The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-26


kins, if you lay dying nobody could
pin you down to the fact. You'd twist
and dodge around and finally die
when nobody knew it. Now that you
have got out of the theater business.
tell me right square out what you Will
do about the card party. VIII you join
in or not?"
my dear wife," he began, when
she interrupted him with:
Yes or no?'
my dear wife, don't be impatient
and impulsive. Those traits are re-
sponsible for half the troubles of
seven o'clock, and we do not retire Tor
two hours yet. It is dark and rainy
out doors, and no one will call. We
have a cheerful fireside, plenty of time,
and can go into the merits of the case
and come to a wise decision.
1--WE simply won't say another WORD
about it," she announced.
In the first place, this club is to be
composed of from eight to ten people.
half of whom will be ladies. So Tar as
my observation and experience goes
only one woman in hundred knows
OF cares anything about cards. They
simply lay one down now and then as
they gossip, and it makes no dlnerence
whether they lead a ten-spot or the
joker. This being so"
II deny that it is so! don't know
woman who can't play as well as
you dol"
I'm the next place." he went on. as
he got a new rest for his back against
the chair, there can't be no card
less friction. They forget what is
trump; they trump a partners ace;
they make wrong leads; they forget to
count or count too many; they charge
each other with nigging. I would bet
dollars to cents that our party would
break up in a row within a month.
Then would come backbiting, lying
and scandal, and five or six of you
foo rI1 ~ T0in
make it as awful as you possibly
cam sarcastically observed Mrs.
Perkins.
"I do not have to exaggerate. my
dear woman. While I have no inten-
ton of hurting your feelings I must
observe that you are my second wife"
"Oh. you are going to throw that
in my facet"
tI refer to it simply to strengthen
my argument. My first wife and I
Joined card club. All went well for
two meetings, and then there was a
grand row and a breakup, and do
my wife's death by years and years :?
You are dear to me. Mrs. Perkins, and
l would not have your death fastened
by one single second. While you are
about fifty years old"
There you go about my agei Am
to blame for being about fifty years
old?"
Certainly not, but was about to
years old you are as dear to me as if
you were only thirty. I should hate
to see you pining and dying because
some woman said you didn't know the
right bower of hearts from the queen
of clubs, or that you won two games
out of three by nigging like a profess
sionaI gambler. Again
Lets drop the whole thing
again, my dear Mrs. Perkins, I should
not care for any other game but poker:
All might be with me or against me- II
death; if with me I should win about four
jackpots out of five, and you can realize
would have nothing to say-at least moth
ing disagreeable, but every woman would
be ready to take her dying oath that
was a cheat and a swindler. No woman
born in this world can lose ten cents at
poker with equanimity. If she wins she
there is a card-sharp at the table I say
1 should win because am lucky at poker,
while on the contrary you should lose
only be mad and put out, but ready to
make serious charges against the. rest of
this happy home. I have mentioned q
few of my objections, Mrs Perkins. but
~ said we'd drop the whole thing" she
replied IF L asked you to have glass
of lemonade you'd go on and argue and
wering. I'll tell Mrs, Williams that we
can't join and that will end it,
may or may not join It is matter to be
discussed some future evening, and we
may arrive at satisfactory understand
ing within week. Always leave such
things open question Meanwhile
Meanwhile, we will sit around all win
ter like two old pokes.'
Meanwhile, while you are recovering
your wifely equanimity and enjoying the
delightful uncertainty of whether you are
to attend the theater or a card club, l
will figure a little and see if I can afford
ton of furnace coal at the same time.
think I can. 1 think so, and yet should
like to argue and reason the matter,
and
But Mrs. Perkins rose up with a killing
look and left him to do all further talk
ing to himself.-(Copyright, 1904, by T. G.
McClure.)