Judge — November 23, 1918 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a yen meh Phe Ap wala (ye Fea Foop Conservation Posters Certainty Are EFrective many letters of introduction; but your London friend assured me that a word to you would serve quite as well as many to various people.” Flattered by this tribute to his acquaintance and influence, Oakwood, who marveled at the excellence of her English, put out his hand again. “I hope to justify my friend’s opinion of me,” he said. “If you will do me the honor, I shall be delighted to entertain you to-morrow evening at dinner. If it were not un- likely that I could gather a few persons I would like you to know on such short notice, | should propose it for this evening.” “How can I thank you?” she responded. To Oak- wood the expression on her face was reward enough. “Of course, being a woman, I shall for to-night find amusement in unpacking my trunks and seeing how my finery comes out from the voyage. And this time she extended her hand and with it a smile that Oakwood literally felt. Chatting as they went to the door he noted that she had come in a taxi. “Please use one of my motors until you can select one you like,” he said. “I shall send you the phone number of my garage and leave orders that will be heeded at any time.” This courtesy gracefully accepted, they parted. A dozen prominent men and women were gathered about Oakwood’s table the next evening and all were charmed with Madame Rogier, the guest of honor. Day after day she enjoyed an extension of desirable acquaintance through dinners and receptions tendered by an increasing circle. While Oakwood did nor neglect the important mat- ters in which he was engaged, he gave Madame Rogier more and more attention. Fler society was so stimulat- ing that years seemed to fall trom him. Women began to whisper that they might marry. Most men of Oak- wood’s circle envied him the growing intimacy with a woman whose alluring personality even her sex ad- mitted. Oakwood soon noted that a younger man of his acquaintance, Christopher Delford, a man-about-town of good family, who had been at the dinner of introduc- tion, was becoming fond of Madame Rogier’s society. Delford attended every function in which she was a figure, and was much about the hotel where she still lived. That she appreciated the young man’s homage, and was gracious to him everybody, even Gakwood, observed. But that her concern for the older man was something different was shown in good time »y the announcement that she and Oakwood were to marry. Still Delford hung about persistently. Oakwood, with his associates of the board ot which he was chairman, attended a reception in Washington to distinguished Ally visitors, and Madame Rogier even went there with him. Before the reception Deiford appeared upon the scene, and more than once she encouraged him with a glance. Oakwood must have seen these marks of favor and moved diplomatically in his own behalf, for on the return to New York he an nounced the date upon which he and Madame Rogier were to be married. Still Delford hung about Madame Rogier’s hotel, and occasionally he was secn in conversation with her. Oakwood apparently determined to settle the matter with the young man rather than reveal to Madame Rogier a state of mind which might be construed as jealousy. So he invited Delford to dinner. Delford was the only guest. They chatted on timely matters, both with at least an assumed case. “You are young enough, Delford,” ventured Oak- wood, “to be thinking of the war.” “Tt is constantly on my mind,” replied the young man. “But | mean activel be subject to draft. If I your age I shou'd have enlisted long ago. I don’t mean this as a re flection, of course, for you may have plans of your owr know. You must ", you were “My draft classification is remote. I have plans, as you say. “By the way, Delford, you have seen, I assume, the announcement of a wedding that interests many people —Madame Rogier’s and mine.” Yes. But I cannot congratulate you, Mr. Oak- wood, for I regard you as a friend. “Ah! Jealousy? You have paid the lady much ention—and is that a token of friendship for attention has been of a peculiar sort. I am in the Secret Service.” “What has that to do with Madame Rogier, The woman you would marry is a German Delford consulted his watch. ‘I think that by this time she is in custody.” ‘The telephone bell rang violently. comicbooks.com