Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-03-14
Had Sporting
Blood
BY H. IRVING KING
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nj avn bAAODOEl WIS u huu6hNy
beauty and moved in the very
best social circles Everybody expect
ed Nancy Blodget and Bert Chalmers
to marry each other Nancy and Bert
had expected the same thing--for
while-and then, to both of them, had
come feeling that these expectations
were not as rosy as they had been at
first. They had been much thrown to-
gether In society, and had sort of
drlfted Into the position In which they
found themselves. They liked each
other well enough, as far as that went,
butt W
The fact was that each had met
the ''other one" the "only one" How
to get out Of the situation gracefully
was the question. Nancy did not want
people going around saying that she
had heartlessly Tilted Bert, and Bert
did not want all the gossips declaring
that his conduct in throwing over
Nancy was shameful"
There is game played by children
If It can be called a game-known
as Letting the old cat die" A child
in swing ceases motivating the os-
cillation of the said swing until 1t
slowly comes to dead stop.
If Nancy and Bert had been en-
dowed with sufficient courage and
frankness they might have "fessed
up" to each other and contrived some
quiet and transformations way Of let
ting the old cat die with regard to
their personal relations. But they
did not have such courage and frank
ness-and the situation, after all,
really was an awkward one.
who Bert's other and only one was
Nancy could only guess. She rather
suspected that II was that slangy,
sporty Betty Harrington. Betty was
what the knowing called a dead
game SPORT She could do the most
daring and unconventional things and
get away with IT, Bert was well as
sured who Nancy's other one was.
The way Tom Leonard looked at
Nancy, and the cold manner In which
he treated Bert betrayed the secret.
Several times Nancy was on the point
of speaking to Bert regarding the stu
alton, but It was such a difficult sub
ject to introduce And Bert felt just
that way about speaking to Nancy.
Besides, he felt that the woman
should always speak first In such a
case.
Nancy went so far at last as to
conflde In Alice Wonderleigh-every.
body confided In Alice sooner or later;
she was such sweet, mild, quiet lit.
tie thing, she simply compelled conf.
dence. "Now what would you doi"
asked Nancy.
"Oh, dear, | don't know" replied
Alice, In a distressed manner. II
thlnk-I think should tell him. But
perhaps-oh, dear, really can't ad-
wise you, only"
"Only the situation has got to be
cleared up some way" put In Nancy.
Eyes," faltered Alice.
The next day there was a bridge
at the Brownsons. Everybody" was
there. They had paused In their
brldge-playing for brief Interval OF
eating and talking. when Betty Har.
rington came romping up to Nancy
with "Hello, NanceI Got your nerve
with you todayT
"A moderate amount" replied Nan.
cy, very curious as to what was com.
ing.
"Then wen gamble" said Betty.
Don't look so shocked. know you are
dead set against gambling. which, az
your old grannies say, Is injecting 30.
ciety.' But this isn't serious Well
gamble for nothing; we can't afford to
lose. What do you say7 See this
bracelet? won II on a bet from Tom
Leonard, and I'll stake II against Bert
Chalmers. / don't want the bracelet
and you don't want Bert, so come
on-where's your sporting bloodf
Wen cut cards-best two out Of
three"
49," thought Nancy, my sus-
plcions were correct--it Is Betty Bert
wants." She glanced at the bracelet
which gllmmered on Betty's muscular
but shapely wrist That had come
from Tom Leonard, had III Possessed
by a sudden impulse, Nancy leaned
over and cut pack Of cards which
was lying on table beside the two
girls. "Acep cried Betty. Beginners
luck" Then Betty cut and cut ten.
spot Nancy cut and showed five
spot, while Betty's luck gave her
king. The third cut resulted IN Betty
cutting q seven-spot and Nancy
two-spot i've won" cried Betty, and
called across the room: Bert, come
here |"
"Oh, | was only joking; please.
please," pleaded Nancy.
Joking nothlngl" retorted Betty, |
and as Bert came up Nancy, as she
said afterwards, feeling as n she
should sink through the floor" the
hoyden went on, Here. Bert, I've Just
won you from Nancy. You are mine
now, and ] am going to give you
away"
Bert frowned and looked around
anxiOusly to see n anyone was watch.
Ing this mad prank Of Betty's. But
she, the irrepressible, seized his hand
md leading him to where Alice Won.
lerlelgh sat alone, silent and pensiye,
placed his hand In AlIce's, saying:
I've just won him at cards from Nan.
~ Take him II you want him. Lord
knows don't Nancy, you 20 and talk
% Tom Leonard. He's standing over
n tint corner making eyes at you"
Later In the day Bert and Nancy
mad n very satisfactory and friendly
ak together The story got out, OF
course but was forgotten inside OF
wn wcpks