The Delta independent., 1911-07-28
Fritz of
H eadquarter rs
By
MARGIN Barber
e
ILL u S r r ATIONS BY
RAY WALTERS

Britt laughed.
Miss March" he said with more
heartiness In his tone than had col
ored 1t in many day, eff | were not
so busy, 1t would be a delight to be
an elder brother TO you. But guess
you're not interested In my impulses,
and we were talking of the play
'Oh, yes, the plays the thing"
Dorothy countered with keen relish
of the situation. If subtlety was his
intention, she would show him what
woman-Dorothy was all of nineteen
"a woman could do. Il never would
have supposed" she added allowing
herself full measure of mischief, that
famous detective could be a matinee
man"
Britt WINGED. His ready good ma
ture parted 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"
81 don't know, Mr. Britt" She tried
to recall the advance notice of the
production This is the first time
I've seen 1t. l dare say the play
wright has bridged the gap some
how"
IT'S a wide gap to bridge" OBJ
served the detective thoughtfully.
From reading nineteenth century nov
els, l should say it would be hard for
the writer to hold interest with such
a groundwork for his plot. Things
were so different so 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," unused Britt. 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,"
'Fd 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 I'M
Just to the men on that account"
We'll, Miss March," and his smile
from a 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? l was about
to say that from all understand, the
society men of today are not as &C
ccmplished, even If 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 a dozen men who can draw
anything except checks"
"Oh, yes, l dol" she cried gayly.
Then, meditatively. Half a Dozen
you say? Do you know, Mr.. Britt.
think you win"
You don't know as many as six?"
Britt inquired, as If the fate of en-
pires hung on his winning the wager
that as yet was only a hypothesis.
TITS humiliating, isn't it?" she said
naively. But l 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-simply ravish-
fng?' 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 1t"
DELIGHTFUL" said Britt with en-
thusiasm equaling hers. 81 perceive
we enjoy good many things in com
mon. Miss March"
She smiled. 1t was not every mat.
inee girl who could interest a man
who solved world-famous mysteries.
Isn't 1t strange!" she said Then
the training of years recalled her to
sense of what she was doing. 81 fear
we've been very unconventional Mr..
Britt" she said as primly as her
prettiness permitted. But I've en-
5oyed our little chat very much"
(which means | must be going"
said Britt promptly. IF I'm not to
spoil your enjoyment of the mid-vic
torian scene. The orchestra has fin
ished speaking its little piece"
Eyes, there goes the curtain" agreed
Dorothy, rising hastily. 80 glad to
have met you, Mr.. Aritz hope I've
l,,.an Of corna assizianca nl.o,.. L..