Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-08-29

Z "A GAME kAAAEU UNDER DJ16Cci
EACH PLAYER NOT sUsPECTNG
I THE LTFEfs CRISIS THE OTHER
THREE ARE FACING.
"N BE CARD group known to their
intimates In Warrenton as The
Four DIS" were playing bridge.
- They were Mrs Driscoll, Mrs.
Desmond. Mrs. Drake, and Mrs.
Davis. During the last five years they
had played together every Tuesday
afternoon from two o'clock up till five
at the home Of one Of the quartet. I'M
less some unexpected development
forced them to miss a Tuesday. No
trivial occurrence was allowed to do
this. Illness or absence from Warren
ton was regarded by each OF them as
the sole legitimate excuse for breaking
up the game and disappointing the
other three. Today they were playing
at the home of MRS. Davis It was the
last meeting Of the present season
They all enjoyed these Tuesday
games. They were good friends, but
they we're not as intimate as they were
supposed to be. They increasingly ap-
proved of one another as the seasons
passed, but no especially strong affec-
ton held the group together. There
was a common liking and respect
44AAQAAE bAACA4A. 4A1ClE was - COuAAflOll Utto~
sion for bridge. Most of all there was
a growing admiration in each Of them
for the reliable playing and grasp Of
the game shown by the other three.
They were all born card players. Al
though they might not admit It, and
did not even realize 1t themselves, the
Tuesday games had become to each OF
them the pleasantest social event Of the
week. A postponement was In the ma
faF ~ A.ra n -aofM
OF play, they liked to remember, they
had not missed their Tuesday games
a dozen times Each frequently said,
and believed, that they diverted her
mind from her personal anxieties more
than anything else. Each smiled toll
erantly when any Of the others said
this. Each was quite sure the other
three, with the exception of Anne Davis,
had no pressing personal strain.
They were all the middle-aged wives
of well-to-do men living In comfortable I
homes in their nidwestern town. Each /
was leader in the social life Of that
town. Mrs. Desmond and Mrs. Driscon
had no children. Mrs. Drake had one (
some who was approaching the end of /
his freshman year at college Mrs. |
Davis had four children, between 10 and /
Is, all attending good prep schools.
Each of the women seemed in excel
lent health. Each was convinced that
the other three had not. as she would
have put it, "a care in the world "
None discussed her personal affairs
with the others or passed on to them
any of her worries. Next to their card
passion, this reserve was the bond that
held them together.
Today each noticed that the other
three looked badly. Mrs. DriscOu was
very pale, and her eyes suggested that
she had not slept. Mrs. Davis, who was
the florid type, had an unnat1rally
high color, and her quiet manner held
an undercurrent of tension. Mrs. Drake,
usually an Immediately dressed wom-
an, looked as If she had selected her
garments at random Mrs. Desmond,
whose one fault as a card player, in
the opinion Of her associates. was that
she was too chatty between hands and
700 much given to post mortems, was
silent
Each of the women observed these
changes In the others, but each was
100 much absorbed in her thoughts to !
speculate about them Each thought, .
that she understood MRS.
Davis situation. George, her husband,
)aralyzed for IS months and unable ]
o communicate with others or to be {
with, must be worse. In
Vardly, they hoped he was. His case
vas hopeless. Life in such conditions
vas not worth while. The end surely !
would be relief to him and his wife. |
Moved by this brief reflection, Mrs.
Drake spoke in her gentle way. She
lad a charming personality with more {
trength and steadiness behind It than I
Ter associates realized.
Il hope MIR. Davis is not worse" she
as they took their places at {
he table and drew cards for partners. 7
Mrs Davis shook her head.
mo, thank you" she said, II think,
n the contrary, that he's little
etter."
Her voice sounded very tired. Mrs
brake observed that, and for a flash y
ng instant had glimpse OF Anne c
)avis' home life these past IS months
The others murmured perfunctorily. q
he tragic illness of MFR. Davis was an +
Id story SO old that one was inclined
D forget 1t. They had all been shocked $
nd sympathetic in the beginning. =
hey were still sympathetic. But they <
ad come to accept the condition OF v
ieorge Davis as routine affair ter e
lble for him If he realized 1t, terrible
Dr. his wife, who must realize 1t all [