Sentence:  ... she liked to be able to have a picturesque fact or two with which to support herself when she too, to hold attention, wanted to issue moving statements as to revolutions, anarchies and strife in the offing. And she had noticed that when she <WSD>magpied</WSD> Tietjens' conversations more serious men in responsible positions were apt to argue with her and to pay her more attention than before.... 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To steal or hoard (items) as magpies are believed to do.