The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-09

That's why I'd like to kave wonder
ful speech all ready-something that
would hold her spellbound and tongue
tied until finished. II would take q
literary classic to do that"
"What you want" laughed Magee,
- speech with tho punch"
Exactly" agreed Mr.. Peters. ~
guess won't 20 over to Brooklyn the
minute bit New York. I guess III
study the lights along the big street
and brush elbows with the world a bit
before I reveal myself to her. Maybe
II ] took In a few shows--but don't
think ] won't go to her. My mind Is
made up. And guess she'll be glad
10 zee me too, In her way. I got 10
On Il with her. though. to come back
20 my postcard trade In the summers.
wonder what she'll say to that, May.
b she could stay mt the Inn under an
assumed name while was hermiting
up at the shack"
He laugh softly.
Then M Magee went forward into
tho smoking cur. Long rows Of red
plush seats. unoccupied save for the
mayor and Max, greeted his eye. He
strosIed to where they sat, about half.
way down the car. and lighted an after
-bssakfast cigar.
xax slouched In the unresponslye
company Of a cigarette on one side of
The car; across tho aisle the mayor of
Rsuton leaned heavily above a card
table placed between two seats. He
was playing solitaire.
Magee looked on. only half interest
Cd. Then suddenly his interest grew.
He watched the mayor build In two
piles; no saw that the deck from which
he built was thick. A weird suspicion
shot across his mind.
Tell me-" he asked, "is this the nd.
mirars game Of solltaire?"
"Exnctiy what I was going to ask"
said a voice. Magee looked ND. Ken.
drick bad come In and stood now above
the table. His tired eyes were upon 1t.
tasc,nated: his lips twitchcd strangely.
Yes" answered tho mayor. this Is
the admirars game. You'd hardly ex-
pect me 10 know 1t. would you? !
don't hang out mt the swell clubs
where the admiral does. They won't
have me there. But once I took the
admiral on public service board with
me-one time when I wanted a lot Of
dignity and no brains pretty bad-and
be 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 see-now the spade
now the heart"
Kendrick leaned closer. His breath
came with noisy Quickness that
brought the fact Of his breathing in
sistently to Magee's mind.
IL never knew how 1t 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. II ought to be done. But
the look In Hendricks eyes showed
clearly that the proverbial wild horses
could not do 1t then.
Tell me how It's played" went on
Kendrick. trying to be calm.
"You must be getting DID," replied
the mayor. Tho admiral told me the
young men at his club never took any
interest In bis game. Solitaire he
says to me. 'is IN old mans trade
It's q great game. Mr.. Kendrick."
"a great gnmc." repeated Kendrick.
"Yes. It's a great game" His tone
wns dull. III want to know how It's
played" he said again.
~rhe ak of clubs" reflected the
mayor. throwing down another card
"say. she's fine now. There aln'i
much 10 Il. You use two decks. exact
ly alike. shuttle 'em together-the eight
Of hearts. the Jack Of-say. that's
Greati You lay tn cards down here
Just M they come. like this
He paused. His huge hand held O
giddy pasteboard. A troubled loOi
Was on his face. Then he smiled hap
ply and went on In triumph.
And then you build. Mr.. Kendrick.
no said. "the reds and the blacks. Yo,
build the blacks on the left and TN,
rcds on the right. DO you get me
Then-say. what's the mattcr?"
For Kcndrick had swayed and nj
most fallen on the admiral's game
the game that had once sent man {,
hell.
100 on" no said hroc,ro "Noth
fng's the matter. Go on! Build. dasl
u. buildr'
The mayor looked Mt him n MON pn
In surprise. then continued
snow the king" hc muttcrcd. nov
the nee. We're on the home stretch
going strong. There. It's finished. It..
come out right a great game, 1 tel
you."
Professor Bolton pushed open tn