The record-union., 1897-10-10
What Happens Every Day.

1t was not that he claimed to be an
expert whist player at all, but just a
superb confidence in himself on general
principles that carried him into the
Chicago Whist Club with so easy a
swing and head so high in the air.
He had been in the room perhaps five
minutes when he realized that he was
in the presence of seventy or eighty
men to whom the game of whist had
long since become a science. They talk
ed unintelhgible tongue; they ratified
off descriptions of suits like so much
poetry He was just beginning to
sympathize with a fish on land when
his host slapped him ON the shoulder
and squared him about before keen
eyed fellow who looked as though he
could play four games at once and
write a text book on cards with the
other hand at the same time.
Here's your partner Price," he
cried. Take care of him, Carter" and
he turned on his heel
Hold on!" cried Price, convulsively,
I'll can't play here. I don't know
a thing, Carter"
ooh, yes; 1 know that story! Come
along!"
"No-no!" Price felt great pillows of
modesty surging up in his veins. The
sensation was SO new, it seemed as
though it might be fatal. 'The simple,
little home games of whist" he gasped,
appealingly.
The other paused.
you know the American leads, don't
you" he asked.
Not one of them
Can you echo in trumps?"
Don't know what it means"
"Know a trump signal?'
Not in a hundred years"
Price felt actual relief in asserting
his ignorance. He wanted to shout it
from the house-top, for it meant deliv-
erance.
But, no-Carter staggered and caught
himself bravely.
Never mind, old man." he cried,
sternly swallowing a hysterical ten
dency in his voice; well drop all rules
and play any old thing. Who cares.
The room whirled. Price found him
self seated at table, smiling and nod
ding, like an automaton, at two
strangers, and holding thirteen cards
that he could not see. He was para
lived What little he had ever known
of cards was gone. He followed suit
strictly by accident When he and his
partner moved to the next table he
didn't know which side had taken
tricks. Seventeen times this happened
to him. and from first to last he was
only conscious of the fact that at each
new table he met two more club mem
bers and demonstrated to them fully
;o1a tried TO
rally; he told himself that there were
other important things in the worio
beside whist; that he had been very
successful in business. And he smiled
and smiled and bowed and bowed. But
at the very last table he three times
forgot the trump.
And the game ended.
When the players crowded around the
blackboard to read the score, Price had
vanished on plea of sudden illness.
A search would have disclosed him
awaiting his train near an open door IN
a suburban passenger station. twas
sleepy hour, but he was eagerly read
ing American leads from a small card
which Garter had pressed into his hand.
Holding ace, king, queen, with five,
lead queen and follow with ace, ne
chanted to himself. I've ben over
board in deep water, and it's time L
learned to swim. Holding ace, king.
lack. but voices outside the doorway
arrested his attention.
What allied Carter to-night?" SAID
one. "He played wild. Why, he signal
ed for trumps when he didn't have one
in his hand and scared me out OF play
ing my good long suit Of 'em. l pitled
his partner He looked sort of dazed at
Carriers breaks"
But he knew how to carry the thing
on along, all right" was the answer.
'sThey stod three above the average on
the board, I noticed
The voices passed Price threw back
his head and looked himself for the
first time in four hours. He crumpled
the card of American leads and tossed
it away And he chuckled, low-toned,
radiant, rose-colored chuckle.-Chicago
News.