The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-03-18
In THE
MOHAWK. CLUB
By rHEoDoRE RoBxRrs
Copyright. by Shortstory Pub. Coz

The Mohawk club house stands on
the bank of famous river, and at the
edge of famous though sleepy old
town. The town is known in other
lands as a place of culture and
literary prestige, but The Onlook-
Or, that mortal who seems to do
nothing but brood over the world
with smiling mouth and dreamy
eyes, says that for it's own part
1t appreciates the maker of horse
shoe more than the maker of ballad.
Why this is he doesn't attempt to say.
But to return to the club house.
Most Of the interior is taken up by
one large room with good floor, q
fireplace, and billiard table. There
are. many easy-chairs, also, and card
tables in convenient places.
When the winds churn the river
into white caps and rain pelts the
roof. The Onlooker finds strange fas-
cination in sitting by the fire and
studying the men around him. But he
does it with a careless air, as IL sit
ting cut in the rain would amuse him
fully as much, and the men, who are
all his friends, sometimes forget that
he is there
A month ago The Onlooker's atten-
tion was drawn from the general
crowd who played cribbage, clicked
the ivory balls, and told stories, to
the most active members Of the club,
Bertram Smith and Dick Nevers. At
first, like philosopher, he accounted
for the slight change in their manners
by the choice Of Nevers as master Of
ceremonies for Ladies' night, but the
rumor that both were in love with the
| same girl caused him to think it over.
, He watched them closely when they
met, making note of the faint flush
on Nevers' cheek, and the sullen light
in Smiths black eyes. Sometimes
i their greeting was too warm for his
taste-at other times they failed to
see each other.
| Il wish they would fight it out like
men," he said to the andirons; but he
took that back, for Nevers was big
enough to eat his rival without incon-
venience.
Smith, who was the son of a wealthy
merchant, was in fair way of running
a large medical practice before many
! years. Dick Nevers, the cadet Of a
broken family once renowned for its
horses and style in entertaining, was
writer of poems and stories, some
times even condescending to newspa-
per work, at three cents line. The
Onlooker thought from the first that
Nevers had the Fates against him.
[ AS they all revolved in the same So
| cial circle, The Onlooker made it
his duty to follow their little romance
, beyond the fireside of the Mohawk
club. So, after weeks considera.
tion as to whether or not it were worth
while, he obtained an introduction to
the lady Of their hearts desire. We
!; will call her Miss Marjorie, which
may or may not be her name. From
the corner to which he had fed after
the introduction he looked at her care
fully, as she was the chief character
In the little story he was following.
Her eyes were the first thing he no.
ticed; then her mouth, which was
large, but fatally attractive; then her
hair. He did not altogether blame his
friends, but it puzzled him to think
that Nevers, wrapped up in his books
and dreams, should allow a pair of
eyes and moderately charming smile
to spoil his pace. .>
The Onlooker fiatters himself with
the belief that he has a keen insight
into character and human nature, and
on the strength of this he was not
long in deciding that Miss Marjorie
was a fiirt. He enjoyed ffirts to a
certain extent (no one would think
SOY, therefore this discovery did not
lower her far in his philosophical eyes.
He further noticed that when her eyes
were gray, Smith was in favor, but
when they softened to a wonderful
blue, Dick Nevers, with his maiden
rhymes, had the inside track. They
both came in for rebuffs and hours Of
indifference at the lady's hands
Nevers swallowed these repulses and
tried to look delighted. while Smith
scowled.
For awhile The Onlooker seemed to
find developments slow, for he kept
away from his usual seat by the fire,
and people wondered what he was do.
ing. If it had been Nevers who lay
low they would have said, "He is writ
ing poetry"
About this time Smith and Nevers
began to criticise one another's breed
| ing and attire, and Smith developed
q perpetual sneer.
One morning The Onlooker entered
the club with his old-time stride and
found six fellows standing around the
| billiard table. The rivals were hay
ing a game. Smith was playing spot
| ball. Nevers chalked his cue hurriedly
| and glanced at the balls. His was
close against the cushion and called
for strong draw. His face was flushed
when he shot, and his eyes expressed
more joy than one would have thought
the occasion demanded when he
scored. His next three were easy ones.
then his cue scratched and twisted and
the ball rolled harmlessly few inches.
He, marked up his four and then
watched with a wan smile while Smith
made q run Of ten.
The onlooker asked II they had any.
thing up on the game. Nevers nodded.
The other fellows exchanged glances.