The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-08

Strange! What brings you here to-
 night, Kettle "
 Not so strange" and the tall
 blonde, baby-faced Journalist whose
 profession served as a blind to his
 real work, that of skilled secret ser
 vice operator, removed his glasses cleansed them laborously, and look ing straight in the face his queS- tioner, smiled good-naturedly. What is so strange about my presence here Mir. Harvey?" ha asked.
 My dear Kettle, people always connect the presence of men of your profession at such functions as this with high pitched re nance. Therc
 would be nothing extraordinary about your visiting some back ally rum shop-those places where respectable people are not to be seen. Come Ket- tie, what brings you here tonight %
 This is not much like a rum par for, is it?" he swept his left hand
 backwards and puffed at his cigar as
 he looked out from the coat room across the great room beyond, rapid ly filling with guests in fiimsy even 1g gowns, their escorts in regulation
 black. Don't let Mrs. Higginson hear
 you call her house q rum parlor."
 q think Mrs. Higginson might
 agree with me If she knew what Q queer lot of people she ~-:ll be en-
 tertaining this evening. Cheap ward
 politicians, fnanciers, diplomats of both homemade and imported va
 rietics; a medley of strange birds.
 And by the way, what are you?' Myself
 Do you mean to tell me that you are here tonight just to enjoy social intercourse with such queer birds?" Can't there be another reason?'' Kettle asked. Perhaps l am writing a story and would like to peep into high society If you are going to write about the sensational social life of
 New York you will have to move in
 that society.
 So that is your stunt. However,
 your explanation is more plausible
 than convincing"
 An Imported Guest. Here comes the honored guest of
 the evening"" said Harvey.
 Kettle slowly raised his eyes and
 gave n sweeping glance across the room until his gaze rested on the newcomer. Beyond the archway opening to the hall Mrs. Higginson wife of a former American Ambassa- dor, was receiving her guests. She
 was greeting a handsome man of
 middle-ago, and her enthusiasm sug- gested in an unmistakable manner that the guest was of a special va riety, one of those over whom Aneri- can women of some little residence abroad made so much fuss. Up to his neck in the Polls tangle," said Harvey, yet declares his visit to America has no politica 1 signiflance. He has been received by the British Foreign Office, enter ain ! ed by the French, made several Y: ;its | to the Italian Embassy at Paris ant l has held two long conferences witt ' one of the gh-placed officials of ouI | State Department. I suppose they believe him at Washington. He is General Melnilloff, isn't he 9 said Kettle. 'fSfrs. IIigginson appears 1 to know him we1l.''
 "Shr met him at the Polish capita ! before the war. That was when hel husband was travelling in thos, ! climes as our diplomatic representa- tive. l fancy you newspaper mer | know a good lot about him. Tell me | what do you think about ths | GeneraI?"
 We know more about him than we dare or care to print. But I would | give a good part of my weeks salary | to know what you diplomats know | about the General
 "A lot more than we care to ex | change for your years salary - | l great deal more than we care to tell | even to you newspaper men in oul | confidence, Kettle" Harvey moved l away to speak to lady who ha( | stopped to attra ot his attention. Harry Kettle watched him for | few moments. Havelock Harvey wa: | by no means a fool. and Kettle wa ! not anxious he should practice hi! ! statesmanship on him. Kettle moved ! through the crowds of guests in tn, opposite direction to that which liar
 vey and his companion had taken, and ! presently managed to get near the ! archway where Mrs. Higginson talked ! to General Melnltoff.
 ,i T feel obliged to wait few min
 utes," he heard her say. There arr
 always the late arrivals. l am yer! curious to know what has brough you all the way to America. Nova
 days Generals and Statesmen do no
 travel just for pleasure, you know. | she suggested.
 ! General Melnikoff smiled, but Mrs 1 Higgonson spoke as if she had n,
 doubt he would tell her the object O his visit to America. Kettle wonder