Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-01-29
The Game of
"Club-Fi st"
~~~~-~ $1,000
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS
(Copyright)

Nalh li4ipti oNiNNiyS
from the breakfast table. MY wife
has such a headache she hasn't slept
a wink"
Nora, his eldest. nodded submls-
slvely, albeit she mentally translated
her young stepmother's violent head
ache into violent temper She had
seen 1t gathering all yesterday, after
her father had said he had no notion
of taking the lady to the music f2s-
tival in the city hundred miles away
Nora's eyes dimmed as she looked at
her small brothers and their baby
sister-four active restless young
sters. hopeless prisoners of a pouring
rain
Come Oh to the porch-room," she
said persuaslvely.
Larry, the eldest boy, demanded:
"What for?"
"Oh! To play club-fst-that's
nice easy game and ever so funny"
Nora answered. Besides even Babe
can play with US"
Nora began the game. First there Is
the building of a column Of dubbed
fists each clasping the upright thumb
of the one below. Then the leader
demands of the topmost hand: what
you got there?' and upon hearing:
"Club-Fist,' cries, Take 1t off fore
| knock it off," suitlng action to words
This keeps up till a single fist re-
mains-its owner answers: Bread
and Cheesew and thereafter Is put
through long QUESTIONABLE which
ELECTS the facts that the cat got the
bread and cheese, and Is dead and
buried behind the church door-and
the first player to laugh, speak or
show his teeth shall get rOusing box
and ten plnches.
Invariably that provokes an out
burst-Nora had forgotten how wild
1t could be, even without Interrupt
ton. Larry who had laughed first
was rushing everywhere trying to es-
cape the box and the pinches Tip and
Billy were trying to give him. All
three fell sprawling, knocking over
chairs, table, the revolving book
stand, even the high old clock that
could strike a hundred when 1t gave
Its whole mind to the job. The noise
was unearthly-even before Larry
wrlggling free, shouted shrilly, dart
ing to the door: Benny Boyl Oh
Benny Boy Come make these pizen
ijluts fight fair"
"H-m Isn't that Sis Nora's jobf
I'd rather be the innocent bystander
when there's flghtin',' Benjamin Lyle,
Esquire, said untruthfully.
Nora turned a distressed face to
him saying: "Oh please take the boys
inside, while check up on the cy-
clone damage"
Instantly the procession formed
Larry leading, Billy and Tip at Ben
nys elbows, Baby Fay perched on
his shoulder. Thus 1t came to the
door, which Larry flung wide, say
ing in a hushed whisper: "Come in
on your tiptOes all"
Everlina stood upon the low land
Ing Half blind with weeping-she
was statue of furious anger. Oddly
enough Benny Boy was the ultimate
cause of her rage He was going to
the music festlyal-hence her eager
ness, She had married not for love
but to escape poverty and the pres
sure of younger sisters. Herbert Laws
had seemed pleasant enough way of
escape. If only he had not brought
her where she had found Benny
Lyle, younger, shy, innocent rich,
handsome rs a Greek god, and loving
music with a passion even greater
than her own. Risk substance for
shadow she would not--but what was
to hinder a beautiful friendship that
would make up to her for all she had
missed in marriage? He was self
elected elder brother to the Laws
children, treating Nora simply as the
eldest of them. The girl wasn't shy
of him in the least-besides she was
barely decently good looking what
chance would she have against
beauty full blown, and opulent? Thus
Everllna thought to herself, little
dreaming how she herself would an
swer It.
what have you young heather
been doing?' she asked of Larry.
We've just been playin' club fist"
said Larry. Mora was Bread-and-
Cheese-and Tip and Billy"
"Shut upl" Everlina cried, stamp
ing so hard one slipper flew off. re-
veallng buddy twisted toes. Benny
halted in the open door, thought he
had seen few figures so unattractive
an ungodly contrast to Nora In
crisp blue Bingham, ran-rngs OF
bright hair playing about smooth
white forehead. She took in the stu
alton at glance, and tiptoeing
whispered to Benny, please, oh
please take the boys with you
with pleasure" he said, ther
gathering in the troop splashed ava,
needless of weather.
Tip, nodding backward. began
"Some bird-NIlss Liner--Pd love I,
wiring her neck"
shut up from Larry, giving the
speaker cuff. "She belongs to oul
had-we mustn't talk about her"
Benny married Nora before yer,
long-when they We're safely settled
at Lylemeadcw, with Baby Fay a,
head of the house, he said to his wife
hugging her tight: Don't you. thlnl
we owe Larry four years at Prince
ton--with maybe Europe afterward
I do"
What for?" Nora asked. smllin.
buck at him. "Oh? For being sucl
II source Of enlightenment," quot
Benny-to which Nora graphically re
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