The Washington times., 1913-09-19
THE FLYING COUR RTSF1IP E., r. RArH
Pucha o


sort of development with equanimity-
| or. at any rate ! believed ! was
| 1t had not been difficult to learn that
| at the White House that evening thele
| was An official reception in honor of a
visiting German prince. and that, If the
| evening was fair, the grounds as well
| as the dignified old mansion itself would
/ be open for the entertainment of guests
Evidently the brown lady was supplied
with invitations. for I had none. Why
| she was so anxious to 90 to the White
House, If her business concerned me, 1t
was beyond my ability even to guess.
| Perhaps / was to be displayed for the
benefit of some person also in the en-
| ployment and confidence of the tall
| man; perhaps the tall man himself
would be there.
1 shrugged my shoulders In an at
tempt to affect indifference, but did not
very greatly deceive myself. ! was not
! indifferent; l was eaten with curiosity
and bewilderment.
| As 1 swung about at one end of my
| self appointed post of sentry duty.
taxi rolled smoothly up to a halt. j saw
! white-gloved hand rest for an instant
on the ledge Of the opened window, and
! make a single gesture. Then l knew
! that the brown lady was punctual to
the minute
She was no longer the brown lady.
The cab was one Of modern design.
| fitted with an appliance which lighted
the interior when the door was swung
open, and which extinguished the cleo
trio bulb again when IT was closed:
Stepping in, / delayed the closing of
the door long enough to obtain look
at my companion.
white fur was thrown about her shoul-
ders, yet remained unfastened at the
throat. so that cauld see beneath II
| a gown of some white material There
, was a gold chain about her neck. with a
pendent pearl that blowed softly in the
light. What she wore in her hair j
am unable to describe: 1t was some sort
of feminine ornament that lent an al
most coquettish appearance to her small
head. One thing I was sure of-she was
amazingly attractive.
She replied to my scrutiny with
smile; then ! closed the door. an dive
were in comparative darkness again
The cab moved ,s h,tn up the Eavs hvsnue IN 'ne
For a moment neither of US, spoke
The richness of her costume had sur
prised me: yet scarcely knew why; Ior
that afternoon. in her velvet walking
suit 7 had recognized her as a hand
somely Rowned woman. Perhaps 1t was
the incongruity Of her business that
gave rise TO my momentary astonlsh-
ment ,s .,
,.,stb for want Of better remark.
That is praise" she answered, with
a soft laugh.
Treasury building before I could think
of anything else to say. Tnen asAeu'
Have YOU cards.!
OF course. / am not quite burglar
you know"
shall I take them?'
No: it isn't necessary-h you ooii
mind s
She did not want me 20 see the CARDS.
Evidently I was not to get ner hSihe
in that fashion.
although / knew it was rather unusual
for a woman guest to present cards al
the door rather than her escort
We turned from Executive avenue
into the carriage gate mat ieaos 10 .ne
east portico. and p White House foot
man opened the door. A moment later
she had handed her cards OF INVITATION
to an attendant so that caught no.
a glimpse Of them, and then was re-
moving her wrap to hand IT to one OF
the checkers.
AS saw her standing straight and
slender in her white gown. | could hard-
" repress an exclamation of admlra-
ton. Who she was l knew not. ana az
that mopent did not care. All | knew
was that my compa MON was one Of thel
fairest and most alluring figures | had
ever seen at White House function.
/ was proud OF her. ! think she caught
the meaning of the glance ! gave her, |
for she flushed family and seemed by
no means displeased
We are early guests" | said. as we
ascended the staircase to the main
floor.
She responded only with nod and
We went into the East Room. Here the !
comparatively small crowd bore wit |
ness to the truth Of my observation;
the COMPANY was just beginning to ar |
rive | saw her glancing about the |
room expectantly: in fact, almost fear
fully. and wondered If she were looking |
for the tall man.
It was very obvious that my COM |
panion was attracting attention. Women !
engaged in conversation with their es
co-ts would stop abruptly as We passed !
turn and look after her. Men paid her |
the tribute Of frankly approving eyes |
She did not appear to be conscious of
the scrutiny. but I never lost an incl |
dent of 1t. II fattered me. Yet could
not put from my mind A sense Of en-
barrassment. ! knew many people In |
Washington: it was more than likely ] |