Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-02-16
A BACHELORS SUPPER PARTY

cob! [ say, this is too bad. Ask us
here on such night and give us nothing
to drink but seltzer water"
Temperance, my dear fellow. Faulk-
her is a temperance man"
$50 it seems-temperate in punctu-
atty as well as in other good things.
He asks his friends for eight ana 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, and then
turned round once more, and looked at
q well spread supper table which was
laid for five, pointing with 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 u.s..
Horton was very young mantle
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 FL. was; yet
they could not help enjoying his intense
discontinue. The four men who, at
Dick Faulkner's expense, were to sup
together on that special night, had
been thrown OFT of an invitation to stay
at a country house in the neighborhood
by the sudden illness of Mr.. Dent, the
host. Dick Faulkner suggested that
they should adjourn to 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 acquaintances
IN the neighborhood. It 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, +" further
remarked Horton, turninga chair around
from the table and placing himself in the
very front of the fire always eccen-
tic, and I should not wonder if he
plays us some evil trick before this
night is over. He'll have some change
cut of us, or I am mistaken in my man.
$50 much the better this isn't the
sort of evening one wants to pass like
every other evening in the year"
Temperance drink F" muttered Hor-
ton, with horror.
The clock struck a quarter past eight
MISUNDERSTANDING 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 shriek-a pro-
longed, feminine shrek.
Horton was inclined to 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 it forthwith.
And then, followed by the other two,
he proceeded into the passage, It was
dark. None Of the trio knew the geog-
raphy of the house, but they tramped
on bravely in the direction of the scream.
Before they had proceeded far the 0Uaaat
courier emphasized his search for the
distressed maid by taking header down
flight of steps. He picked himself up
again without much damage being done,
but he lost the poker.
The weary exploration of an almost
interminablepassage was the next ven
ture. Atthe end Of it, however, sharp
eyes detected door with light peeping
through the chinks.
Toward this door Horton manfully di-
rected his steps, the two others hanging
on by his coat-tails. He vas about to
force Ingress into this room, when sud
denly the door was thrown open and
Dick Faulkner appeared, with face of
CHASTITY paleness IN the bright light.