Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-25
A Bachelors Supper Party.

~Oh! say, this is too bad. Ask III
Asrs on such a night and give III
apsbipg to drink but settler water"
Temperance, my dear fellow
Rxalkner is @ temperance man.
"Soit seems--temperate in punctual
~ rs we'll as other good things. He
aaks bis friends for eight, and then
sSpssn1 keep the appointment himself,
xaa Frank Horton kicked huge yule
bg, which was burning briskly by the
4sr, with some impatience, and then
a1ped round once more, and looked a,
svsg.spread supper table, which was
aaaH .io1 five, pointing with a sort OF
zz@ssInpt to the five bottles of temper.
N IS Drink on the table--one for each
F3ess, while at the same time he made
ne observation. "Who is the fifth ?
1hcgs arc only four of u.s."
Rngto1 was very young man-the
ysnDges. of the party; but he was the
snshs sastidious on the subject Of eat
nx xsfl drinking. The other two men
kngasa heartily. They we're as dis
Hyysi1ted ut Faulkner being converted
% III new principles as Horton was;
3s8 tSey could not help enjoying his in
zDSe discontinue. The four men who,
- Wck Fau!kner's expense, were to
szs ssgether on that especial night. had
Aefsn thrown on. Of an invitation to stay
I country house in the neighbnr-
Aspd BY the sudden illness of Mr.. Dent,
m host. Dick F>ulkner Suggested
Rnt shey should adjourn to the hotel
u . sertain town about six miles from
Tn house in question, and where he,
Aelng the richest, said he would stand
a1nsi 10 his three friends.
Ezeert the residents at the house
vAsse they had intended to spend the
dsy, Ione of them shad any acquaint.
amRA in the neighborhood. It was
zhssr lore, the more remarkable that Mr.
1salhaer should be absent ut the very
hGn7 when he had appointed to put the
ensiDary powers Of the hotel to the
ahse.
Dick always was eccentric, further
nnsaEked Horton turning chair around
aznn the table and .placing himself in
ahs very front of the fire." always &c
axmaYic, and / should not wonder if he
xaars us some evil trick before this
salebs is over. He will not pay for our
Shippers for nothing. He'll have some
change out of US, or am mistaken in
ny man"
!" So much the better; this isn't the
srn Of evening one wants to pass like
Bszy other evening in the year."
Temperance drink" muttered Hor.
aDD with horror.
The clock struck quarter-past eight
--AaaH-past-and no symptom OF the
Anss.
Hogton's patience was quite gone.
akas Of the other two men was fast ebb
Ing away, when suddenly they were
sR03ered oblivious of the selfish cray
iDgs hunger prompts by a shriek-a
pso3pnged, feminine shrek.
Ec7ton was inclined to be romantic,
ma Immediately imagined that it was
nf4tssd by some exquisitely fair damsel
IN tbs very direst distress
''To the rescue, my brothers!" he
Briba, snatching up the poker, and
shpzldering it forthwith.
Ard then, followed by the other two,
1E proceeded into the passage. It was
1ass. None of the trio knew the geog
IMPLY Of the house, but they tramped
DC tzavely in the direction of the
anfam. Before they he'd proceeded
1ar the apant courier emphasized his
1ea,eh for the distressed maid by taking
. hsader down a flight of steps. He
parEsd himself up again without much
damage being done, but he lost the
Hkr.
Tie weary exploration of an almost
1nse,minablo passage was the next ven
tnf. At the end of it, however, sharp
sysB detected door with light peeping
ahrnxgh the chinks.
Toward this door Horton manfully
zincsed his steps, the two others hold
5ne On by his coat-tails. He was about
% jegce ineress into this room, when
Suddenly the do@ was thrown open,
and Dick Faulkner appeared, with a
fsre Of ghastl, paleness, in tho bright !
Egls.
Have you seen a ghost?' asked