen his newest satire on the
Newport set-a lot of apes and
balloons and chimpanzees In evening
dress sitting at the table with several
men and women? "A Family Reunion,
he calls IT,"
Delightful" said Britz with en-.
thusiasm equaling hers. II perceive
we enjoy good many things In com
mon, Miss March"
She smiled. 1t was not every mat
ipee girl who could interest a man
who solved world.famous mysteries.
isn't It strange!" she said. Then
the training Of years recalled her to a
sense of what she was doing. II fear
we've been very unconventional, Mr.