Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-05-26

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would You say when you drifted
backT
'That would depend" replied Magee
ION the amount of dme she allowed
me for my speech"
you've hit the nail on the head" re
piled Mr.. Peters admiringly. "She'i
quick. She's like lightning. She won't
give me any time II she can help It
That's why Id like to have wonder
full speech all ready-something tina,
would hold her spellbound and tongue
tied until finished 1t would take Z
literary classic to do that"
what you want" laughed Magee
'.is a speech with the punch"
Exactly" agreed Mr.. Peters. II
guess l won't 60 over to Brooklyn the
minute hit New York. | guess I'll
study the lights along the big street
and brush elbows with the world a bit
before I reveal myself to her. Maybe
II l took in a few shows-but don't
think won't go to her. Ny mind is
made up. And guess she'll be glad
to see me too, in her way. got to
Hx It with her, though, to come back
to my postcard trade in the summers.
I wonder what she'll say to that. May.
be she could stay at the inn under an
assumed name while l was hermidng
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 on 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.
Masee 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 bis mind.
"Tell me-" he asked, ''is this the ad.
mirars game Of solitaire?"
Exactly what l was going to ash"
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 admirars game You'd hardly ex-
pect me to know It. would your l
don't hang out at the swell clubs
where the admiral does. They won't
have me there But once took the
admiral on a public service board with
me-one time when l wan3d 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 see-now the spade
now the heart"
Kendrick leaned closer. bis 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. Why7 he did not
know. Still. 1t ought to be done. But
the look in Kendrick's 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.
"Yes, it's a great game" His tone
was dull. n want to know how It's
played" he said again
1.-The six Of clubs." reflected the
mayor. throwing down another card
"say. she's fine now. There amt
much to It You use two decks, exact
ly alike. shuttle 'em together-the eight
of hearts, the Jack of-say. that's
greatI You lay the cards down here
Just as they come. like this"-
He paused His huge hand held a
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 met
Then-say, what's the matter~
For Kendrick had swayed and al
most fallen on the admiral's game
the game that had once sent man to
hell.
"Go oni" be said. bracing. "Noth-
ing's the matter. Go on! Build. dash
II, buildT'
The mayor looked at him q moment
IN surprise, then continued.
"Now the king" he muttered. now
the ace We're on the home stretch.
going strong. There, it's finished. It's
come out right A great game. ! tell
you"
Professor Bolton pushed open the
smoker door and sat down.
Cargan leaned back. Hendricks fever
yellowed face was like q bronze mask.
Hi eyes were nercely On the table and
the two decks Of cards that lay there.
"And when you've finished" he point
ed when you've finished
Mr.. Cargan picked up the deck on
the left
"All black" he said. when the game
comes out right"
"And the otherr' Kendrick persisted
softly. He pointed to the remaining
deck. A terrible smile of understand
ing drew his thin lips taut "And the
other, Mr. Cargan"
Red" replied Cargan What else
could 1t be? All red"
He picked It up and shuffled through
it to prove his point Kendrick turned
like drunken man and staggered back
down the aisle. Aagee rose and hur'
ried after him. At the door he turned.
and the look on bis face caused Magee
to shudder. t'..