The Coolidge examiner., 1934-11-16

Ills circle ot friends was small.
Hence this business OF playing
plnuchie with his son had become
au Important factor Ia his life.
u served 70 keep his mind occu-
pied IL served also 10 keep him
mentally alert
Thus reasoning. Il occurred 20
Einlne thar il would be an act OF
Kindness 10 permit his father to win
tie contest
Defeat might have a dangerous
effect
j, would not be a difficult feat
to accomplish this end. be reflected
II would be simple. during one Of
Austiu's dozes. 70 discard a trump
that might otherwise form n royal
marriage.
The old man would never notice.
would chuckle over his sons lnahil-
ity 10 meld n high score.
And So. with this In mind. Blaine
waited until the deciding game of
the contest: waited. In fact, until
the game was near its end. noting
with some satisfaction that the score
was nearly equal. the victor doubt
ful. waited until old Austin's head
nodded and his eyes closed for an
instant, and then swiftly slid an
ace OF trumps on the draw pile.
knowing full well the old man would
pluck 1t from the pack on the next
play. thereby completing Sc
quence in his hand and winning the
game
The plan worked beautifully. save
for the fact that Austin, with the
ace Ia his hand, did not meld his Sc
quence. Somewhat puzzled. an
noyed because he had figured wrong.
ly In supposIng his father held a Sc
quence. Blaine made his own draw
and found himself with hundred
aces.
He hesitated. then melded them.
feeling assured that on the next play
Austin would complete his sequence.
scoring for himself $50 points.
But this didn't happen.
The game ended. with Blaine as
the victor: victor. also, OF the
contest
His first reaction was ehagrin be-
cause Of the failure OF his plan.
He felt also a deep sensation o.
pity toward bis father.
But Austin was above all else
good loser. and by the time Blaine's
visit was ended other matters came
10 occupy his mind and he did not
again reflect on the outcome OF the
contest.
Blaine returned to Boston direct.
ly after supper on Sunday night.
and following his departure Austin
stretched out In his favorite chair
before the open FIRE and stared at
the blaze In moody silence.
He remained thus for so long that
Mrs. Metcalf was at length moved
TO question him.
And Austin looked at her and
smiled. and there was a contented
expression In his eyes.
Il was thinking of Blaine" he
said. smiling. Ever since Blaine
has been a youngster we've played
plnochle together. and the boy has
come TO take the game pretty Sc
riously. He's n good loser. never
offers post t-mortems. but | know II
hurts him when | win. Well. since
he's had thar job IN Boston | feel
be shouldn't be disturbed by out.
side affairs weighing on his mind.
At first | thought he'd forget about
our pinochle games. but when he
suggested this last contest. could
see his interest was as keen as ever.
And so. taking everything into con.
sideratlon. I figured II wouldn't be
50 good for his state OF mind n
he didn't win"
The old man paused and chuckled
$50 I made believe / was doing;
gave him a chance to get In couple
OF good plays without letting him
know | was watching. And II
worked. too! We finished up TO.
night. and the hoy won. lie didn't
know II. but during that last hand
| held a sequence and never melded
II, Just SOS he could win"