51
Who's for Euchre? By SCOTT CORBETT Some of the old card games woxdd baj^e today ^s players,, including canasta fanatics
T'S been years since I've played any card and cards dealt in batches of two or three fall with Pebbley, Wyo. games except bridge, poker, samba (a form of a plop. First you get poor shuffling because of Sir: I canasta), canasta (a form of stupidity) and too few cards, and then instead of a nice one-card- Just because a smartalec like you does not know Zioncheck. In looking through a book of card at-a-time deal as in bridge you get plop plop, plop anybody who plays euchre does not mean that games, I find that in my time I have played 14 dif plop. That's in two-handed euchre, of course. In thousands of intelligent Americans are not playing ferent games, the others being gin rummy with my three-handed euchre you get plop plop plop, plop it and enjoying it every day of their life. Only last' wife, cribbage with a roommate, seven-up with plop plop. week the Pebbley Auction Euchre Club of this three grade-school playmates, Michigan with The only hope I see for euchre is in auction city conducted a Large for which all tickets were neighbors, Russian bank with my mother-in-law, euchre for eight people, which calls for a 60-card sold out well in advance, prizes were donated by montebank, blackjack and faro with two elderly pack with 11 and 12 spots included. That might leading merchants, and $123.85 was made for a maiden aunts and pinochle with beer and Lim- appeal to some canasta players I know. The worthy cause. If it was not for stupid people with burger. strange thing about this game that nobody plays, closed minds like you, euchre would sweep bridge I could forget them all except bridge, poker though, is that the book devotes a lot of space to right off the map where it belongs! and, of course, Zioncheck. Nobody I know plays describing how to conduct a "large euchre." First much else, and yet scattered through the book are you hire the hall, get your tickets on sale not less Brewster, Mass. 25 other games for two or more players, most of than three weeks in advance, and then arrange four Sir: them with half a dozen variations. rows of 16 tables each for 256 players. The lay If you think whist is such a museum piece I (My authority for this statement is an edition out of a "large," as euchre players affectionately suggest you come to one of the public whists put of Hoyle's OfBcial Rules which I bought in the call it, includes five tables to hold the prizes, wide on with great success, over $32 collected last time dime store for 10 cents 12 years ago and which aisles for inspection of prizes, and 14 ladies in at for the benefit of the Public Library, by our Ladies' you probably could not touch today for under tendance. Club, and try to beat some of our good players. 25 cents.) Personally, I'd hate to try to locate 256 euchre Maybe you'd find you are not so smart after all! What I would like to know is, who plays those players in only three weeks. Zioncheck players, 25 other games? maybe, but not euchre. Denver, Colo. Who plays euchre? Who plays whist or five hun It is also hard for me to believe that a museum Sir: dred? Anybody going in for pitch, slough, or scat? piece straight out of the eighteenth century like The snide sort of way you brush aside the fine How's your bezique? When was the last time you whist is still lingering on in Hoyle, but I must ad old game of solo, or slough, anybody would think had a big evening of 6carte, piquet, gaigel or hasen- mit I am entranced by Rule 2, Forming the Table. nobody ever played it, but let me tell you it is pfeffer? Those first in the room have the preference. If, by played all over Denver and by some mighty fine Now that samba and canasta, not to mention reason of two or more arriving at the same time, people, too. If you would read your card-game Zioncheck, have gotten people used to playing with more than four assemble, the preference among book a little more carefully instead of thinking multiple decks of cards, I am surprised a game like the last comers is determined by cutting." I can you're so smart, you might notice that progressive panguingui has not had more of a vogue. Pan- just see Lady Orkney arriving late in her sedan solo is a variation credited to the Denver Athletic guingui is played with "eight decks, with the eights, chair and cutting Lord fflnch-Martin dead in her Club, which I happen to be a member of. I'd like nines and tens of each suit omitted, as in con- effort to beat him to the gaming room. My wife to see you bid a diamond or heart solo, or even a quain." You know. has just suggested that perhaps "by cutting" refers plain frog, and try to make it! 1 bet you would Euchre, now—I can understand why I never to cutting cards, in this case. That shows how lit sweat! hear of anybody playing euchre. In two-handed tle she knows about Lady Orkney. Well, anyway, euchre, you use a 24-card pack, ace through nine. pray do come over for an evening of whist tonight Biggerstaff, Kans. Ever try to shuffle 24 cards? Shufflers who have —we're having six people in, and the first four get Sir: developed canasta hands crumple them right up to play. I guess you think you're pretty smart, don't you? trying it. So do Zioncheck players. Another bad Of course, I am well aware of the reaction that All I can say to you is, I don't believe there is any thing about euchre: it is one of those games that remarks such as I have been making always arouse, such a game as Zioncheck. feature a ploppy deal. You are supposed to deal so I will save a lot of people a lot of letter writing three cards at a time all the way around, then two, by writing their letters before I receive them: Well, there is. -A. A. .A.
