Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-27
DAILY STORY
won AT BRIDGE WHIST.
tOriginal.l

more before reaching port when the /
sun which we had not seen since our |
departure. broke through the clouds |
and bathed US all in delicious warmth.
Something else burst forth at the same |
time-the sunshine. for me, of face.
She came on deck for the frst tihe'
and her dignified father put her in Il |
steamer chair arranged her wraps ana /
sat down beside her like shepherd /
dog beside a lamb. Perhaps he saw |
me looking at her. At any rate. that
what | was doing. for | couldn't Keep |
nv eyes off her. Such refined dignity. |
such repose. such gentlencsS, 1t must
have all come down from generations
of gentility.
WHY had the weather kept her be-
low till the voyage was nearly finish
ed? | must make the most OF the brieI
period left to secure an acquaintance
Alas the sun went down III clouds ana
so did my hopes, She did not appear
on deck again. l did not even see her
leave the ship.
Winter came and the usual round OF
gayeties An Observation-Disclosures whist
at Mrs Peabody'S-came. among ON
ers for me. and resolved TO accept
On entering the card room the first
face ! set eyes on was the steamer
girl. I was surprised and. though lie
lighted at my luck in meeting her
again, panied to see her in the com
pany Mrs Peabody is ultra fashion
able, and the people she entertains are
very ''smart'-that is, the women
drink cocktails. smoke cigarettes anu
gamble. If you ask why | go with
such people. | reply | am man ana
can go anywhere without soilinS the
feathers of my angelic masculine
wings. but had | wife she should not
60 to Mrs. Peabody'S.
at once sought an introduction to
the steamer girl. Miss Delaplain, and
soon saw that she was out of her Gle
ment. When cocktail was handed
her she started and declined it. /
caught Mrs. Peabody frOwning at her
rs she did so with an expression which
being interpreted. meant. You don't
get invited here again" Several young
bloods had been chatting with Miss
Delaplain When | was introduced 10
her. and they must have been putting
on their up TO date society manners.
for she looked ruffled. and when l adj
dressed her deferentially she fiGura tive
" nestled to me as one would cling to
q lifeboat
Miss Delaplain and | were at first
partners | saw at once that she knew
very little about the game. and l soon
suspected she didn't know she was
playing for money. When we changed
partners her new vis-a-vis soon made
her aware OF her temerity in playing
| n game she did not understand. At
every misplay he would scowl at her
and did not scruple to indicate that he
was wroth.
After the evenings amusement l was
about to take my departure when |
met Miss Delaplain wearing Il counte-
| nance that told of trouble.
What shall | dO:" she said. Il
have been told that my loss at bridge
| whist is sos. l had no idea 1 was
playing for money
And my gain is exactly the same
amount Though knew that we were
playing for stakes. do not feel at lib
crty to accept my winnings"
"Why so?'
You for one did not know that you
| were risking anything. The money
YOU lost may have gone ID me. You
| are in an unpleasant position. SO am
| I. There is a way out for both. Let
| me turn in my winnings to cover your
| loss"
There was no trouble in persuadinS
| her TO accept the terms. at least tenn
Dcrarily, for she had no money with
| her, and she told me she would need TO
/ break the matter 10 her father. who
would be greatly shocked at hearing
| that she had been gambling. | babe
her good night after asking permission
to call and. going to the hostess. paid
her loss.
Two days later upon opening my
| morning mail / found note from
Mrs. Peabody inclosing note and a
| check for SOS from Mr.. Delaplain in
| payment of his daughters loss at
bridge whist. Mrs. Peabody called my
| attention TO the fact that the amount
| was IS more than the loss. | supposed
| this to be an error until. referring TO
Mr.. Delaplain's note, | saw in post
script on the second page, The So is
to cover the supper"
| What should l do with this amount:
1t did not belong to me and was in
| tended as n snub for Mrs. Peabody
Should l return it to her, calling her at
tention to the snub? Such a crime
would preclude the possibility of my
attending any more entertainments al
her house I thought the matter over
and concluded to accept the conse-
Quences. ! inclosed Il check for the
! surplus amount with Mr.. Delaplain'S
note. understanding the postscript with
n blue pencil.
!; A week later l met Mrs. Peabody
face to face on the steps of st. James
! church. She gave me the dead cut.
My decision was more than one relat
ing to Mrs. Peabody. 1t included the
smart set of which Mrs. Peabody was
n distinguished member. Something