WAIKATO NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 670, 23 May 1929, Page 5

WAIKATO NOTES

(From Our Own CorrespondentJ Mrs. E. Norman, of Te Awamutu, left last week for a holiday in England. Mrs. AV. Carr-Rollett has returned to Hamilton from a visit to Levin. PLAY READING On Monday even ins in The Peace Memorial Hall, Cambridge, the Cambridge Literary and Debating Society ! gave a most enjoyable reading of “Mr. j Prohack” —a three-act comedy by Anr--1 old Bennett and Edward Knoblock. The cast was taken as follows: j Mr. Prohack, Mr. H. Rowland; Eve • Proliack, Mrs. AY. J. Ward: Charles, Mr. |H. L. Posseniskie: Sissie, Miss Mary I Short; Oswald Morfey, Mr. Neville \ Souter; Lady Massulam, Mrs. Possen- ! iskie; Softly Bishop, Mr. Morath; Mirni Wanstoclc, Miss Norma Langston; Hollis (a tailor), Mr. E. B. Kemsley; Mach in (a maid), Miss Priestley; Sir Paul Skinner, Mr. W. J. Ward. All the parts were particularly well allotted, and reflect much credit upon »he producer, Mrs. W. J. Ward. MEETING OF GLIDE CAPTAINS The District Guiders and the committee of the Girl Guide Association in Hamilton met on Monday evening in Miss E. Scherer’s studio. It was hoped that Dr. Buckley Turkington would be present, but unfortunately owing to sudden illness she was unable to attend. The Divisional Commissioner, Mrs. Toombs, presided. Several appoint ments were made: Mrs. G. A. Elmsley, divisional secretary; Mrs. IT. H. Clark, Mrs. Kent Johnson and Mrs. T. Shaw, executive; Miss McCormac, District Commissioner of Ngaruawahia submitted an interesting company programme to the visiting committees. Among those present were: Mrs. IT. Toombs, Miss McCormac, Mrs. Elmsley, Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Gane and Mrs. Richards, from Cambridge; Mrs. Joy, Mrs. Patterson. Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Sanson, from Ngaruawahia; Mrs. R. Clark, Mrs. H. IT. Clark, Mrs. Kent Johnson, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. W. McNiool, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Morrow, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Neilie, Mrs. Tait, Mrs. Morison, Miss V. Valder, Miss Scherer and Miss Moore; and Guiders Richards, Hammond, Whitner, Howlett, Champton, Clark, Levesque, Anderson, Murray, Davison and Patterson. • * * EUREKA PARTY Mr. and Mrs. Lester Masters ' were the guests of honour at a very jolly evening in Eureka last Thursday, when their many friends met to welcome them after their honeymoon. Mr. Masters has been a very energetic secretary to the local tennis club, so Mr. Hinton, the president, in a pleasant little speech, asked Mr. Masters to accept the many useful and pretty presents they had all brought for him and his wife, and hoped they would have much happiness. The evening sped cheerily with cards and dancing. Among those present were: Mrs. L. Masters, Mrs. G. Cob-belt, Mrs. P. Clarkin, Mrs. P. Shine, Mrs. C. Harington, Mrs. G. Nixon, Mrs. C. Masters, Mrs. R. Hunter, Mrs. G. Hinton, Miss J. Masters, Miss I. Russell, Miss M v Gemmell, Miss M. Bowers, Miss T. Nixon, Miss G. Townsend, Miss A. Gemmell, Miss F. Bass, Miss Bowers, Miss I. Townsend, Miss M. Bell, Miss L. Townsend, Miss A. Shine. Miss B. Bennett ; Miss E. Clarkin, Miss B. Bourne. creased; she was in her element. Seventy thousand francs in the bank now—over five hundred pounds! He couldn’t help admiring her nerve. Outwardly she was unmoved, assuming a slightly cynical expression, but he could see her eyes shining—they reminded him of the eyes of a cat. Both the players seated and those standing up were throwing money recklessly on to the table now as if convinced the bank couldn’t run any longer. “Rien ne va plus!” the croupier announced. Without a moment’s hesitation Violet dealt and won. A murmur went up from the crowd, and more people gathered round the table, draw r n by the excitement. Violet was smiling, for she could no longer hide her feelings. She was the centre of attraction; the world was watching her, envying her, asking who she was. She w'ouldn’t have exchanged places with anyone at that moment. Her shining eyes moved round the table. On her left was a duchess; a little further on a famous Frenchman who had made millions out of motor-cars. To the left of the croupier a notorious Spanish count, who lost and won fortunes at games of chance; facing her a Grand Duke exiled from Russia. The baccarat rooms were a quick and easy introduction into the smart society of the world. She laughed as she thought of Abingdon Villas tucked away in a corner of Loudon, and dealing again turned herself urp a nine. Like conjurer with his wand the croupier “collected the money from the table on his palette, swiftly counted it, arranged it in neat piles, and announced the amount in the bank. “Faites vos jeux, Messieurs et Mesdames! ” With a W'onderful assumption of indifference, Violet slipped a cigarette into her amber holder. A watchful attendant gave her a light. She blew r a little cloud of smoke into the air, and as she did so, looking straight in front of her, she saw Markham. She looked at him for some seconds without recognition. She had reached the stage in the game when she couldn’t lose. There was no one now W'ith sufficient courage to go on the whole of the bank; indeed, no one round the table seemed willing to stake at all—they were nil afraid of her. It was a glorious feeling; she sat like a queen w'ith masses of red and golden plaques piled up in front oi: her and bundles of notes in their elastic bands. And the croupier, waving his palette, continually echoed in an emotionless voice his nasal cries. But slowly the self-arrogant smile died from her lips as recognition came. The colour left her face, so that the rouge and powder gave it the appearance of the painted face of a china doll. Her first thought, that he had followed her, was dismissed quickly as she told herself that the world was small, and Aix-les-Bains at that moment one of the principal centres of it. She glanced quickly to right and left, hoping to see Pete with him, sure now he had brought her there for their wedding tour. She nodded to him, put out her hand as if to touch the shoe and pass the bank, when she heard his voice silencing the murmur around them: “Banco avec la table!” She hesitated; it was like a challenge. She looked at him smiling, and he smiled in response, but in a i curious way, Everyone at the table

