The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-07

1t Lasted Five Hours and Talking
Was Forbidden.
New York S1In

New York Sun.
Laura, the cook i'm the Solomon house, and
Nellie, the maid of all work. were on the
verge of a strike before lunch was served.
That was because Mrs. Solomon, who was
not usually troubled with nerves. had been
In a state of fdget from the moment she
emerged from her room. Nothing quite
suited her, and her voice rang through the
rooms and halls Nof the house in fretful
criticism until Laura declared she wouldn't
stand il any longer. and Nellie was reduced
to tears and helplessness. Mrs. Solomon
barely touched her food at breakfast or
luncheon, but after the latter had been dis
posed of, she became somewhat ealmer, and
when Nellie cleared the things off the smok-
ing room table and placed before her a
carved oak box, a happy smile Illuminated
Mind now" said Mrs. Solomon, land
have the luncheon served at half past T."
Yes, ma'am," said Nellie, and disap-
peared.
Mrs. Solomon sat down at the table and
opened the box, disclosing some packs OF
playing cards in unopened wrappers and
row after row of ivory chips, all bearing in
the center the engraved monogram j. s."
meaning Judith Solomon. 1t was interesting
to watch her as she picked the chips out
of the box and placed them on the table.
Being young and pretty. in spite of her eX-
treme pallor, and possessing more than
usual grace in all her movements. her ac-
ton in sorting the chips into piles of blues
and reds and whites was picturesque. There
were six chairs around the table, including
her own, and on the table before each chair
she placed three piles OF chips, consisting
of twelve blues, ten reds and twenty whites.
1t was 1 o'clock A few moments iater me
mon had been expecting began to arrive.
Within ten minutes ali had come. They
were most of them women of middle age,
although one was g~ray-haired and one was
still in the flush of youth. Each brought
with her a small valise- The door had
hardly closed behind the last conner, and
greetings had been barely exchanged. when
Mrs. Solomon said:
Now, dears, come right upstairs and get
ready. We haven't any time to waste"
They followed her to the next floor and
disappeared within her room. When they
returned to the parior noor a
great transformation had taken place
in their appearance. Their street
costumes had been removed and
replaced by comfortable dressing
in. They took their places around the ia
BILE. Mrs. solomon at the head. She took
one of the packs of cards out of the box
and placed il on the table, then put the box
on a little stand behind her.
Now, ladies' she said, as she showed
the pack over to the eldest in the party, I
have given you each five dollars worth Of
chips. You had better count them to make
sure. Mrs: Green, will you please shuttle
the cards?'
Mrs. Green, the gray-haired member Of
the party, removed the wrapper from the
cards, drew out the joker and threw il on
the floor; Then she shnfiied the cards with
over 20 the player at her right to cut them
and finally dealt them. All the players were
Immediately deeply engrossed In the game.
There was no conversation to speak of, the
only garrulous woman in the party-a very
pale, authenticated woman-being hut off
every time she started 10 talk by reminders
from the other women that she had forgot
ten TO ante or that II was her turn 10 say
what she proposed to do. The most re-
markable OF all the women was a very
slight, dark-complexioned woman with Very
thin lips and a sharp, straight nose, who
was addressed as Mrs. Cardozo. From the
time she sat down until the close of the
game she never said anything that did not
pertain directly 10 the game. Even when
she bet she said nothing, but placed her
chips with a soft, cat-like motion in the
center of the table. Her eyes never wan
dered from her cards, except when she
who were playing against her. She was
cool at all times. ard the most hardened
gambler never concealed his cards more
completely than she did.
A gambler would have called it a very