The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-11-06
MR.. CROUCH

church and the Sewing circle and one
literary society" explained Mrs
Crouch. Then. you know, I'm on
the board of two charitable Organiza-
tiOns. and choir practice takes one aft
ernOOn You said yourself 1 couldn't
give those things up"
sure thing, little woman. What do
we care where charity begins or how
sacred are home life and the family
hearthstone. or course, I would like
TO see you once in a while and have
You eat regular meals. but don't mind
me I'm for the clubs and the chart
ties strong, you know that. Does your
Thursday Bridge club meet tomorrow
or last week? Because, if you're going
10 be home. Ia like TO have Black up
10 dinner. Leaves for san Francisco
Friday morning. and it's the last
chance Wen have 10 entertain him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, William. 1t meets
here tomorrow. and the women stay
aWfully late. l was going 10 ask you
10 get your dinner uptown just for
once. 1 forgot 10 tell you before
Sick Of Hotel Fare.
suffering jack rabbitsr' calculated
Mr.. Crouch. I see my finish with
Black. Thought OF course it would be
all right. and asked him this after
noon. Cracked up the home dinner
effect, and he expressed himself as so
sick OF hotel fare that he'd like ia
come out here and stay a week BY
thunder, Maria, yOu'll have TO get me
out OF this scrape. It's too much for
my intellect. bod rot the Thursday
Bridge club-it viii lose me the best
client I've got. unless you stun that
bunch OF female card sharps that is
due here tomorrow"
Don't be hOrrid, dear, and I'll try
TO manage somehow. Suppose We have
dinner at seven-thirty, and You stay
uptown as late as you can. And. ON.
1 forgot. I'll need some money for the
prizes. Mrs Watson had awfully ex-
pensive ones when the club met at
her house, and / know you want me
10 have things just as nice as she did.
This club always gives a prize at every
table, and there are usually ten OF
them"
"Au right il you'll get up a good
dinner Tor Black" assented Mr.
Crouch. How much do YOU want?
Five dollars? That will buy ten gim-
cracks at 90 cents apiece. That's a lot
or money in these hard times"
Five dollars apiece you mean"
cried his wife. What are you think
ing Of. William Crouch? I'd be the
laughing stock of the club. Make it
fifty dollars. and III see what / can
DO"
Vel. III be hanged Say. Maria.
shall we put a mortgage on the place,
or sell my new winter oYercoat 10
raise that much money? That's gam
bling and nothing else, and / don't ap-
prove of it. But if the rest do it. l
suppose III have 10 come through /
never saw You bring home a five-dOl-
lar prize"
on, 1 won't spend it all for prizes"
explained Mrs. Crouch. I've taken a
few nice things, but I don't seem TO
rave much luck. l can't work for a
prize the way most of the women do"
T-bOnes for Prizes.
Il should hope not" declared her
hNsDaN6, eENDNaficaJyy. "Froyo me,
stories I've heard you teU the com
pany you get into Wouldn't be a lit
place for yours truly. I'm some poker
player, and know a thing or two about
stun, but when il comes 10 bridge
whist as the women play it, ] wouldn't
have the pulse 10 DO il. Say, lei me
give You an idea for your prizes. Have
the butcher put up an assorted lot of
I-bOne steaks in pink tissue paper and
hand 'em out to your lady friends as
they leave. Bet they'd make a ten
strike with lot of these four-fiushers
mat live OFF the pantry shelf. Oh. yes.
lhey would" he persisted, as Mrs
Crouch attempted 10 interrupt. "When
thty re looking for cut glass bowl or
a hand-painted plate or a pair of sill
salts, give them some
tnlng that would appeal to the wage
Garner of the family. and I'll bet you'd
earn his everlasting gratitude"
II would be good joke. wouldn't
II? But I'm afraid haven't the nerve.
No, Ill do the correct thing and buy
vases. They are always suitable"
Vases, Oh, Lord Don't do it. Ma
ria. Why III bet every woman in the
clubs got more than five thousand use
less china trinkets now, and they'll
Just stow yours away in the coal hole
or save them up for Christmas pres-
ents for their dearest enemies. Black
told me good one about his wife's
club IN san Francisco. said the wOm-
en- put IN a dollar apiece each meet
ing 10 buy prizes. ana they turned the
lhlng INTO tournament and saved IN
the com 10 get something worth play
ing Tor Instead Of buying prizes,
they offered the purse. and the firsf
seorned TO take the money. What's
$50 10 me, says one OF the grand
danes. and another offered 10 donate
hers 10 an orphan asylum. The rest
OF the bunch had 10 follow suit. and
not one OF them got a cent. Oh. but
the hard feelings and the Knocking
thar went on in that club like to have
made hole in san Francisco society
worse than the earthquake"
Il think that was hOrrid of them "
declared Mrs. Crouch. There's the
phone. Wait, I'll answer II. I'm expect
ing a call"
During the next FIVE minutes Mr.
Crouch could hear mis- wife talking
earnestly, several times repeating that
she didn't think they could do some |
thing whose nature he did not catch
Wait, ask him yourself" she finally
said, and called her husband to the
phone. Mrs. Bassett wants to talk
to you. and do be nice to her." she
whispered, imploringly. Its about a
new bridge club"
Well. by Jimmy. there don't