New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-29
What Happened to Fred
die the For-frOher when
HeAsked 7hatAiryQneS-
hon Is Precisely What
May Happen to Any One
Who Asks H-ifHe Asks
Il Mdiscreetly in the Lob
BY of a Neav York Hotel

left arm. drew the tinted edge OF
silk handkerchief from his coat pock-
ct TO lust the extent approved by Broad
way. placed his unworn glove in his
gloved left hand. smiled pleasantly at
his image in panel mirror, and saun-
tered across the lobby of the Waldorf.
All of which is superfuous informa-
ton to those who know Freddie and the
class to which he belongs. To say that
Freddie the Foxtrotter was, at 2 80 IN
the afternoon, beginning his day by
making an inventory of the occupants
of the Waldorf lobby would have car
ried the same meaning to the knowing
ones. For Freddie's accessories we're
arranged with the same care and with
the same eye to business as is the WIN
dow display of the haberdasher who
supplied them to him.
Having completed half of his voyage
across the deep rug that covered that
particular part of the lobby, Freddie
paused ever so slightly. then veered to
the right and Steered a course almost
directly toward a mOdesty dressed
Young woman who appeared about to
seat herself. But Freddie the Foxtrot-
ter had noted just the suggestion OF
flicker of her eyelid when he surveyed
her-a flicker which to his experienced
eve spelled "Welcome, stranger; I'm
alone and lonesome"
On reaching the proper position Tor
addressing a lady loiterer, Freddie
slightly extended the hat that already
had been removed from his head and
narrowed his eyes into the grimace that
passes in his set for smile.
Beautiful day. Strolling down the
avenue?" re said.
''Why, yes" was the ready acquies-
cence.
And, to the surprise of the expert
enced Freddie the modestly dressed
stranger linked her arm in his as if
\ afraid she might lose him. A moment
later he had his second surprise, when
y a daintily suited miss from the opposite
side of the lobby approached, and, with
a smile that might have been turned
on friend of several years standing,
linked her arm in his unengaged arm
and accompanied him in the general di-
rection of the Thirty-third Street exit
from the hotel.
Freddie was no stranger to that ex-
hilarating feeling that accompanied a
new conquest, but two Of them, and
with so slight an exertion! He lifted
his eyebrows so violently it almost dis
turbed his smoothly combed hair.
"Let's-er-discuss this a moment
before we get out into the street" he
finally said, attempting to map out
plan of campaign that would meet this
emergency. N<TJ "a
But his remark seemed to be all that
was necessary to bring on the real shock
of the afternoon. The left hand of the
modestly dressed woman and the right
hand of the dainty suited one slid down
his arms and their index fingers were
crooked into his coat sleeves in the
alarmingly efficient way that Freddie
had seen only on the few occasions when
he had watched the police arrest rowdies
about the dance palaces he frequented.
"What-what does this mean?" he
asked.
"A pinch. That's what it means, and
little Mr.. Powder Puff is going to get
his good and plenty if he ever sticks his
nose inside this place again. Does he
get me-"
The words were spoken in a well
modulated voice by the modestly
dressed one, and the glad-to-meet-you
smile that accompanied it was enough
to deceive any casual observer. But
they were spoken in manner that
convinced Freddie that he had suddenly
discovered a new variety of woman
one who was impervious to his charms.
He would have paused to take second
look at his companions but for the fact
that they were applying just enough
pressure to his imprisoned wrists to
rnaka n ovideuf that he wouJd mt ho