Summaries

Synopsis

John Pollard, once wealthy but now impoverished, lives in what is known in Washington circles as the "shabby genteel." His daughter, Polly, is the arch flirt of the District of Columbia. Pollard has a penchant for liquors, which is the despair of his daughter. First Lieutenant Richard Travers, comfortably wealthy, arrives from the Philippines on a three months' furlough. He becomes attracted to Polly Pollard. George Henry Singleton, a multi-millionaire, is considered the best catch in Washington by everyone except Polly. She is polite to him for the sake of her father. At a party given by Mrs. Madison Derwent, the widow of a cavalry officer, Travers, his chum, Lieutenant Tommy Patterson, and the Baron Wootchi, of the Japanese Legation, are among those present. Tommy imparts to Mrs. Derwent that although Travers is interested in Polly, everyone knows and says that she is going to marry old Singleton. This sets Mrs. Derwent thinking. Baron Wootchi receives a letter from the Japanese Government, ordering him to watch Richard Travers, who has valuable papers that the Japanese must procure. Later, at Mrs. Derwent's, Singleton proposes to Polly, but she rejects him. Singleton denounces Pollard, who comes in, but Pollard threatens to make Polly obey his wishes. Baron Wootchi asks Mrs. Derwent to watch Lieutenant Travers. At first she refuses, but when he gives her a bauble, she consents. Singleton comes into the room in time to see the jewel change hands, and with a cynical sneer he joins them, pretending not to have seen. When all her guests but Singleton have departed, Mrs. Derwent asks him whether he really loves Polly. He resents her attitude, but she tells him she will fix it so that he will marry no one but herself, reminding him that he owes her something, after all the years during which they have been very intimate. He tells her that he knows most of the secrets which her house holds, and this silences her. Tommy, who had overheard Pollard announce that his daughter will be made to marry Singleton, repeats it to Travers. Mrs. Derwent informs the Baron Wootchi that the Pollards are almost penniless, adding that Polly is in love with Travers, but her father is bitterly opposed to her choice. Baron Wootchi informs Pollard that Japan would give $50,000 for plans of the new army aeroplane which Travers carries. When Pollard starts at the remark, Baron apologizes for the offense. Travers is accepted by Polly. He shows her the drawings of his plans, explaining that if accepted by the Government, they will net him over $100,000. When Polly tells her father of her engagement, she is surprised at his ready consent. Singleton calls, and when Polly speaks of her engagement, he denounces her father, saying that the note for $50,000 which he (Singleton) holds against him has been due for three months and will be collected within ten days. Pollard explains to his daughter that he gave their home as security for the loan, and she realizes she must marry Singleton to pay off her father's debt. She telephones Travers, breaking the engagement. In another week Travers completes his plans. Feigning drunkenness, Pollard reels into the hotel room occupied by Travers. When the young man sees his seeming condition, he places Pollard on a couch, where he pretends to fall into a deep slumber. Travers places the completed plans into the pocket of his dress uniform and while he is in the adjoining room with Tommy, Pollard steals the plans. At Pollard's home Wootchi offers Pollard a check for the plans. Pollard demands cash. The Baron leaves. Polly arrives and finds a cigarette case with a Japanese inscription; she asks the butler whether the Baron has been there, but the man denies all knowledge of the Baron's call. She runs into her father's room to ask him, and sees him hastily hiding some bulky papers that have a familiar look. She becomes suspicious. Travers discovers the loss but will not report to the War Office, for fear that the scandal might implicate Pollard, and for Polly's sake, he must protect her father. Polly sees her father and the Baron leaving in an automobile, and follows them in another car to a little inn. She prevails upon the waiter to allow her to bring the drinks to the men, assuring him that it is all a little joke on her father and his friend. Inside the room she notices the stack of bills near her father. and sees the Baron looking over Travers' plans. She realizes the truth and leveling a revolver at the Baron commands him to return the plans. He attacks her. She fires and hits his shoulder just as he is about to go out of the room. Stuffing the money back into the Baron's pockets and taking the plans, Polly explains to the waiter and landlord who enter, that the Baron had been explaining to her how the Japanese held their revolvers at target practice, when she discharged the barrel by accident. Baron Wootchi corroborates her story. The next morning Polly reads a newspaper item, telling of the accident in which Wootchi had been wounded, adding that in a few days he will be able to leave for Japan. Travers reads the same account, and telephoning Polly, asks whether it truly had been an accident. She replies: "Certainly, it might have gone through his head." Realizing that the plans are worth a good deal more than fifty thousand dollars to him, Travers pays Singleton the money which Pollard owes him, gaining as a reward the hand of Polly Pollard.