ILLUSTRATED BY CARL ROSE
PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 52 YOU can be proud of four part in ifui/ciin^a /fetferAmerica
Something wonderful has happened in our country during the past 10 years, and you have been a part of it. It all started during the first dark days of World War II. One of Uncle Sam's biggest problems was how to get a thousand and one things done voluntarily on the home front. Public-spirited business leaders offered their services//-ee. They formed The Advertising Council to tell the story. They called upon Amer ica's unmatched communications forces mmimBms to help. Soon millions of messages were -/kfimn going out in magazines, newspapers, radio and posters, without cost to the taxpayer. Wars take money. So the Council got behind the Treasury's War Bond Drives, and the nation responded as it always does to a just cause. Wars chew up raw materials fast. So the Council helped Uncle Sam conduct salvage campaigns for metals, fats and paper. Again, you met the need. Remember this wartime pesterf Forest fires were robbing the country of one of our most needed raw materials. Millions of acres of valuable timber were being lost through human carelessness. The Council and Smokey, the fire-preventin' bear, soon made the public forest-fire conscious—and more careful. Vast stores of timber were saved. Then came campaigns on Victory Gardens, "loose talk," rationing, nurse recruitment and many others. And each time, when they learned of the need, our people acted. But this voluntary service did not end with the war. By popular demand, the Council began to help such peacetime causes as Savings Bonds, Highway Safety, Community Chests, Red Cross, Economic Education, Crusade for Freedom, Better Schools, Civil Defense and Blood Donation. Over a billion and a half dollars in advertising space and time have been given freely by American business to do these vital jobs in the public interest. Hardly an American but knows about them and has had some part in their progress. Collier's salutes The Advertising Council for its ten-year record as a wonderful example of American teamwork. Its achievements are a tribute to the whole American people—to business that supports its activities — to all those devoted workers, in so many fields, who have helped to tell you what needed doing. But most of all to you who did it]
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Reminded by ads like this, contributed by the When scrap is needed quickly to keep our defense magazines of America at no cost to Uncle Sam or plants rolling, ads like this, sponsored by leading the tax-payer, you now own over $35 billion in business and trade publications, help to make that Defense Bonds. need known. What the Advertising Council is ... and what it does
As it starts on its second decade, The Adver agencies and leading non-profit organizations tising Council is a fine example of the con which have learned that advertising—through The messages you hear and see over radio and tele science of America in action. It is a voluntary simplification, dramatization and repetition- vision on behalf of national causes such as CARE, organization—independent, non-profit, non gets things done. Fight Inflation, Government Reorganization, Racial partisan—dedicated to the welfare and prog and Religious Prejudice, March of Dimes and Closely associated with the Council is an United Nations, are scheduled by the Council. Ad ress of all our people. The Council donates Industries Advisory Committee consisting of vertisers, networks and local stations give the time. its services to the causes it aids. 38 business leaders and a Public Policy Com It is composed largely of advertisers, adver mittee which evaluates requests for campaigns. tising agencies and media, including maga The latter includes 20 leading representatives zines, newspapers, radio and television, the of management, labor, education, agriculture, outdoor and transportation advertising groups. religion, medicine and journalism. The Council's budget is contributed by busi All these good Americans have accom ness generally. Space and time for Council plished much by working together. But so programs are donated by advertisers and media. much more still remains to be done! This Advertising agencies provide free creative talent publication is confident that The Advertising for the preparation of campaign materials. Council will continue to do its part by giving As the first organized, systematic method you the facts about national problems as they of getting important messages to the public arise, so that in the future as in the past, they will be met in the traditional voluntary quickly, the Council annually reviews hun The posters along the thoroughfares and in your dreds of requests for help from government American way. transportation vehicles often carry messages in the public interest. The space is given by the Outdoor and Transportation advertising industries.
