The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-07

A Social
HireIing
Story of an English Gentle
man Down on His Luck.
Qx VII IAN CHAknI ED
By WILLIAM CHANDLER


ginning TO show signs OF long wear
stepped into an office on an upper floor
Of a skyscraper on Fifth avenue. New
York, and approached a sleek, gentle
man-like man sitting at a rosewood
desk.
BEG pardon. sir" said the man who
entered. with smooth English accent
Il have understood that you desire
persons for social purposes
HIN! sometimes have occasion
to recommend young man to fill a
to Do you dancer
II do"
"There is also need for dinner sub
stitutes.'
BEG pardonf"
you are not familiar with New York
society methodist"
81 have recently come from London.
where | have had the entree to the
smart set"
Very good. We have here Il mum
Der of families who have recently be-
come enormously rich and who are de.
sirous of getting into society. We call
them social climbers They must be
gin by inviting the few persons in the
swim they can get to their functions.
filling up with those who are not in the
swim. gradually increasing the number
OF the former and diminishing the lat
ter. 1t is essential that the filters
should be familiar with the customs of
swclldom. pere Give from your man.
ner that you will make an excellent
filler"
What are your termsi"
in the beginning | can pay you So
for dancing party and SO for din.
ner."
why Is the greater work paid the
lesser pricc?'
Because the dancer uses his heels
and need not betray himself by saying
anything. The diner must talk"
II see One must have intellect to
be dinner companion"
mot at all He must be able to talk
well about nothing. Can you do 'that?'
Il can only assure you that ! have
been In society all my life. Only be-
Ing out OF funds induces me to offer
my services for what you call filler"
VERY good. Mrs. Barnaby Ritz gives
dinner tonight and needs several
young men. The number has been
made up with one exception. Have
you evening dressT
my evening dress Is all have. 1t
is in fair condition"
II presume you will need little
something for carriage and other tri.
hes," handing the man five e-dollar
bills
But. my dear sir. you don't know
me. What Is to prevent my pocketing
this money and not seeing you AGAIN.
Excuse me for contradicting you
l do know you. What you say Is by
no means complimentary to my dis
cernment ! know a gentleman when
see him and would know him IL he
were In the garb of huckster."
Thank you very much"
The agent. Mr.. Pulsifer Short, took
the mans name and address. the name
given being Ralph Plummer
"Assumed?" said Mr. Short dryly
"As you like" was the response.
When Mr. Plummer appeared ut
Mrs. RitZ's-he was directed to be on
hand in time to be looked oversize
brought lorgnette to bear on him and
after asking him few questions said:
MY most blueblooded guest for the
evening is Miss De Witt. She Is a de.
scendant of John De Witt. great
something or other of Holland don't
1 mind telling you that secured her
| because my son saved her from being
run over by an auto. You are the only
man who is to dine here today who
| will be up to her high stepping gait.
| Do what you can TO entertain her. I'll
send you something substantial tomor.
| row."
/ Mr.. Plummer was shown into a room
| where the guests were assembled
They were not all unreined and Miss
De Witt was evidently high bred But
she was not as Mrs Ritz had describ-
cd her. being unassuming and lady
like Though she was not among per
sons OF her own set. she did not indi
Of place When her dinner companion
was introduced TO her she looked al
him with an expression that he could
not well define Ii might have beer
curiosity: II might have been surprise.
"Mr. Plummer. did you say. Mrs
Ri17"
"Yes. This is Mr.. Plummer, an ole
friend Of ours"
The filler passed one Of the pleasant
est evenings of his life. feeling from
the first en- rapport with his compa
MON. Mrs Ritz conducted hersel
quite well. considering that her hus
band had started his career as a foun
dryman. but several of her guests
made serious breaks. At such time
Miss De Witt either went on Will
1 what she WAS saying TO Mr.. Plumme
or listened attentively TO what h,
said TO her altogether ignoring tn
| breach. plummer was too much en-
crossed with her to even know that
i case of III breeding had occurred.
= When the hour for departure cam
Miss De Witt did not wait for MI
Plummer TO ask permission to call upol