Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-19

wy DAuAlA0SS, aAy put luo truly mated. An hours silence with these two people by themselves might have worked wonders.
 CHAPTER XIII.
 THE DISTRESSING ADVENTURE OF
 MRS BINES
 The fame of the Zines family for despising money was not fed wholly by Percivals unremitting activities. Miss Psyche Zines. during the winter, achieved wide and enviable renown as player of bridge whist. Not for the excellence of her play; rather for the inveteracy and size of her losses and the unconcerned cheerfulness with which she defrayed them. She paid the considerable sums with an air of gratitude for having been per mitted to lose them. Especially did she seem grateful for the jealous tutelage and chaperonage of Mrs. Drelmer.
 Everybody in New York plays bridge, my dear, and of course you must learn," that capable lady had said in the beginning.
 But I never was bright at cards" the girl confessed, "and I'm afraid I couldn't learn bridge well enough to interest you good players"
 "Nonsense!" was Mrs. Drelmer's assurance. Bridge is easy to learn and easy to play. I'll teach you, and promise you the people you play with shall never complain"
 Mrs. Drelmer, it soon appeared, knew what she was talking about.
 Indeed, that well-informed woman was always likely to. Her husband was an intellectual delinquent whom she spoke of largely as being fin Wall street." and in that feat of jugglery known as keeping up appearances" his wife had long been the more dex- terous performer.
 She was apt not only to know what she talked about, but she was . wom- an of resource, unafraid of action. She drilled Miss Zines in the rudi- ments of bridge. If the teacher be- came subsequently, much the largest winner of the pupils losings. 1t was, perhaps. not more than her fit recon. pense. For Miss Bines enjoyed not only the sport of the game. but her manner of playing it, combined with the social prestige of her amiable sponsor, procured her . circle of ac. quaintances that would otherwise have remained considerably narrower. An enthusiastic player of bridge, of passable exterior, mediocre skill, and unlimited resources, need never want in New York for very excellent so- ciety. Not only was the western girl received by Mrs. Drelmer's immedi- ate circle, but more than one mem Der of what the lady called that snubby set" would now and then make a place for her at the card table. A few of Mrs. Drelmer's inti- mates were SO wanting in good taste as to intimate that she exploited Miss Bines even to the degree of an un- derstandlng expressed in bald per centage, with certain of those to whom she secured the girls society at cards. Whether this ill-natured gossip was true or false, it is certain that the exigencies of life on next to nothing a year. with a husband who could boast of next to nothing but family. had developed an unerring business sense in Mrs. Drelmer; and certain 1t also is that this winter was one when the appearances with which she had to strive were un- wontedly buoyant.
 Miss Bines tirelessly memorized rules. She would disclose to her placid mother that the lead of trump to the third hands go-oyer of hearts is of doubtful eIpediency; or that one must follow suit with the smallest, except when you have only two, neither of them hsster than the Jack. Then play the Higher first 90 that when the lower falls your partner may know you are out of the suit, and ruff Il"
 Mrs. Zines declared that it did seem to her very much like out-and- out gambling But Percivsl. looking over the stubs of bis sisters check book. warmly protested her inno- cence of this charge
 Heaven knows Sis has her short conings.- he observed. pztronizing- Iy. in that young vomsnis presence. but she's 10 gambler. don't say l. nz. I beg Of yOuI She only knors five rules Of the game. ard j1dgs it's cost her abO1t s3leoS each to learn hose And the only one she nsvsr forssts Is: When in doubt lead yozr highest check' Bat dont ever scc1ss her of gambling Poor girl. if she keeps o1 playing bridge saeU have writer's cranp: that's all Tn afraid of l see there's . 1er rzpsdHre check-book o7 the narfst.
 -~s