The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-14
THE CARD THAT
TOOK THE TRICK,
By RUSSELL THoRNE.

where men could be taught 70 man
age women I'd enter for instruction.
You might give me some points II you
would"
Lob. don't pretend TO know the
subject thoroughly. | merely keep IN
mind a few general feminine charac-
teristlcs. ! don't think much OF learn
Ing theoretically without practice. III
/ tell you what I'll do. There's Mag.
gle Worth. a friend Of mine. whom
think ] know pretty we'll Ill intro
duce you to her and from time TO
time coach you on how you shall act
toward her How would you like
thatg'
"First rate"
The introduction was made after
few preliminary general Instructions.
such as not 70 miss an opportunity TO
pay compliment. never 10 engage in
argument and always be deferential.
Terry did not have much confidence
IN being able TO learn the subject. but
was anxious 10 get rid Of a certain
faculty he had discerned IN himself for
antagonizing the sex He nut his mind
on the subject. reported an that WIS
going on between himself and The girl
on whom he was practielng 10 bis
friend Darby. and received minute TO-
structions as to how 70 act IN each
and every case. But whether be was
especially obnoxious 10 this particular
girl or be was incapable OF being
taught how TO make a lady's man OF
himself. be seemed TO fare worse with
Miss Worth than with any woman be
had ever met. Darby kept suggesting
acts and words unimportant in them
selves. but well calculated to crafty a
woman They all appeared 10 irritate
rather than phrase the person on whonn
they were practlced.
Just bold on a bit" said Darby
after Terry had reported the failure
OF one Of the attentions the coach
bad suggested. "You keep or for
awhile. and IN step In and see II
can tind out what's the matter. From
what you tell me. you carry out my
instructions 70 the letter and yet they
don't seem 70 work. I'll get Maggie 70
tell me wherein you fail"
A few days later Darby told his
friend that he had better choose anoth-
er subject Maggie bad taken an es-
pecial dislike to him. There was Oar
by's own sister Ruth Better try her.
Terry seemed quite relieved at the
change and entered upon sharpening
bis abilities to please the sex BY whet-
ting them on the new subject. One
day Terry said to his pupil:
Somehow. ever since / introduced
you to Ruth. Maggie has seemed dis.
pleased not only with you. but with
me. She says Won are weak, vacil-
lating sort Of fellow. and my being
friend Of yours shows coneusiyely
that-well, she puts 1t birds Of
feather flock together
why don't you try some OF the de-
vices on her you recommended TO
me?g
Il Will I'll send her the prettiest
basket Of flowers | can buy and write
her note. know exactly how to
put 1t. just you wait"
A few days later Terry met Miss
Worth walking In the park. She
smiled at him and asked him IL be
would show her the way TO the grotto.
In his ignorance of how TO please a
woman be replied that he hadn't time.
whereupon the girl angrily told bin
that be hadn't a single geutlemanly
instinct He gave way at once and
walked humbly beside her Before
parting with him she told him to come
to see her that evening" she bad a
present for hIm. lie called. and. TAX
ing the most beautiful towers from
those sent her by Darby, she gave
them to him. de took them to Darby
and with wonder 10 his eyes asked
him what 1t all meant.
''Well. III be jingedt exclaimed the
teacher in womans management,
"I'Il tell you what Jim. be said
presently. while have general
knowledge Of the characteristics Of
women. there's something ii this case
that puzzles me. / prefer that you
should work the rest Of 1t out by your
SELF
4 don't know how said Terry
lugubriously
There was an enlargement from !
this time between teacher and pupil.
between Terry and Ruth Darby and
between Ruth Darby and Maggie
Worth Darby's efforts to make a
lady's man Of his friend had apparent
~ borne thistles instead Of fruit One
DAY Darby went to his friend and said
Jim. I've just had a talk with Ruth.
What do you suppose she says?1
'Whatg
THAT Maggie Worth is dead in love
with YOU
.'With mel"
"Yes. And so is Ruth in love with
you"
Great Scott. what makes you think
thatg'
She's 90 bitter against Maggie
Heavens. What am 10 doY'
i've instructed you how to win the
girl expected to marry At any rate.
you've done IT.
There was a solemn pause between
the friends. at the end Of which tue /
pupil said tom. can You show me
how TO undo itg"
Jim said Darby. extending his
hand after another pause. women are
sharper than men to see some things
/ didn't know what an honorable l