The Washington times., 1923-11-24

told that Americans avoid serious
topics In society. I, alas, have
become very serious:''
She swept her favored guests
with a disarming smile. They
understood. There was no sting
in her words for them.
His Suggestion.
Clavering spoke up eagerly.
why should you bore yourself
with social functions? If you
want to raise money for the chill
dren I will not only start a drive
in my column, but take you to
call on several powerful editors
or bring them here" he added
hastily at the look Of amazement
In her eyes. "and they will be
more than willing to help you.
They have only to meet"
That il all very WELL" inter-
rupted Judge Trent, who. like the
other elderly gentlemen, was glar-
ing at the famous young columnist
who daily laid down the law to
his admiring readers. But to
raise money in large amounts
you've got to have q committee,
and no committee il of any use
for this sort Of thing-withOut the
names Of fashionable women who
are as well known to our demo-
cratic public, that daily devourS
the society columns, as the queens
of the movies"
"Well-well-I do not know.
must think. It is not a step to
take lightly"
Clavering intercepted a flash
between her eyes and Judge
Trent's and the old gentleman
frightened his lips In a self-con-
scious smirk as he bent over his
fish.
Damn himr' thought Claver-
ing. ''TIe knows the whole truth
and is laughing at Us in his
sleeve"
Madame Zattiany had turned the
subject gracefully to European
politics. and he watched ner with
detached air.
Trent's attitude toward her
amused him. It was more defer
entail and admlring than infatu-
ated. = Whatever her charm,
she was no longer In her first
youth. and only unripe fruit
could sting that senescent palate.
But the other two! Clavering
smiled sardonically. Dinwiddie.
hanging on her every word, was
hardly eating. He was a very
handsome man. In spite Of his
shining pate and heavy white
moustache. His features were
fine and regular, his eyes, Il
rather prominents were clear and
blue, his skin cleanc and his fig
ure but little amplified. He was
Z only sixty.two.
Osborne, who looked barely
fifty, was personable and clever
enough to attract any woman.
He, too, was astonishingly indif-
ferent to the excellent dinner;
and both these gentlemen had
reached an age, where, II wary
of excess for reasons Of vanity
and interior comfort, they de-
rived their sincerest enjoyment
at the table.
That she possessed sex magnet.
ism in a superlative degree in
spite Of her deliberate aloofneSss
Clavering had, Of course. been
conscious from the first. Had not
every male first !nighter been con-
scious Of it? There was q sur
felt Of beauty in New York. A
stranger, even IL invested with
mystery, must possess the one
irresistible magnet, combined
with some unusual quality Of
looks, to capture and hold the.
interest Of weary New Workers
as she had done. Even the dra-
matte critics, who looked as IL
they hated everybody, had been
seen to gaze upon her with rare
approval.
But tonight Clavering had a
glimpse Of something more than
a magnetism for which she was
not responsible and to which she
had seemed singularly indifferent.
It was quite evident that he was
watching charm in action. She
was sparkling and exerting her.
self, talking brilliantly and IL
luminatingly upon the chaos
still known as Europe, and it
was patent that her knowledge
was not derived from newspa-
pers or drawing room gossip.
Her personal acquaintance Of
public men had evidently been
extensive before the war, and
she had as manifestly continued
to see those in and out Of office
in Vienna and T3uda Pesth
throughout all the later nuctua-
tons. Her detestation of the old
German mi1itaristic nartv was