The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-03-05
From the New York Sunday Times.J
A BACHELORS SUPPER PARTY,

On! say, THIS IS 100 DaQ. ASK US
here on such a night and give us nothing
to drink but seltzer water
Temperance, my dear fellow. Faux
ner is a temperance man. .
$50 it seems-temperate in punctu-
atty as well as in other good things.
He asks his friends for eight and then
doesn't Keep the appointment himself, -
and Frank Horton kicked a huge yule
log, which was burning briskly by the
fire, with some Impotence, aud then
turned round once more, and looked at
q well spread supper table which was
laid for five, pointing with a sort of wave
of contempt to the five bottles of tenn
perance drink on the table-one for each
guest, while at the same time he made
the observation, ''Who is the fifth
There are only four of Us. -
Horton was very young man-the
youngest OF the party; but he was the
most fastidious on the subject Of eating
and drinking. The other two men
laughed heartily. They were as dis
appointed at Faulkners being converted
to the new principles as II. was; yet
they could not help enjoying his intense
discontinue. The four men who. at
Dick Faulkuer's expense, were to sup
together on that special night, had
been thrown oUt of an invitation to stay
at q country house in the neighborhood
by the sudden illness OF Mr. Dent, the
host. Dick Faulkner suggested that
they should adjourn to q hotel in a GER
tain town about six miles from the
house in question, and where he, being
the richest, said he would stand treat to
his three friends.
Except the residents at the house
where they had intended to spend the
day, none of them had any acquaintance
In the neighborhood. 1t was, therefore,
the more remarkable that Mr.. Faulkner
should be absent at the very hour when
he had appointed to put the culinary
powers of the hotel to the test.
Dick always was eccentric, y further
remarked Horton, turninga chair around
from the table and placing himself IN the
very front of the fire" always eccen-
. tic, and [ SHOULD not wonder if he
plays us soma evil trick before this
night is over He'll have some change
out of us, or | am mistaken in my man.
So much the better this isn't the
sort Of evening one wants to pass ike
every other evening in the year.
Temperance drink " muttered Hor-
ton, with horror.
The clock struck q quarter past eight
-half-past-andno symptom OF the host
Horizons patience WAS quite gone,
that of the other two was fast ebbing
away, when suddenly they were rem
dered oblivious Of the selfish cravings
hunger prompts by a shriek-a pro.
longed, feminine shliek
Horton was inclined 10 be romantic,
and Immediately imagined that it was ut
tered by some fair damsel in the very
direst distress.
ITO the rescue, my brothers he
cried, snatching up the poker and shout
dering 1t forthwith.
And then, followed by the other two,
he proceeded into the passage, 1t was
dark None OF the trio knew the geog-
raphy q the house, but they tramped
on bravely in the direction of the scream.
Before they had proceeded far the GUant
courier emphasized his search for the
distressed maid by taking a header down
a flight of steps. he picked himself mp
again without much damage being done,
but he lost the poker.
The weary exploration of an almost
mterminable passage was the next ven
ture. At the end Of ii, however, sharp
eyes detected door with light peeping
through the chinks.
Toward this door Horton manfully d.
rected his steps, the two others hanging
ON by his coat-tails. He Tas about to
force incress into this room, when sud
denly the door was thrown open and
Dick Faulkner appeared. with face of
CHASTITY paleness in the bright light.
Have you seen 4 ghost 81 asked
Frank, meTrily. but he received no an
swer to his question. Dick Faulkner
escaped down the lengthy passage, up
the flight of steps into his own room,
CHEEKY with large fire, its substantial
viands, andits temperance drinks.
The three men he had left behind him
searched in vain-there was no woman
to be seen anywhere. Who could have
uttered that scream? Having satisfied
themselves on the point Of there being
no one there, they prepared TO return to
the deserted supper table. This ume
Horton brought up the rear.
Arrived at the steps, he paused for q
second or two. to grope for the poker,
thus giving the others good start,
when a door he had not perceived in the
utter darkness opened aboutthreeinches,
showing just a CLEAN Of light, and a
voice said:
sis he gone? Help me-help me to
get ont of this dreadful place.
"Madam, am your devoted slave,