The Council also serves American Cancer Society, American Heritage, Boy Scouts, Brotherhood Week, Christmas Seals, 4-H Clubs, Flag Day, Girl Scouts, Heart Fund, Religion in American Life, Salvation Army, United Negro Colleges, and many other projects in the public interest.
IVAN' is watchinv vou
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You learned of the nurse shortage from ads like We must increase productivity all along the line this, many contributed by daily, weekly and labor if we are to meet our defense needs and maintain This advertisement is contributed newspapers. In five years, 418,000 young women a strong civilian economy. House magazines of by COLLIER'S as a public service. have responded. leading companies carry ads like this regularly.
PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 54 Dark Hour CONTINUED FROM PACE 15 alive and well, and she had a happy, Far off in the mesquite thicket an elf things—butterflies; lizards and homed want her to buy for herself with it. exciting marriage, satisfying in every re owl called, its funny little Morse-code toads; the tiny leaves of the mesquites Carolyn herself had never liked presents spect. When, after two years of mar whistle sounding over and over, a kind and paloverdes and ironwoods, folded of money; she preferred chosen gifts, riage, she had become pregnant, she of SOS, never answered, yet never to conserve moisture in the heat of the no matter how small; and she wanted had had an easy time, followed by the sounding hopeless of help. And then day; the miniature cactus plants with Elizabeth to have gifts her mother had comfortable delivery of a healthy, nor he was quiet—his little ship sunk? No, their small, bright, perfect blossoms; chosen, even though she wasn't there to mal, beautiful baby. She had never there was no reason to be morbid, now; the hummingbirds and canyon wrens buy them for her personally. known poverty or hunger or fear—or more likely he had found himself a and cunning baby quail. And now she began to plan the gifts: real illness, until now. cricket. a book, a doll, a scarf, a small vase for I'm not prepared, she thought, panic- She sat there in the deep black bed HERE was so much to show her. desert flowers, a little wooden box for stricken; how can I face what I now of silence. Will it be like this? she TWould Harry show her? Could he? trinkets, a silver ring, a copy of a favor have to face without going to pieces, wondered. Afterward? Just silence? The ranch took all his time. He would ite picture—nothing big or expensive, without making life unbearable for Always self-sufficient, never minding need help. His mother would be there, but things she could keep and look at Harry and Elizabeth? And myself? solitude, she had liked silence, the desert but she was old, full of her housekeep and use, and remember her mother had Perhaps prayer would help? But, al silence, yet it seemed such a waste—just ing and her books and letter writing wanted her to have them. Am I being though she was deeply religious, she had silence—for an eternity. Or would she to relatives and old friends. She would maudlin? Carolyn wondered. No, she never been able to pray for herself; what live again, in some other guise, still find love Elizabeth and be good to her, but decided. It was what she herself would little disappointments and troubles she ing happiness in another life, not with would she answer all her questions, give have wanted most of all if anything had had had were not worth troubling Him Harry and Elizabeth, but with others? her the response she needed to make happened to her own mother. about. It had been easy enough to pray She was sure this life she had known her mind and spirit grow and expand? Mother, Carolyn thought now, oh. for other people in trouble—a mother wasn't to be all for her, and she had It's up to Harry, Carolyn decided, Mother, how can I tell you? They had losing a child, or parents with a sick always been so close, were still close baby, or some fine person critically ill even though they were hundreds of or injured or in some other kind of dis miles apart. Please don't grieve too tress. She would send a silent prayer much. Mother. You and I had good out, asking Him to help and comfort years together. If only you could be them, feeling sure her prayer was an here with Elizabeth. But Carolyn's swered, feeling somehow that that was father couldn't leave his patients, they almost the only kind of prayer sure to were his precious responsibility, so it be answered. was out of the question for him to come and settle way out here in a useless, un CAN only pray that things will be productive life in the desert. I made easier for Harry and Elizabeth, The real solution, Carolyn knew, she decided, and yet the only way I can would be for Harry to find someone else be sure of that is to make it easier for to take her place, not to wait too long— them myself. It was becoming