THE PEKING DUCK DUCK PLAYS

The Senior Life Master was snoozing quietly in his chair. Suddenly he called out, "Stir-fried rice."

As he awoke, we rushed over to find out if he was all right.

"Yes, I'm fine," he said. "I was just dreaming about last night's Chinese meal. Which reminds me of a story."

He produced a piece of paper with today's deal diagram written on it.

East was (the SLM explained) Clarence Gigglesworth, playing with his girlfriend, Thomasina Thomson. I don't approve of parents who use a variation of the family name for a child's first name, but Thomasina, or Tamsin, as she preferred to be called, was a corker of the first order. And she was goodlooking too!

When Tamsin led the club 10, Clarence could tell that declarer had two club stoppers. Following the principle that you concede as quickly as possible a trick that an opponent must win, Clarence withheld his club honors, instead encouraging with the nine. Declarer won with his jack, then led a diamond to the jack and queen. Clarence played low without a flicker of a hesitation!

Convinced that Tamsin had the diamond ace, declarer led a diamond from the board and played low from his hand, hoping that the ace would appear. After winning with the diamond 10, Tamsin led her second club, establishing Clarence's suit while he still had the diamond ace as an entry.

Tamsin was delighted at her partner's brilliant double duck.

"Is it February 29th?" she asked.

"Why?" inquired Clarence.

"Because I would propose to you," was Tamsin's answer.