The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-05-22

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quick. She's like lightning. She won't
give me any time II she can help It.
That's why I'd like to have a wonder
full speech all ready-sOmething that
would hold her spellbound and tongue
tied until l finished. 1t would take a
literary classic to do that"
"What you want" laughed Magee,
lis a speech with the punch"
Exactly" agreed Mr.. Peters. Il
guess l won't go over to Brooklyn the
minute l hit New York. l guess I'll
study the lights along the big street
and brush elbows with the world a bit
before l reveal myself to her. Maybe
If l took in a few shows-but don't
think l won't go to her. My mind is
made up. And l guess she'll be glad
to see me too, in her way. l got to
fix it with her, though, to come back
to my postcard trade in the summers.
l wonder what she'll say to that. May.
be she could stay at the inn under an
assumed name while l was hermiting
up at the shack"
He laughed softly.
Then Mr.. Magee went forward into
the smoking car. Long rows of red
plush seats, %unoccupied save for the
mayor and Max, greeted his eye. He
strolled to where they sat, about half
way down the car. and lighted an after
breakfast cigar. .
Max slouched in the unresponsive
company of a cigarette OH one side Of
the car; across the aisle the mayor of
Reuton leaned heavily above a card
table placed between two seats. He
was playing solitaire.
Magee looked on, only half interest
ed. Then suddenly his interest grew.
He watched the mayor build in two
piles: he saw that the deck from which
he built was thick. A weird suspicion
shot across his mind.
'Tell me-" he asked, lis this the ad-
miral's game of solitaire?"
Exactly what l was going to ASK
said a voice. Magee looked up. Ken
drick had come in and stood now above
the table. His tired eyes were upon it.
fascinated: his lips twitched strangely
YES" answered the mayor, this is
the admiral's game. You'd hardly ex.
pect me to know it, would you? !
don't hang out at the swell clubs
where the admiral does. They won't
have me there. But once l took the
admiral on a public service board with
90 time when l wanted a lot of
dignity and no brains pretty bad-and
he sort Of come back by teaching me
his game in the long dull hours when
We had nothing to do but serve the
public. The thing gets a hold on you,
somehow. Let's En- the spade
now the heart"
Kendrick leaned closer. His breath
came with a noisy quickness that
brought the fact Of his breathing In,
sistently to Magee's mind.
81 never knew how it was played"
he said.
Something told Mr.. Magee that he
ought to rise and drag Kendrick away
from that table. Why? He did not
know. Still, it ought to be done. But
the look in Hendricks eyes showed
clearly that the %proverbial wild horses
could not do it then.
Tell me how it's played" went on
Kendrick, trying to be calm.
"You must be getting Old replied
the mayor. 'The admiral told me the
young men at his club never took any
interest in his game. Solitaire he
says to me, is an old mans trade
It's a great game. Mr.. Kendrick."
"a great game" repeated Kendrick.
Eyes, it's a great game" His tone
was dull. II want to know how It's
played" he said again.
'The six of clubs" reflected the
mayor, throwing down another caro-.
'Say, she's fine now. There ain'l
much to it. You use two decks, exact.
ly alike, shuttle 'em t~ogether-the eight
Of hearts, the jack of-say. that's
great! You lay the cards down here
just as they come, like this
He paused. His huge hand held q
giddy ~pasteboard. A troubled look
was ON his face. Then he smiled hap
PLY and went on in triumph.
"And then you build, Mr.. Kendrick,'
he said, "the reds and the blacks. You
build the blacks on the left and the
reds on the right. Do you get me-
Then-say, what's the matter?"
For Kendrick had swayed and al
most fallen on the admiral's game
the game that had nee sent a man tt
hell.
600 on" he said. bracing. "NOth
ing's the matter. Go on! Build. dast
it, build"
The mayor looked at him a moment
in surprise. then continued.
"Now the king" he muttered. NOV
the ace. We're on the home stretch
going strong. There, it's finished. It's
come out right. A great game. l tel
you"
Professor Bolton. pushed open tn
smoker door and sat down.
Cargan leaned back. Hendricks fevel
yellowed face was like a bronze mask
His eyes were fiercely on the table and
the two decks of cards that lay there.
- " 1870