The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-16
A Social
Hireling
Story of an English Gentle
man Down on His Luck.
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

s,epr-rd into an office on an upper floor
A. skvscraper on Fifth avenue, New
YORK and approached sleek, gentle
msn.like man sitting at a rosewood
desk.
beg pardon, sir" said the man who
entered. with a smooth English accent
Il have understood that you desire
rersons for social purposes"
HIN. | sometimes have occasion
10 rec mmend young man to fill "a
to- 10 you dancer
Il De"
There is also need for dinner sub
sututes.
BEG pardon?"
"You are not familiar with New York
society methodist
Il have recently come from London.
where | have had the entree to the
smart set.
"very good. We have here 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
gn by inviting the few persons in the
swim they can get TO their functions,
filing 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
swedom. | perceive from your man
ner that you will make an excellent
| fler
what are your terms?"
In the beginning | can pay you 81
for dancing party and SO for din
| ner
"Why is the greater work paid the
lesser price,"
because the dancer uses his heels
and need not betray himself by saying
aAyhin- The diner must talk"
II see one must have intellect to
be dinner companion
Not ut al He must be able TO talk
wei about nothing. Can you do that?"
i ran only assure you that | have
been III society all my life Only be.
Ia on Of unds induces me to offer
ny services for what you call n filler
Very good Mrs Barnaby Ritz gives
9 aiuaer ilnight and needs several
.ea- ati The number has been
mat M with one exception Have
sOu n}riaa- drcsS:'
AIS a.enus dress is all have. 1t
Is IA lal condition
pres Dic yoa will need a little
something for carriage and other tri
les handing the man five five-dollar
bills
But. my dear sir. you don't know
NE. What is to prevent my pocketin:
lhlS money and not seeing you again."
Excuse me for contradicting you
! do know YOU What you say Is hy
10 means complimentary to my dis
cernment. ! know a gentleman when
! see him and would know him if he
were IN the garb Of a huckster"
Thank you very much"
lhe agent Mr.. Pulsifer Short. took
The nuns name and address. the name
gwen being Ralph Plummer.
Assumcd! said Mr.. Short dryly.
As you like" was the response
"hch Mr.. Plummer appeared at
MIS- Ritz's-he was directed to be on
uahd IN time to be looked oversize
brought lorgnette to bear on him and
after asking him few questions said
My most blueblooded guest for ;hc
evening is Miss De Witt she is a de
scehdant of John De Witt great
'ometAlng or other of Holland don't
lud telling you that | secured her
Oecause my son saved her from being
'uh over by an auto You are the only
wan Who is TO dine here today who
WI e up to her high stepping gait
~ Nhat You cali TO entertain her. IN
'end You something substantial tomor
row"
Nf. RUNNER was shown into room
Nhere the guests were assembled
nuey We're not all unrefined. and Miss
- viii was evidently high bred. But
sue was not as Mrs Ritz had describ-
~ uef being unassuming and lady
'Ae Though she was not among per
'OAs q her own set. she did not indi-
se bF her manner that she was out
paee When her dinner companion
as introduced to her she looked at
- Win an expression that he could
Oe Wei define. Ii might have been
.s,oSity: ,o il might have been surprise.
Ritz 1'u 'ou '"''
- This is Mr.. Plummer. an old
'rend Of ours"
uller passed one of the pleasant
- evenings of his life. feeling from
~. nfst en- rapport with his compa-
80, Mrs. Ritz conducted herself
ss.'e ~ Vel. considering that her hus-
a. had started his career as a foun.
,lah. but several of her guests
NJ. serious breaks. At such times
~ he Witt either went on with
n, sue was saying to Mr.. Plummer
~ I'D attentively to what he
~, her altogether ignoring the