The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-24
TRICKS OF The GAME
BY DOROTHY BLACKMORE.


had received by parcel post.
You should keep your friends in
formed" teased her brother, picking
up the pad and examining it. He
shifted. "And it smells of camphor
balls! Worse yet! Some one must
have given it to Mary last Christmas
and she's palming it off on you this
year That's one way to do with un-
welcome gifts, must say" Ralph
Watrous laughed mirthfully. Its a
nice little pencil, anyway-with an
ivory tip, sis See?"
Il do see-but you may have it, tip
and all
Sort O. peevish, aren't you? Cheer
up, sis.."
I'm not the least bit peeyish,
though | am provoked, and have
more than half a notion to sit down
and write Mary STRAIGHTFORWARD let.
ter telling her that she Is a chump.
certainly can't conscientiously say
Thank you for the lovely present,
etc. for then | would be as big a
chump as she We're good enough
friends to be frank"
"All right-you know Mary Ayres
better than do"
And believing that she did know
her friend Mary sufficiently we'll to
reprimand her for her carelessness-
for it was not the first time she had
displayed it In gift giving Bess Wat
rous wrote letter. Also, she returned
the Bridge score pad since, as she eX-
planned. she had no earthly use for It,
Some weeks later a reply came.
Your letter amused me so much
that | read it aloud to Jim and his
frien! Tom Cassidy, who is spending
the winter with us on the ranch Tom
was SO much tickled with the frank
ness of the writer that he insisted on
knowing all about you, have told
him all ! know, but he seems insati-
able and keeps bothering me to ask
you down here while he Is with us.
Can you come? OF course you can't
at this busy season. bury yourself on
a Texas ranch, but-at least I've ask
ed you"
This in part was Mary's letter, and
Bess was not pleased, at first, at the
idea of having had her letter read for
the amusement Of two men-Jim
Ayres and this Tom Cassidy.
"And yet" she said to her brother
that night II really would enjoy the
novelty Of ranch in winter Mary is
only halfhearted in her invitation
Would you 60, Ralph"
II surely would If I was as crazy to
meet strange man as you are, sis
Don't you have enough on your string
now"
When she was on the train bound
for the remote ranch in Texas on
which her old friend Mary had been
willing to bury herself for Jim Ayres
she could not help smiling inwardly
at the way In which Fate had seemed
to push her into this step.
She thought Of this again as she
was being driven quickly through the
moonlit roads to the ranch house the
night she arrived at the village in
southern Texas.
II tried to get Tom Cassidy to come
in for you, Bess," her host explained,
with twinkle in his eye; but he had
game Of Bridge on with Mary and a
couple Of our friends in neighboring
ranch and he hated to leave"
Bess laughed. You're as frank as
ever, Jim-as frank as was about
the silly present Mary sent me. I'm
afraid your Mr.. Tom Cassidy wouldA't
thank you for telling me his excuse
for not coming, would he?"
Maybe not" admitted Jim. But
he's mighty fine, Bess, mighty fine
stuff is Tom"
Bess did see the lights between the
trees and as they drove quickly to-
ward the house they were silent, and
she imagined Tom Cassidy coming to-
ward her. She wondered why she
took such an interest in a man who
did not care enough about seeing her
to leave game of cards.
TIT is you, isn't 1t. Bess?" she
heard him saying. as he took her hand
when Mary introduced him. II
thought 1t must be. Even as wee
girl you were frank enough to tell me
you didn't care to play with red
headed freckled boy named Cas-
sidy"
Bess blushed furiously. You're red
headed yet, but-well, the freckles are
gone at least" she said. trying to hide
her embarrassment.
"And you still won't play with him
because-you don't like Bridge"
laughed Mary her arm about Bess.
Il don't know what I'll do down
here If you're all such fiends for the
game" Bess replied, looking at Cas-
sidy
Learn it," said Jim.
Bess shook her head.
YOU'D better added Cassidy.
IF you do I'll give you back your
Christmas present, Bess," said Mary
over her shoulder as she went out to
the kitchen to find a bite" to eat.
Cassidy stepped up to her as she
stood before the great cracking fire.