harder but her mind and heart shrank at the every day to hold her child, dress her, thought. Harry had good sense. When play with her, tuck her into bed, without the time came, he would choose some bursting into weak tears. Sometimes in one who would be good to Elizabeth the long, still, sleepless, pain-filled night, and probably love her dearly, but Caro she would get quietly out of bed, after lyn could hardly bear to think about it. making sure Harry slept, and slip into Anyway, that would be up to Harry; she Elizabeth's room and sit by her crib, couldn't tell him how to run his life weeping softly and hopelessly in the after she was gone, any more than she dark, until she would finally return to told him how to run his life now. her place by Harry, and, comforted by That had been one of the best things his warmth and nearness, she would fall about their marriage: the way they had asleep. allowed each other to retain their own Now she must force herself to talk identities, to remain individuals. It and laugh and sing and go about her '^^rc^S-T*^^ kept them interesting to each other. work these last few days as if everything "Okay, here we are in my home workshop. What lively talks they had had, at night were all right. How could she do it, how And now what do you want to show me?" DON TOBIN and at mealtimes and on horseback could she do it? But she had to. There rides in the hills before the advent of were only seven more days for her to be Elizabeth. Even their arguments had with Harry and Elizabeth, to help Eliza never minded the thought of death somehow he must find the time. I must been friendly. They had had so much beth to do without her. when she was younger, but that was be make him see that before I leave. to say to each other, so much of life and Dr. Hollister was right, of course; she fore Harry and Elizabeth. How could I must also make a list of things— living to share. should have gone to him long ago, when she leave them; how could she bear it? about Elizabeth's diet, and where things she first noticed that something was She wept again, bitterly, and lay in the are so Harry can find everything with HEY had met six years before—just wrong. As a doctor's daughter she sand, her head on her arms, weeping out trouble; and then I'll write him a Tthink, only six short, beautiful years certainly knew better, but there was until she was exhausted and numb. letter telling him how I feel, how much —when, run-down after a siege of flu, always something to interfere with She pulled out a handkerchief. I I have loved him and how happy he has Carolyn had taken a vacation from her getting away from the ranch—roads must get back, she thought in despair, made me, how thankful I am to have teaching job and had spent a month on washed out, sick cows to take care of, drying her face and blowing her nose; had this much; and the same kind of a local guest ranch. Harry had stopped truck broken down, water gaps torn there's so little time left to be with them. letters to my mother and father. by one Sunday for dinner—his place out, always something, and she hated to And then a letter to Elizabeth. No, was three miles up the winding moun bother Harry; he was so busy, so over HE got up and started home down a series of letters, she decided, one to tain road from the dude outfit—and worked. S the creek bed, but she had worn her read each year until she is sixteen, tell Carolyn had suddenly felt a strange Somehow she had managed to hide self out with weeping, and she sank ing what I hope for her and some things stirring in her breast when she placed her trouble from Harry until four days down again, her back against the bank. I want her to read and do and learn her small hand in his big, brown one, ago when he had seen her in a sudden She moved one hand through the each year. That way she'll never, never and their eyes had met. spasm of pain, worse than any that had granite sand, scooping it up, sifting it forget me, and somehow I'll still live for There had been two other Eastern gone before. Alarmed, he had insisted through her fingers over and over, her in spirit, and she'll know how much girls present, however, pretty, self-as on her going into town to the doctor thinking of nothing now, for these few I loved her. Love her, she amended, sured girls, and Carolyn had sat quietly right away, and she had finally given in moments, just hearing the soft sighing thoughtfully, wonderingly. No matter apart, smiling and listening to their teas to him. How could I have been such a of the grains of sand in the darkness. what else, she knew that her love was ing banter, letting them monopolize fool, she wondered, back there at the She could see the colors of them in her the one thing that would never die. Harry at the dinner table. beginning? It's just as hard now to get mind's eye: the opaque pink ones, the Carolyn became calm and almost Later she had slipped quietly out to