The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-18
A MephfS1opbeIe
Of TodoY.
[orIslnaLl-

but as one may lose or win large
number Of points at bridge d point
was fixed at few cents. There we're
two sets of tables. At one set the play
was for money; at the other there was
no stake. Guests were permitted to
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 chair opposite a
young girl at one OF the tables where
there was no stake to be played for.
On bis left sat an elderly woman with
a superior look; on his right, middle
aged man with bald head. who seem
ed to regard the affair as bore. The
newcomer was delicately formed,
strikingly handsome and with a win
ming voice and smile. The girl was
what is called 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
Quired. He addressed the young girl
m0deSty, YET conn0ently.
AS the play went on 1t was evident
that she was falling under the spell OF
the many pleasant things he said to
her, the musical voice in which he
said them, the glances that shot from
his eyes. Indeed, his whole personal
ity was fascinating and plainly devot-
ed to impressing her. Finally he sug-
gested that game without a stake
was uninteresting and proposed that
they have a small one TO consist Of but
q 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 and dancing She had attend
ed the party not knowing there were
to be cards and had been persuaded
to play only at the urgent request OF
the hostess, there being one vacant
seat The young man opposite her
looked into her eyes with his, where
upon she took up the hand that lay be.
fore her, making no further objection.
From that moment the cards seemed
bewitched. Whenever 1t came the turn
OF the Titan girl to play dummy she
invariably played without trump"
which III 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 siam and counting 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. Occa-
EionaIly 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 redoubling would often
20 on till the original count had been
multiplied by six.
The only person at the table having
ordinary hands was the young man
who had suggested playing for a 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 at 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
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 be must
be- some friend Of her husbands. Ev
erybody was inquiring who he was,
ind no one could give information.
At last there arose a whispering and
i murmuring. The Titan girl was
known to most OF the guests as an
example of probity, but here sshe. was
,laying for stakes that had been raised
rom a cent to a dollar, her eyes bIaz-
ne and her cheeks red with excite.
nent, her partner man whom nobody
new and Of whom everybody was sns.
,Icious. Another estimate was made
i the winnings, and they we're found
o reach far up into the hundreds OF
Iollars.
Presently clergyman Joined the on
Ookers. He was an Episcopalian. and
gold cross glistened on his breast
lie stood directly opposite the young
tranger, who, on looking up. espied
be cross. In twinkling every mem
er OF the card party seemed released
rom his enthFallment. His opponents
brew down their cards and arose, with
u angry look. The Titan girl leaned
ack IN her chair and covered her face
nth her hands. The strange young
ian paled. half arose and, muttering
about having promised to
E at home early, skunk away through
he crowded rooms. 4 moment later
srriage wheels were heard rolling rap
lly away.
The baldheaded opponent took up tbs
soFe. figured up his loss. felt nervous
/ ia his pockets, whispered something
, the host and left the room. His
artner, exelaiming, wen. declare.s
$50 staiked away The Titan girl
fter sitting for a few moments with
er face covered Withdrew her hands
I'D looked dazedly at those standing
bout. when hermother approached and.
Is a storm cloud. swept her avvav.