Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-30

pensive sigh) inexpressIbly endeared 10
one through associations, she couldn't
deny (more brightly again) IT would bo
rather lark TO get oil that money and
go shopping to replenish her treasure
chests from the stores Of the most famous
jewelers. of the three capitals.
This aspect of the case made Mrs. Arte-
mas frankly envlous. How perfectly
rlppingw she declared I'm almost
tempted to hire n burglar of my own"
And them" Lyttleton observed pro-
foundly "if one isn't in too great hurry
there's no telling-one may run across
the lost things in odd corners and buy
them back for n song or so. Anne War
ridge did, when they looted her South
ampton place, some time ago. Remem-
ber the year 'notorcar pirates terrorized
Long Island7 Wen. long after everything
was settled and the insurance people had
paid up Anne unearthed several of her
best pieces in tho shops of bogus Partisan
antiquaries and bought them back at bar
gain prices"
"It sounds like a sin TO me-" Savage
commented. "But 1 call you all to wit
ness that, II anything like that happens
In this family, / hereby declare in on the
profits. It's worth all of that, this trip
to town-and nobody sorry to see me go!'
After luncheon the party dispersed with
out formallty Mrs Artemas vanished
bodily. Mrs. Standish in the car with her
brother to see him on Bob and Babs
murmured incoherently about boat and
disappeared forthwith; and Lyttleton,
pleading overdue correspondence, Trego
was snapped up for auction bridge by
Mrs. Gosnold and Miss Pride, Sally being
elected to fourth place as one whose de-
fectlve education must be promptly rem
edied, lest the roof fall in.
She found 1t very pleasant playing on
breeze-fanned veranda that overlooked the
terrace anG harbor and proved a tolerably
apt pupil. A very little practice evoked
helpful memories of whist lore that she
had thought completely atrophied by long
disuse and she was aided, besides, by
strong infusion in her mentality of that
mysterious faculty we call card sense.
Before the end of the second rubber she
was playing n game that won the out
spoken approval of Trego and Mrs. Cos
mold, and certainly compared well with
Miss Pride's, in spite of the undying In
fatunton for auction professed by dear
Abgairs ono true friend
1t was noteworthy that dear Abigail
seemed to have no interests of any char
acter that were not passionately indorsed
by her faithful Mercedes.
Pondering this matter, Sally found time
to wonder that Mercedes had not been
deemed sufficiently vigllant protector
for .he poor rich widow; II was her no.
tion that Mercedes missed few bets.
A circumstance which Sally herself had
overlooked turned out to be the tact un-
derstandinE on which the game had been
made up; and when, at the conclusion or
the third rubber Mr.. Trego summed up
the score, then calmly presented her with
n $50 bill and some loose silver-Mer-
cedes with stole countenance performing
the same painful operation on her own
purse in favor of dear Abigail-the girl
was overcome with CONSERVATION.
"But-no!" she protested, and blushed.
1--WE weren't playing for money, surely!'
"Of course, we were!" Miss Pride
snapped, with the more spirit since Sally's
stupidity supplied an unexpected outlet.
"I never could see the amusement In
playing cards without trifiing stake
though I always do say cents a point is
too much for friendly game"
TITS our CUSTOM Mrs. Gosnold smiled
serenely. you haven't conscientious
scruples about playing for money,
hope?"
"Oh. no; but"-sally couldn't, simply
couldn't confess her penniless condition
before Miss Pride and Mr. Trego-"but 1
didn't understand"
That's all right" Trego insisted. you
won 1t fairly, and 1t wasn't all beginners
luck. either. 1t was good playing; some
of your inferences were as sound as any
1 evor noticed"
'It really doesn't seem right" Sally de-
INJURED.
None the less she could not we'll refuse
the money.
1T must have my .revengew Miss Pride
announced brlskly, that expression being
sanctioned by convention. Tonight, dear
Abigail? Or would you like another rub
ber uow?"
Mrs. Gosnold shook her head and
laughed. mo. thank you; I've had
enough for one afternoon, and I'm sleepy
besides" She thrust back her chair and
rose. 'If you haven't tried the view from