away, and yet I have to do it, and it will white ones and yellow ones and red ones happy as she began to plan the letters. the barn for her usual afternoon ride be far worse, far more inconvenient, and black ones, the flat shiny bits of She would write each one by hand alone in the hills, and, to her surprise, and so much harder on Elizabeth. But mica, and the tiny clear crystals, like rather than use the typewriter, and she Harry had shortly followed, waiting un the truth was, she realized now, she sim miniature boulders to her, like giant would seal each one in a separate enve til the wrangler had saddled her horse; ply hadn't been able to believe that boulders to an ant. lope, marked to be opened on Eliza then, tightening the cinch on his own something bad could finally be happen Elizabeth loved the sand. She would beth's fourth birthday, fifth birthday, horse, he had mounted and ridden be ing to her. She still found it hard to be cup it in her hands and study it and talk sixth and so on. And I'll enclose a side her to the gate. lieve, but she had to. It was too real, about the tiny shapes and colors. She brand-new dollar bill in each one, she "Which way you headed?" he had dear God, the pain was too real. was so tiny herself, and she loved tiny decided, and tell her exactly what I asked when they were out on the road. Collier's for January 10, 1953
PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 55 "I never know when I start out," she She lay back against the sand and pitiful, brimming eyes. I hope Harry When at last the snake stopped mov nad replied, smiling faintly, pleased and looked up at the stars. "Thank You," holds her and cuddles her close and ing, his body was almost clear of the excited in spite of herself. she whispered. talks to her and kisses her tears away. rock. "Good," he had said then. "Let's go A kangaroo mouse or pack rat rustled How much easier it would be if there Only when Carolyn started for the up past my place—there are some the dead leaves under a bush on the were other children for her to play house did she feel a rush of fear at things I'd like to show you." bank, and Carolyn lay there, hardly with, a brother or sister. If only they what had happened, but the fear gave As they rode off, Carolyn couldn't breathing, listening to the scampering could have had other children. Her way shortly to a growing feeling of help saying, with a glance toward the of the tiny feet. arms hungered to hold a tiny baby wonderment. It was almost as if the house, "You're forsaking some gay She thought of the baby pack rats she again, but never again, never again. snake were a symbol, she thought—or company." and Elizabeth had found when Harry She mustn't even think about it. perhaps some kind of a messenger? Harry had grinned. "They're trying cleaned out a nest in a corner of the No, that was being foolish. She was too hard," was all he had said. barn. Harry had fixed a box for them OW she was anxious to get back worked up; her imagination was run A simple beginning. with poultry netting and a dark, en N and see how things had gone in her ning away with her; that was the trou And she had gone with him, and he closed secret place for a nest. What absence. She groped for her flashlight, ble with too much silence and solitude, had shown her Indian ruins and graves cunning mites they had been with their but when she started to get up, she you had too much time to think. After he had discovered and left untouched, clean white feet and big, shiny, dark heard a soft whispering sound—^like all, this mountain-desert country was picture writings which they had laugh eyes. Bummie and Sissie. Carolyn what?—like a rope being dragged in full of rattlers, which, no matter how ingly tried to decipher into some an smiled to herself. What a toughie that sand? She froze. Now she knew why afraid you were, had to be killed if cient gossip, and finally from the top Bummie had been, shoving his smaller the pack rat had scurried through the they were found in trails or washes of a high mesa he had named the far companion away from the choicest leaves. where people would be passing. mountains for her and shown her the morsels of food, making her wait while When she forced herself to snap on Still, it made one think. She walked magic of his beloved desert. he had his drink of water first, and Sis her light to see where the snake lay, slowly, her burning face turned up to During the week he was too busy for sie meekly letting him get away with it. there was, abruptly, a buzzing noise the cool stars, feeling pain within her social calls—he worked his spread What fun she and Elizabeth had had, like a child's toy car unwinding as it self again, yet hardly noticing it now alone—but he had urged her to ride the watching the tiny creatures play, and lay on its side. The rattler was coiled with this new sensation gripping her. range and help him work cattle and fix drink from the