The Washington times., 1923-11-24

were easily Wrenched out. ne
lifted his foot, kicked out . pane,
found the catch. opened the win-
dow and ran up the narrow. dark
stairs. There was Z light In the
spacious hail ana IN another mo-
mont he had opened the door. He
expected to be dismissed with
word Of lofty thanks, but she said
In q tone Of casual hospitality:
''There are sandwiches in the IL
brary and ] can give you whisky
and soda"
She walked with Night, swift
step down the hall, the narrow tail
OF her black velvet gown wriggliag
after her. Clavering followed in =
doze, but his trained eye took note
OF the fine old rugs and carved
italian furniture. two splendid
tapestries. and great vases Of flow
ers that filled the air with a drowsy
perfume. He had heard OF the
Ogden house, built and furnished
some fifty years ago. The coupe
that had leased It had been chilli
less and It showed little wear. The
stairs curving on the left had evil
IDENTIFY been recarpeted, but in q
very duh red that harmonized with
the mellow tints Of the old house.
She opened q door at the end OF
the hall on the right and he found
himself in large library whose
walls were covered with books 70
the ceiling. Dinwiddie had told
him that the Ogdens were bool1isn
people and that ''Mary's'. grand
father had been an eminent jurfst.
The room was as dark in tone o.
the han. but the worn chairs ana
sofas looked very comfortable. A
log was burning on the hearth.
She took q key from q drawer
and handed It to him.
"You win find whiskey and 4
syphon in that cabinet, Mr.. Claw
ering. I keep them for Judge
Trent
''Mr. CIa He came ont Of
his daze. You know who I am,
then?,
"But certainly. am not as
reckless as all that
Her accent was slight but In
dubious. vet impossible to place.
It might be that Of q European
who spoke many languages, or Of
an American with susceptible ear
who had lived the greater part
Of her life abroad. 81 was driving
one day with Judge Trent and saw
you walking with Mr.. Dinwiddie."
''Tront-ahi
He had his first full look into
those wise, unfathonaable eyes.
Standing close to her. she seemed
somewhat older than he had guess
cd her to be, although her face was
unlined. Probably It was her re-
marlxable poise, her air Of power
and security-and those eyes!
What had not they looked upon?
She smiled and poured broth from
q thermos bottle.
''You are forgetting your whiskey
and Soda" she reminded him.
He filled his glass. took a sand
witch and sank into the depths
OF q leather chair. She had
seated herself on an upright
throne-like chair opposite. He:
black velvet gown was like q
vase supporting q subtly moulded
flower Of dazzling fairness. She
wore the three rows Of pearls that
had excited almost Is much spec
ulatiOn as her mysterious self.
AZ she drank her mild beverage
she looked at him over the brim
Of her cup and once more APP
peared to be ON the verge Of
laughter.
"win you tell me who you areY''
asked Clavering bluntly. This ID
hardly fair. you know"
''Mr. Dinwiddie. really managed
to coax nothing from Judge TRENT
He called three times, I under.
stand"
'Not a word"
HE had my ORDERS" she said
coolly. ''T am obliged to pass
some time in New York and ]
have my reasons for remaining
obscure"
'"Then you should have avoided
first nights"
But I understood that society
did not attend first nights. So
Judge Trent informed me. love
the play. Judge Trent told me
that first nights were very anus
ing and that I would be sure te
be seen by no one I had even
met In European society"
Probably not" he said drily
ana feeling decidedly nettled al
her calm assumption that nothing
but the society Of fashion counted,
but the people who do attend
them are a long sight moro dis
ttnguished in the only way that
counts these days, and the women
are often az well dressed az any
In the sacrosanct preserves"
''Oh, ] noticed that" she said
quickly. Charming intelligent