Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-28

Yes" sighed Mr.. Cramp. let's play
whist
The result of the hand was even more
disastrous to himself and his partner than
the first had been. By scoring the three
odd tricks their opponents were enabled to
announce a treble. This dire catastrophe
ing Of heart.
why" he asked Of Mr.. cramp. didn't
you return my lead?'
What lead?"
For once the admiral seemed keen Of
hearing.
81 led a club"
Il wished to establish my spades. I had
seven. If you had acted on my signal We
should have had the game at our mercy.
The admiral turned to the general.
What's he say? If he'd returned my
lead 1 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 again!" grow,ed the general.
my dear general, when q man tells me
that he cares nothing for what he calls
book whist 1 ask myself-and sometimes
ask him-if he thinks 1t possible to acquire
a science by merely getting by heart. parrot
fashion, number Of obsolete and actually
erroneous traditions"
The general seemed to choke back some
thing which was in his throat.
Whose deal?" he demanded.
Nine" Mine, said Mr.. cramp.
Mr.. Cramp dealt. When the hsnd 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 reel.
Two trebles and the rub was a 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 suggested.
By this time several other persons had
entered the room. No one attempted to
start another rubber, but quite a crowd
clustered around the table to watch the
one which was already in progress. The
process Of cutting for partners was fol-
lowed with interest. interest which was not
lessened when IT was observed that the
order Of play was diserranged. and that
Mr.. Cramp was cast with the genera;
Have you been thinking about what
inquired Mr.. Cramp Of his partner. as he
Gated.
About whatr'
ing was that Of a broomstick, with a head
on top.
'"rhe call. have here a very admirable
little work. by an American. 1t is called
upon the Echo" Mr.. Cramp drew a little
paper-covered pamphlet from his waistcoat
pocket. The general watched its appearance
In state Of apparent speechlessness. 1T
50 continually referring TO authorities, but
the truth is that whist as a game, has en-
tirely altered during the last few years.
md here at Pendleton such a seeming I'M
consciousness Of this fact that hope I may
be excused II venture to call attention to
the fundamental difference which exists be-
tween whist as 1t is and as 1t was
will some one ring the bell for me-" OBJ
served the general. land order some brandy
neat?
Mr.. Cramp went placidly on. apparently
not observing the popularity Of the gem
erals manner.
Whist. as 1t is. has attained to the dig.
nifty of an exact science. A whist player is
able, by series of prearranged signals to
INFORM his partner Of every card in his
hand. After two or three rounds he should
know where every card IL lying. So COM
pletely Is every detail arranged that 1t is
scarcely an exaggeration to say that he
should know exactly what card to play
under every possible combination Of circum-
stances. In other words. he should be as
entirely at his ease as IL the cards were
lying face upwards on the table"
,n Arent you going to have any more
heart. the admiral Of the general
The general exploded
Good heavens. sir! How the somethinged
something should know? The mans talk
Ing to US as though we were an awkward
squad"
REALLY. general. you mistake me-"
Mr.. Cramps manner was mild. The gen.
but mild.
II would have you not to mistake me,
sir! This Is the Pendleton Club. We are
members OF the Pendleton Club. You have
done US the honor, while enjoying the PEN
dieton breezes to become a visitor at the
Pendleton Club. We desire 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 IL you do
Mr.. Cramp bowed. seemingly in quiet ac-
quiescence. A rather acid smile was on his
face. Perhaps he found the general, IL a
little vulgar. hard to answer. He returned
the pamphlet to his waistcoat 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 ow
ing to the difference between their styies OF
play. Possibly Mr.. Cramp wouldn't under
stand his partners method, and 1t was quite
evident that his partner couldn't under
stand his In consequence of which slirht
misunderstanding. although they had the
honors. their opponents took three tricks.
think, general" observed Mr. Bowman.
with malicious intent, that you ought to
have had the odds"
The odd. sir! We ought to have won the
game" WIG
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.
The what, sir?''
ne american leads. i have here"
Mr.. Cramps hand stole toward the tails
of his coat.
Good gad sir. leave your books in your
pocketv
Mr.. Cramp accepted the rebuke.
1T Is little work have which deals
with the American leads. l 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 penulti-
mate"
THE what, sirr'
1.-THE penultimate"
Il tell you what you don't seem to have
paid much attention, sir. You don't seem
to have paid much attention to the fact that
you put your ace upon my king"
Il thought you wished me to-"
wished you to take my trick?"
I'm order that might give you spades"
why the-something-did want spades?"
Now that is the question which / put to
myself. At the time / could only draw my
differences from your play"
The general took out his bandanna. He
wiped his brow.
Hasn't that brandy of mine come yetr'
During the next hand play progressed
smoothly-in a sense-and to a certain point
AT that point Mr.. Bowman picked I'D q card
from the table.
General, you have revoked"
The general. who had been playing as
though he were sitting on hot bricks, turned
a beautiful peony color.
"Never did such a thing in my life!
You have done 1t now. You played q
spade when a heart was led, and now you
play heart"