toy saucer, and eat the under a bush on the bank of the wash, I faced certain death, she thought, fences; and in the afternoons she would scraps of bread and fruit, and carry in two or three feet from her head, his yet I fought; I didn't run, I never sit on the corral fence and watch him side for their nest the bits of string and tail a sounding blur behind his wedge- thought of running. Life was full of do chores, helping him when she could, cloth and feathers and leaves the little shaped head. He was too close. If she hazards that you had to fight, that you listening to the pleasant sounds of the girl poked through holes in the netting. got up, he would strike. couldn't run away from, and fear was cattle and horses and the sweet, insist When the pack rats had grown to She snapped off the light, and at the the greatest of these. Why, then, was ent calls of Gambel's quail in the mes- their full size, they had moped around click, the snake moved. In the dark, the she giving in to this—this other thing, quites or the chatter of cactus wrens. and seemed to pine for their freedom. snake's cool, smooth, dry body brushed without a fight? Didn't she owe it to How she had loved the life and re Elizabeth had agreed to let them go, harmlessly against her cheek. It landed Harry and Elizabeth, and herself, to sponded to it! and so they had released them one day singing in the sand, ten feet away, so put up the best fight she knew how? in a protected place in the mesquites, that when she shined the light again, she What could she have been thinking of? HEN there was that last day. She up out of flood danger. had the advantage. Thank goodness After all, Carolyn said to herself Tknew he would speak, would ask her She'll have her pets, thought Caro desert rattlers were slow-moving and there in the quiet peace of the desert to come back, yet when he did, there in lyn now, her kittens and the good and seldom aggressive, preferring escape to night, you're still not sure your trouble the dusty, warm, fragrant hush of the faithful dog Alex, her chickens and fight whenever possible. If they could is cancer. (She thought the word now barn, it had been so wonderfully sweet ducks, and later her own horse to care move like the red racer she had found without shrinking.) A little knowledge and beautiful, she could hardly bear for and ride, and before long she could stealing eggs in the chicken house, she'd can be a dangerous thing. Even if she it. She, the rather plain grade-school ride the range with Harry; she was al have left the country long ago. was a doctor's daughter, she certainly teacher, he, the lonely rancher hungry ready riding in the saddle with him for Carolyn rested the flashlight on the didn't know everything. Even the doc for an understanding companionship, short distances. She'll have a happy, bank of the wash so that its beam took tors admitted that they didn't know drawn together by their interest in the busy time and not grieve too long, in the coiled rattler and the ground everything. strange and wonderful life of the desert, Carolyn reassured herself. surrounding him, then, moving slowly, had come to love each other deeply But the first few days—they would cautiously, hardly breathing, she picked HAT was that man's name? . . . through the sharing of that interest. be hard on Elizabeth. She was still too up a large flat stone, stepped closer and WO'Brien, that was it; her father Carolyn had no illusions about her young to understand being abandoned heaved it squarely on the snake. But had thought his case hopeless: a day la self; she knew and accepted herself for by her mother, her loving friend and the sand was too soft, and the snake, borer, untrained, ignorant, he didn't exactly what she was; she dressed sim constant companion, so suddenly. If still alive, writhed and began to work know he was supposed to die; he knew ply, wearing her long, shining brown only, in these last few days, I can get its way out from under the rock. Caro only that he wanted to live' and work hair in an old-fashioned knot at the her used to being left, Carolyn thought lyn snatched up a piece of dead branch hard and drink beer and have a good back of her neck, using only a little lip bleakly. Will it work? Or will it make from a pile of flood debris and began time with his wife and kids, so he had stick and never pretending to be some things harder? Will she cling to me to pound the snake's head with the fooled them all and had his operation one not herself. But she never felt plain more than ever each time I go off? Her large end, but the paloverde wood was and other treatment and had lived and or commonplace with Harry. He made heart turned over at the memory of the old and rotten and kept breaking until was still living, her father had reported her feel completely desirable and lovely agonized wails and clutching hands, the finally she held only a foot-long piece. happily only last