looked at him as lie spoke—there was something dramatic in the situation. Almost against her will, she put out her hand to deal the cards; she was too proud to pass the bank. She set her teeth, pulled out a card, and sent it spinning across the green cloth in his direction. “You’re very brave, Mr. King!” “And you!” he said. He was brave; he was wondering whether he had sufficient money to pay if he lost. He hadn’t had the j faintest intention of saying banco; no wish to gamble, above all against his i wife —playing for his own money! His j sense of humour came to his rescue i as he picked up the cards without I looking at them —if he hadn’t enough ! money he would borrow' from her to i make up the full amount! - He kept his eyes on her face; she j was still pale. “Well!” she said.' “Do you want a card?” The croupier turned toward him imI patiently; the players who had staked j

also looked at him impatiently. Just j as he had been impelled to say banco something now made him throw his cards on the table without looking at them and he heard the croupier’s bored voice: “Neuf!” An instant’s pause in which only the heavy breathing of one of the players could be heard; then as Violet turned over her cards: “Huit!” He. had won—by a simple pip! A babble of excited voices ... at that | moment Markham almost admired his wife. She looked at him calmly, ! smiling: “Your money, Mr King.” “I know,” he said, “that’s why I ! went for it . . It’s all my money!” I The croupier was giving him his ! winnings; there was more than he j could hold. An attendant brought a basket into which he piled the notes j and plaques and, telling Markham to I follow him, took it to the Caisse to !be counted and changed. : Violet watched him cross the room, ] saw him standing with his back to the

| table by the high counter. She was no longer the centre of attraction; no t one was looking at her. With cold hands, she began to stuff her money into her vanity bag. She got up, still keeping her eyes on Markham’s back, moved quickly across the room, hesitated a moment behind a cluster of palms, then passed through the doors. Facing her was the theatre and the ; restaurant, both deserted now, and t | the lights out, but from the supper- ’ j room on her left she heard the sound [j of music. She went in; it was only j half filled. She saw* Bos worth sitting . | at a table by himself; the waiter had % ! just opened a bottle of champagne. As t she crossed the floor he waved his - ! hand. >! CTo be continued daily)