Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-03-01
"A MepbiSfopbefeS
Of Today.
(orig!nal1


number Of points M bridge point
was fixed at a few cents. There were
two sets of tables. At one set the play
was for money: Mt tic other there was
no stake. Guests were permitted 10
sit at the stake or no stake tables. as
they pleased.
Nearly all the guests had arrived and
selected their seats when young man
entered who took n chair opposite q
young girl at one of the tables where
there was no stake TO be played for.
On his left sat an elderly woman with.
a superior look; OH his right, middle
aged man with bald head, who seem
ed to regard the affair us bore The
newcomer was delicately formed,
strikingly handsome and with win
ming voice and smile. The girl was
what is called a Titan beauty that IS,
with reddish golden hair and dark.
liquid eyes. The young man was not
known TO any one at the table. but In
Productions in such cases are not re-
quircd. He addressed the young girl
modestly. yet confidently.
AS the play went on it was evident
that she was falling under the spell of
the n1ny pleasant things he said 10
her. the musical voice In which he
said them, the Chances that shot from
his eyes. Indeed his whole personal
lty was fascinating and plainly devot-
ed Ia imprcssing her. Finally he sug-
gestCd that game without stake
was embarrassing and proposed that
they have small one TO consist of but
cent a point The opposing couple
did not object, but the Titan girl de-
INJURED She said she was a member
of church that prohibited both. card
playing ald dancing. She had attend
ed the party moi knowing there were
to be cards and had been persuaded
to play only ut the urgent request OF
the hostess, there heing one vacant
seat The young man opposite her
looked into her eyes with his, where
upon she took up the hand that Jay be-
fore her, making no further objection.
From that mbment the cards seemed
bewitched Whenever 1t came the turn
of the Titan girl to play. dummy. she
invariably played without trump"
which Ia bridge whist counts twelve
points for each trick above six. She
usually won most of the tricks. often
taking them all. making what Is called
a grand slam and counting a bonus.
Besides. she and her partner always
won the rub game. which gave them
an extra hundred points. This was all
the more remarkable since she had
never played the game before. 0cca-
sionally her opponents would take up
a good hand and double" upon which
she would "go back" which is the
term for doubling the double This
doubling and redouhling would often
go on till the original count had been
multiplied by six.
The only person ut the table having
ordinary hands was the young man
who had suggested playing for stake.
But, while he took no important part
In the game himself the others seemed
TO feel that all this high play original
ed through some mysterious influence
emanating from him. One by one the
players Mt the other tables ceased TO
play and noticing that there were
large hands and large count at the
table where sat the girl with the Titan
hair. stood watching the game. One
of these Onlookers by mental process
counted the score and noticed that she
and her partner were winners of a
considerable sum.
Her partner sat facing corner with
his back to the room full of guests.
so that his face could not be seen. The
host, noticing persons about his table,
advanced, looked at him and, not rec
ognizing him, thought that he was
some friend of his wife's to whom he
had not been introduced. Then the
hostess saw him and fancied he must
be some friend of her husbands. Ev-
erSbody was inquiring who he was,
and no one could give information.
At last there arose whispering and
a murmuring The Titan girl was
known TO most of the guests as an
example of probity, but here she was
playing for stakes that had been raised
from a cent TO dollar. her eyes blaZ-
Ing and her cheeks red with excite
ment, her partner a man whom nobody
knew and of whom everybody was sus-
picious. Another estimate was made
of the winnings. and they were found
to reach far up into the hundreds Of
dollars.
Presently a clergyman joined the on
lockers. He was an Episcopalian, and
n gold cross glistened on his breast.
lie stood directly opposite the young
stranger, who. on looking up espied
the cross. In a twinkling every mem
Der of the card party seemed released
from his enthrallmcnt. His opponents
threw down their cards and arose, with
an angry look. The Titan girl leaned
back in her chair and covered her face
with her hands. The strange young
man paled, half arose and. muttering
something about having promised to
be at home early. skunk away through
the crowded rooms. A moment later
carriage wheels were heard rolling rap
idly away.
The baldheaded opponent took up the
score. figured up his loss. felt nervous