spring. Still living, ten in all the ways a woman in love and years after he was supposed to be dead. loved for the first time should feel. And now that she stopped to think Although at thirty-three Carolyn had about it, there were other cases she had never been in love, she had not been heard of, supposedly hopeless cases, unhappy about it. She had always felt but the people had lived, upheld by a that love would probably come to her faith and hope and determination she someday, but if it didn't, no matter. could only guess at until now, when She could still find happiness and satis that same faith and hope and determi faction in her work. A woman didn't nation began to flood through her own have to become bitter and frustrated if being. Maybe she, too, had a chance. she never married. Carolyn had cer Science had made great strides in the tainly never wanted to marry just any last few years. Only science couldn't one, simply to be married. What use do it alone; you had to co-operate, let was a marriage, Carolyn had often won them help you, and as soon as possible. dered, if people were impatient and Her heart pounded with an excitement critical and dissatisfied, nagging and and exhilaration she hadn't felt in her fussing at each other? Yet those seemed battle with the snake. the very ones who showed a pitying She made up her mind quickly. She condescension toward the unmarried older woman. To Carolyn, a marriage would go into town to the hospital as was no marriage at all if it hadn't soon as she could, just as soon as Har been made for love, no matter what the ry's mother arrived to care for Eliza world thought. beth; she would not wait any longer than she had to. Oh, she would go I have had the perfect marriage, she ahead with her plans, the letters and thought now; I have been perfectly all, just in case, but she would fight for happy. How many women can say this? ,
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Sheila half turned her back to the door to the hallway. "1 his is Police Chief John Wentworih," a harsh male voice said over the telephone
ICE STORM By JEROME BARRY The conversation was civilized and quiet. With an effort of will, Sheila played the part of a charming hostess, smiling, concealing her knowledge that one of these men was a murderer
HEILA PENNELL looked out of the library ner that evening. During the last month the three' she seemed to see the lean, calm New England window and watched the freezing rain turn had written at different times, each asking to see features beneath the neatly parted silver hair. Mr. S ing the bare, spreading branches of the huge part of the celebrated Barrington collection of Barrington's life, like his person, was as orderly willow trees into crystal chandeliers. The tele prints and manuscripts. Each had a specialty and and well planned as the collection that Sheila, as phone wire had become a glass rope. Mead, each was interested in only a portion of the collec his secretary-librarian, had the task of cataloguing. Simeon Barrington's aging butler, who was bun tion. They were strangers—from different parts of "I'm listening carefully," she said. dled in a dark overcoat and hat and a red plaid the world—and Mr. Barrington had decided to The unusual inflection in his voice was un muffler, was scattering ashes with little futile ges lump their visits into one, ask a few other guests, mistakable now. "I've had an unpleasant shock. tures on the steep, curving drive. and have a small dinner party. Sheila. I've learned something that leads me to Sheila was glad that she had been able to get At the shrill insistence of the bell. Sheila picked believe that one of the men I've asked to dinner back to the house before this ice storm had set in. up the telephone on the library table. Probably may be an impostor." After lunch, in response to a telephone call, Mr. another guest, she thought, calling to say he "But why should anyone—?" Harrington had had her take him to the railroad wouldn't be able to come because of the storm, "Sometimes psychopaths get a twisted pleasure station to catch a local train into the city. Bill perhaps one of the three from the city. Those who out of impersonating some distinguished person. Gurney, who would ordinarily have driven him, lived nearby had already made their excuses. Or there may be a more formidable reason." had gone to town that morning with the station It was Simeon Barrington himself. "Sheila, pay Sheila said, a little breathlessly, "The collection, wagon, to pick up some new slip covers for one of close attention," he said. of course. Which one is the impostor, Mr. Bar the guest rooms, and then, later in the afternoon, She noted a strange urgency in his usually un rington?" to call for the three men who were coming to din- ruffled voice. Listening to the precise enunciation. "My information isn't complete yet. However, 56
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