The Coolidge examiner., 1934-11-16
PINOCEILE
Sc
BY r. II. WILKINSON
C. Bell Syndicate --wNr Service.
| rSTIN MErCALF is an Old
\ man During the past two
years be- has failed npldIv

. ~ man During the past two
years be- has failed RAPIDLY.
The change 10 this comparatively
short space o. time is marked.
In fact back in 1881 you would
not have spoken of Austin as old.
Ills hair. uow white. was an iron
gray. There was a brightness TO
his eye. an agility 10 his move
meuts that are today bat memories
Z or those u-ao have noted this
marked change Ia Austin his son.
Blaine probably has a more acute
realization o: IL than any one.
For Blaine and hts father have
been closely associated during the
( years past
There seems To be greater bond.
a deeper sense Of understanding be-
tween the pair than between most
fathers and sons.
f Not long ago. two years. Ia fact.
+ Blaine completed his schooling and
went away 10 Boston 10 work
There are those who say lt was
this separation that brough; about
T the change in Austin.
At any rate Il was Blaine. who.
during his Infrequent visits al home.
I FIRST noted the signs OF advancing
\ age.
He attributed them, Of course. 10
his fathers years. and knew a feel
I Ing OF regret at the inevitable
Frequently he sought reinsurance
from his mother Ia regard 10 Aus
tins health. and was relieved al
I the lack OF alarm Mrs Metcalf dis
Z played over the matter. For she
was q devoted wife and would, were
there cause. be the first to feel con.
/ cerned
Blaine had been careful during the
/ two years past never 20 express
sympathy IN his fathers presence
or make insinuatlons relative 20 the
old mans increasing incapabillti-
ness. for Austin has always been
a prldeful man. and this pride has,
Il seems. become more poignant with
advancing years
lie does not admit a WEAKNESS
OF any description: believes himself
silll physically able and mentally
alert.
The situation is delicate. for
Blaine must always be careful never
10 openly appear aware OF his IA
TIERS deficiencies. lest he give Of
fense.
And Blaine. plying his father
deeply. has found this task hard
one. especially when the two are
playing pinochle
Blaine has played pln0chle with
his father since his grade school
days
There has been a close. yet
friendly. rivalry between the two.
Their skill In the game ls sur
prislngiy well balanced they have
kept tab on the games each has won
and lost over a period 81 time. and
on the eve of T}lalnes departure for
bis new job these tabs are tailed
up and found TO be nearly equal.
with Austin having the edge by a
count of two.
Blaine was glad OF this when the
results were given their hnal check
and found accurate. Tor the old man
took a sober delight In the game.
aud his pleasure at thus finding him
SELF In the lead vas good 10 see
Blaine FOR his part found no time
during the ensuing two years 20 re-
fiec, san these pluochle games. or
10 anticipate a continuance Of the
contest
But with Austin Il vas different.
For time lay heavily now on his
old mans hands aud. as Is often the
case with aged people, little things
that have no particular place IN the
scheme OF llfe loomed important
He looked forward with no small
amount OF eagerness 10 BlaIne's
homecoming. having In mind an eve
ming OF pinochle. with the old-tlme
rivalry as an Incentive for good
playing.
Blaine. though no longer feeling
n keen interest In the game. was
nevertheless willing to play II for no
better reason than to indulge the
old mans whIm.
They began a series of games
which Austin called the Battle Of
Champions
And for a period Of a year. dur
Ing which they played not more
than a dozen games at best. the vic
tories were evenly divided.
At times during the course OF
contest Blaine would find his
thoughts wandering from the busl-
ness at hand, dwelling on his work
in Boston. and Austin was apt TO
score during these intervals and
chuckle satisfactorily over his
shrewdness.
And at times. also. when the eve
ming was well advanced. the old
man was apt TO nod sleeplly. and
Blaine would find IL easy TO meld a
sequence which might otherwise
have been ayerted