Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-08-10
A FORCED LEAD.

TIE OIU gen LEHMAN VINO sat IN the cor
uer of the room and was always read
ing, and Julia Mccullough and young
Stevens. who were in another corner,
half shielded by the Japanese screen.
OF the card players one was old
Mr.. Mccullough, to whom whist was
the business of life. A second was
old Mrs Mccullough, who played
excellently, but never could be utterly
deaf to the claims of the outside
world. The third was Mr.. Richmond,
a successful lawyer. something over
80, with clOsely-cut, iron-gray hair.
quick, keen eyes, a manner which
very likely had been nervous. but
was now only incisive, and an utterly
absorbed attention to the matter in
hand. People said Richmond had
had disappointment in love. which
had kept him a bachelor and perhaps
encouraged the habit of absorption
fact which caused Julia Mccullough
and young Stevens TO regard him with
deep and respectful sympathy. The
fourth player was old Mr. McCul-
lough's partner. and just at present
she CROPPED under such a cloud of
disapproval that it would have been
relief to have escaped notice alto
gether. She was a silent, smooth,
unassertive, unmarried woman, whose
game Mr.. Mccullough had trained,
trimmed and pruned in season and
out of season until, as matter of
self-presery alton, she had learned to
| play better than he.
But it was owing to her that Mr.
Mccullough now fidgeted in his chair
and glared at a nine-spot as if each
| club on its surface were a weapon of
assassination. 1t was but o'clock
IN the evening, and she was playing
only till the stage came to take her
| to the train on which she was to
leave-break up the game and leave.
No wonder Mr.. Mccullough was
| almost speeches with rage. No
wonder that Mrs Mccullough fatally
| wandered, so that she mistook a
knave for : king and pulled in her
opponents trick. Even Mr. Rich
mond, who scarcely knew how Miss
| Selwyn locked. so rarely he raised
his eyes from the table, felt that her
conduct was injurious
May l De permitted to inquire,
| Charlotte asked Mr.. Mccullough
in an awful voice, '.since when a
knave has been advanced to the dis
tinction of taking king OF the same
suit?n
Gracious" admitted Mrs. Nc
| Cullough, pushing the card to Miss
Selwyn, who was so crowded by the
universal disapproval that she re-
ceived them as a free gift
| ''Of course it is impossible to be
even decently attentive in the midst
of such willful disturbance, re-
marked NJ. Mccullough.
IF it were not a case of illness. -
began Miss Selwyn. agologetically.
People have no business to be
ill., snapped Mr.. Mccullough.
do you suppose Susan will be able
to get there, too?" asked Mrs Nc
Cullough.
i hope So" returned Miss Selwyn.
Come. come, Charlotte," ex.
claimed Mr.. Mccullough; 'for heav-
ems sake, let us play while we cam
Julia Mccullough and young Ste
vens were talking in low tones be-
hind the screen.
did you really pin it up?" asked
Julia, with apprehensive pleasure.
Il really did," returned young
Stevens, lin the hall. | knew how
strained the situation would be to.
night, and as it is my last evening
wanted il to be peaceful. They
might have asked one of US to take 9
hand
Il wouldn't have done it, said
Julia, firmly.
Eyes you would, you poor lamb, OF
/ would have taken your place anG
lost my eemper. I can get along
with your uncle anywhere but at the
whist-table.
One of the hotel servants came t.
the door--the stage was leaving.
Miss Selwyn rose, looking ready t
cry. The cards had just been dealt
Il am very sorry.n she said.
Sorry growled Mr.. Mccullough
eve may lave to play with a dummy! =
There isn't soul in the house
that can play" sighed Mrs. McCuI
Tough. Richmond rose to go will
| AulSo tltlN II W lIC dOOI.
He put her in the carriage and re
turned. Not word had been spoken
He walked restlessly to a bookcas,
and read the titles. The old man il
the corner buried himself deeper il
his pages; the young girl and he
companion became more involved il
winding worsted. Mrs. McCullougl
sorted her hand mechanically. Mr.
Mccullough drummed on the tabl,
and looked ready to burst with rage
1t was as if nature were preparing
for cataclysm.
Suddenly they all, except tn
reader, looked up. A woman stoot
in the doorway-fne-looki though
not a young woman Her gray hal
rose straight from her handsom
forehead; her clear complexion wa