Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23

Il on the rubber, but she wanted to
~ see just how much Alec was sunk.
It was certainly pretty bad. He'd
been losing steadily, no matter how much
they cut around. And losing was one Of the
things that Alec, nice as he was, didn't do
very well. 1t was beginning to show in his
abruptneSs about any casual error. This game
had been going on for hours and she hadn't
a chance in the world to sleep in the morning,
either, and tomorrow night at the Ludlows
would be another late session. Shed look like
o bag tomorrow night
1.-TWO passes, Kate" said Michael in the
tone that only husbands can use without being
uncivil.
Third hand, Kate considered. looking over
her cards quickly. She knew that she didn't
have bid. Still, 1t was unusual distribution,
and perhaps-"one spade" she said, and was
instantly worried.
Some one at the other side asked if it would
be all right to go out and get some more ice.
"Tn get some in a minute" promised Kate.
mo. Stay where you are. I know where
the ice box is. Come on, Helen"
Kate didn't want them to go out and hunt
around the ice box. After dinner party the
kitchen never looked as it should. The cook
was tired and sure to have left things more
or less in confusion.
you're playing this hand Kate" said Alec.
81 raised it to four spades"
She frowned She was beginning to see
risks where before there had been possibilities.
at least Why hadn't Alec left it alone?
tits III right" he said with threat in his
encouragement eff you had an original third
hand bid. you're safe enough"
CHE hadn't anything of the sort. She knew
~ she should have kept sim. But some
times, when she was tired she didn't bid them
regularly. Her thoughts separated into three
Independent streams. One went toward the
ner were probably going through every drawer,
hunting for an ice pick; one toward the babys
room, and one toward the cards which Alec
was spreading on the table. He had pretty
supporting hand, all right. It wasn't going to
be his fault
Helen was one Of those precise housekeepers
who never had q scorched piece OF aluminium
or an unsecured knife around her own house,
and was very free and informal in. other peo-
pies pantries and kitchens. The baby was ON
the sleeping porch over the kitchen. II they
woke him ur eth all that racket, he'd be
awake the re Of the night. He'd had too long
a nap today, anyhow. Better to lead to the
queen in the dummy It made her feel such
q fool to have Alec watch the way this hand
was working out. Spades punched against her,
too. She couldn't possibly set up the diamonds
with so many tTumpS out, and it wasn't safe to
lead the spades out, or Mike might get in with
those hearts. The only thing was TO force him
I'm sorry Alec" she apologized, gathering
up the insufficient pile of their tricks and
tossing them in with the rest Of the pack.
TITS all right" he said, with some restraint.
'"To bad raised you. I counted on you for
the tops"
"of course. You had right TO- It was a
wild bid"
Mike Carr grinned.
Third hand" he remarked, scoring the dis
aster. I'm glad I married you for your
beauty"
Blake brought In an old cracked bowl full
Of ice, and q battered kitchen spoon to ladle
it out with. He put it on the table and uncon-
sciously tipped lamp shade awry. 1t annoyed
Kate, but she was helpless. She couldn't 60
around udying up after her guests But there
was a perfectly good silver ice pail out there,
If they'd waited until she could get it. When
she was dummy she emptied four ash trays int0
the fire, opened a window at the end Of the
living room and slipped out to look at the
kitchen clock. It was nearly always accurate, but
tonight she thought, for moment, It must
have stopped. 1t must be later than half past
IL. 1t felt more like 2. No, the clock was
ticking steadily and reliably. They wouldn't
be going home for q long while yet and, Of
course, she didn't want them to, or the eve
ming would be Aop. She picked up q cloth
and mopped the places where fragments of ice
had fallen and melted, and then chopped some
more, wishing for hundred ice cubes. Helen
always had Ice cubes. But she didn't have
three children and husband with a business
Of his own that fairly Tapped up money.
The kitchen was untidy. Bowls Of ripe
olives and celery stood on top Of the ice box,
crowded out of the cooler spaces. They could
have creamed celery for the children tomorrow,
thought Kate at random. She threw couple
Of soiled dish towels down the clothes chute
and went into the dining room to look ut the
bottles on the buffet. There seemed to be
plenty Of everything left She Strengthened the
flowers on the table, sighed at Q new scar in