-those whom he met socially--were inclined to consider him
fascinating and very clever. Aileen being beautiful and graceful for
attention, was accepted at more or less her own value, though the
kingly high world knew them not.

It is amazing what a showing the socially unplaced can make on occasion
where tact and discrimination are used. There was a weekly social
paper published in Chicago at this time, a rather able publication as
such things go, which Cowperwood, with McKibben's assistance, had
pressed into service. Not much can be done under any circumstances
where the cause is not essentially strong; but where, as in this case,
there is a semblance of respectability, considerable wealth, and great
force and magnetism, all things are possible. Kent McKibben knew
Horton Biggers, the editor, who was a rather desolate and disillusioned
person of forty-five, gray, and depressed-looking--a sort of human
sponge or barnacle who was only galvanized into seeming interest and
cheerfulness by sheer necessity. Those were the days when the society
editor was accepted as a member of society--de facto--and treated more
as a guest than a reporter, though even then the tendency was toward
elimination. Working for Cowperwood, and liking him, McKibben said to
Biggers one evening:

"You know the Cowperwoods, don't you, Biggers?"

"No," replied the latter, who devoted himself barnacle-wise to the more
exclusive circles. "Who are they?"

"Why, he's a banker over here in La Salle Street. They're from
Philadelphia. Mrs. Cowperwood's a beautiful woman--young and all that.
They're building a house out here on Michigan Avenue. You ought to
know them. They're going to get in, I think. The Addisons like them.
If you were to be nice to them now I think they'd appreciate it later.
He's rather liberal, and a good fellow."

Biggers pricked up his ears. This social journalism was thin picking
at best, and he had very few ways of turning an honest penny. The
would be's and half-in's who expected nice things said of them had to
subscribe, and rather liberally, to his paper. Not long after this
brief talk Cowperwood received a subscription blank from the business
office of the Saturday Review, and immediately sent a check for one
hundred dollars to Mr. Horton Biggers direct. Subsequently certain not
very significant personages noticed that when the Cowperwoods dined at
their boards the function received comment by the Saturday Review,