Anyhow, she was a stranger, and Mrs. Smythe took her in. It was
Mrs. Mahoney's introduction to bridge, and she did not know she was playing
for keeps. When the afternoon was over, Mrs. Smythe hovered about her with
the sweetest sympathy. 'So sorry you had such a horrid run of cards, dear.
Better luck next time.' It took Mrs. Mahoney some time to understand that
her social afternoon had cost one hundred and twenty dollars, but next day
her husband sent a check for one hundred and twenty-two dollars to Mrs.
Smythe. The extra two dollars were for the refreshments, he naively
explained, adding that since his wife was so poor a gambler as hardly to be
able to keep professionals interested, he would not feel offended if Mrs.
Smythe omitted her in future from her social functions."
Ridgway took it with a smile. "Simon Harley brought his one hundred and
twenty-two dollars in person."
"He didn't! When?"
"This morning. He proposed benevolent assimilation as a solution of our
troubles."
"Just how?"
"He offered to consolidate all the copper interests of the country and put
me at the head of the resulting combine.
Pages:
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175