The record-union., 1893-11-03

been educated in everything else out
whist? ?''
Mr.. Bowman shrugged his shoulders.
The General laid down the pack OF cards
with which be was about to deal.
Excuse me, Bowman, but if we're
going to have discussion on first princi-
pies, propose that we adjourn. If we're
going to play whist, let's play whist"
Yes" sighed Mr.. Cramp, 'lets play
whist"
The result of the hand was even more
disasterous to himself and his partner
than the first had been. By scoring the
three odd tricks their opponents were en-
abled to announce treble. This dire
catastrophe seemed to cause the Admiral
some searching Of heart.
Why" he asked of Mr.. Cramp, didn't
you return my lead ?"
what lead ?'
For once the Admiral seemed keen of
hearing.
"I led club"
Il wished to establish my spades. 1
had seven. If you had acted on my sig
nal we should have had the game at our
mercy"
The Admiral turned to the General.
Whats he say? Ii he'd returned my
lead l should have made my ace and
queen of clubs"
Mr.. Cramp leaned over the table.
II wish you'd let me persuade you to
get Cole on Whist"
Books againW growled the General.
"My dear General, when a man tells
| me that he cares nothing for what he calls
book whist L ask myself-and l soma
times ask him-if he thinks it possible to
! acquire science by merely getting by
| heart, parrot fashion, number of OBJ
solete and actually erroneous traditions"
The General seemed to choke back
something which was in his throat.
Whose deal?" he demanded.
"Mine," said Mr.. Cramp.
''Then deal"
! Mr.. Cramp dealt. When the hand had
been played it was found that Pelion had
! been piled upon Ossa. With three
! by tricks and the honors the General and
! his associate scored another treble off the
real. Two trebles and the rub was
pleasant commencement of the evenings
play. Nor was the pleasure lessened,
from the losers point of view, by the
fact that the cards had not been by any
means so one-sided as the result sug-
| gested.
By this time several other persons had
entered the room. No one attempted to
start another rubber, but quite a little
crowd clustered round the table to watch
the one which was already in progress.
| The process of cutting for partners was
| followed with interest interest which
was not lessened when it was observed
! that the order OF play was diSarranged,
and that Mr.. Cramp was cast with the
General.
Have you been thinking about what I
said to you the other night about the
call?'' inquired Mr.. Cramp of his part
ner, as he took the seat which Mr.. Bow
man had vacated.
About whatY'
AS he put the question the Generals
| bearing was that OF broomstick with a
head on top.
The call. L have'here very admira
! bic little work by an American. 1t is
called The Call for Trumps, with some
Remarks uDon the Echo.'' Mr.. Cramp
drew a little paper-covered pamphlet
from his waistcoat pocket. The General
watched its appearance in state of ap-
parent SpeechlessnesS. ''1t may seem a
little otficlous on my part to be SO con-
tinually referring to authorities, but the
truth is that whist, as a game, has en-
/ tirely altered during the last few years. L
| find here, at Pendleton, such a seeming
Inconsistencies of this fact that hope 1
may be excused if l venture to call at
! tention to the fundamental difference
which exists between whist as it is and as
| it was"
"Will some one ring the bell for me-"
! observed the General, land order some
! brandy neat?"
| Mr.. Cramp went pIacidly on, appa-
rently not observing the popularity of
! the Generals manner.
whist, as 1t is, has attained to the dig
nifty OF an exact science. whist player
! is able, by a series of prearranged sig
nails, to inform his partner of every card
| in his hand. After three rounds he should
| know where every card is lying, So
completely is every detail arranged that
it is scarcely an eXaggeration to say that
| he should know exactly what card to
play under every possible combination
of circumstances. In other words, be
should be as entirely at his ease as if the
cards were lying face upwards on the
| table"
Aren't you going to have any more
whist?' inquired, in the innocence of his
| heart, the Admiral of the General.
! The General exploded.
"Good heavens, sir! How the some
/ thinged something should l know? The
mans talking to us as though we were
an awkward squad"
"Really, General, you mistake me-"
Mr.. Cramps manner was mild. The
| Generals manner, as he replied, was any
thing but mild.
81 would have you not to mistake me-
sir! This IS the Pendleton Club. We are
members of the Pend1eton Club. You
have done us the honor, while enjoying
| the Pendleton breezes. to become A Wis
| L
to treat you as our guest. We don't force
you to play whist, but for goodness
sake don't try TO teach your grandmother
| if you do"
Mr.. Cramp bowed, seemingly in quiet
| acQuiescence. a rather acid smile was on
| his face. Perhaps he found the General,
ii little vulgar, hard to answer. He re-
turned the pamphlet to his wafstcoat
pocket Mr.. Bowman dealt the cards.
! The nine of hearts was turned
| Mr.. Cramp and his partner ought to
have won the odd, but they didn't. This
was owing TO the difference bet ween their
STYLES of play. Possibly Mr.. Cramp
wouldn't understand his partners meth
| od and it was quite evident that his part
ner couldn't understand his. In conse-
ouence Of which slight misunderstand-
ing. although they had the honors, their
opponents took three tricks.
81 think, General" observed Mr. Bow
man, with malicious intent, "that you
ought to had the odd"
'7The odd, sir! We ought to have won
the game"
He looked at his partner as if he had a
mind to eat him.
"Have you studied the American
! leads?''
Mr. Cramp put the question to his part
ner gently.
1.-THE what, sir?"
4 The American leads. nave mere
Mr.. Cramps hand stole towards the
tails of his coat.
''Good CAD, sir, leave your books in
your pocketn
Mr.. Cramp accepted the rebuke.
at is a little work [ have which deals
with the American leads. 1 don't think
you have paid much attention to the
Question which is now so prominent in
the circles of pure whist. the question of
the penultimate."a
1.-The what, sir2''
"The penultimate."
''I tell you to what you don't seemIto
| have naid much attention. sir You do