Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-12-18
IN THE
MOHAWK
CLUB
By THEODORE ROBERTS



on the bank Of famous river,
l. and at the edge Of a famous
though sleepy old town. The
town is known in other lands as a
place Of culture and literary prestige,
but the Onlooker, that mortal who
seems to do nothing but brood over
the world with smiling mouth and
dreamy eyes, says that for its own
part 1t appreciates the maker Of a
horseshoe more than the maker Of
ballad. Why this LIS he doesn't at
tempt to say. But to return to the
clubhouse.
Most Of the interior is taken up by
one large room with a good floor, a
fireplace and q billiard table. There
are many easy chairs, also, and card
tables In convenient places.
When the winds churn the river
into whitecaps and rain pelts the roof,
the onlooker finds strange fasclna-
ton in sitting by the fire and study
ing the men around him. But he does
1t with a careless air, as II sitting out
in the rain would amuse him fully as
much, and the men, who are all his
friends, sometimes forget that he Is
there.
month ago the OnlOoker's atten-
ton was drawn from the general
crowd who played crlbbage, clicked
the ivory balls and told stories, to the
most active members of the club, Ber-
tram Smith and Dick Nevers. At
first, like a philosopher, he accounted
for the slight change in their manners
by the choice Of Nevers as master of
ceremonies for Ladies' night, but the
rumor that both were in love with
the same girl caused him to think 1t
over. he watched them closely when
they met, making a note of the faint
flush on Nevers' cheek, and the sullen
light in Smiths eye. Sometimes their
greeting was too warm for his taste
at other times they failed to see each
other.
~ wish they would fight 1t out like
men," he said to the andlrons but he
took that back. for Nevers was big
enough to eat his rival without In
convenience.
Smith. who was the son Of
wealthy merchant, was in a fair way
Of running a large medical practice
before many years. Dick Movers, the
cadet of a broken family once re-
nowned for Its horses and style In en-
PERTAINING, was writer Of poems and
stories, sometimes even descending to
newspaper work, at three cents a line.
The Onlooker thought from the first
that Nevers had the Fates against
him.
As they all reyolved In the same
social circle, the 0nlooker made It
his duty to follow their little romance
beyond the fireside of the Mohawk
club. So, after a weeks consldera-
ton as to whether or no It were
worth while, he obtained an introduc-
ton to the lady of their hearts desire
We will call her Miss Marjorie, which
may or may not be her name. From
the corner to which he had fed after
the Introduction he looked at her
carefully, as she was the chief char
acter In the little story he was follow
ing. Her eyes were the first things
he noticed; then her mouth, which
was large, but fatally attractive; then
her hair. He did not altogether blame
his friends, but II puzzled him "a
think that Nevers, wrapped up In his
books and dreams, should allow a pair
of eyes and moderately charming
smile to spoil his peace.
The Onlooker fiatters himself with
the belief that he has keen insight
into character and human nature, and
on the strength Of this he was not
long In deciding that Miss Marjorie
was a flirt. He enjoyed fiirts to a
certain extent (no one would think
SOY, therefore this discovery did moi
lower her far In his philosopher
eyes. He further noticed that when
her eyes we're gray Smith was In ia
vor, but when they softened to a won
derful blue Dick Nevers, with his
maiden rhymes, had the inside track
They both came in for rebuffs and
hours Of indifference at the lady's
hands. Nevers swallowed these re
| pulses and tried to look delighted
while Smith scowled
For awhile the Onlooker seemed t.
find developments slow, for he kept
away from his usual seat by the fire
and people wondered what he was
doing If It had been Nevers who lay
low they would have said. "He is
writing poetry"
About this time Smith and Nevers
| began to criticize each others breed
ing and attire, and Smith developed q
perpetual sneer.
One morning the Onlooker entered
the club with his old-time stride ant
found six fellows standing around the
billiard table The rivals were hav
ing a game. Smith was playing Spot
ball. Nevers chalked his cue hur
riedly and glanced at the balls. His
was close against the cushion and
called for a strong draw. His face
was flushed when he shot, and his
eyes expressed more JOY than one
would have thought the occasion de
manded when he scored. His next
three were easy ones, then his cue
scratched and twisted and the bal
rolled harmlessly few inches.
He marked up his four and Their
watched with wan smile Will,
Smith made run of ten.
The onlooker asked II they haC
anything up on the game. Never.