The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-21
THE MYSTERY OF FIVE

1t was dreary December night, and as
stretched myself before the comfortable fire
In the Wayside Tavern, pitied all belated
travellers who were unsheltered in the cold
and sleet
"Yes," said the landlord, continuing a
subject we had been discussing, when a
loud rafting of the windows had momen-
tarily interrupted the conversation. Il
always was superstitious. l wouldn't make
the fifth man at table for anything In the
world. There's something in it, tell you.
Pm afraid of odd numbers"
laughed as 1 brushed the ashes from my
cigar and refilled my glass.
There's luck in odd numbers, Landlord"
1 said, pushing the decanter toward him.
az don't believe it. Ny father fell dead
while sitting at n table with four others.
He made the fifth man. He died in this
very r0om!'
looked curiouSly at the man. He was
In earnest about it. His face was pale, and
he lifted his glass with nervous hands
/ was about to make another effort to DIS
pei his illusions when there was loud
knock at The door.
The landlord banged his glass on the
table with force enough TO shlyer 1t, and
drew back the iron bolt.
One man with dripping clothes entered.
Then another, and another-"One, two,
three" counted the landlord. "Any moreY
and he peered out into the darkness.
"No more" said a tall, hiskered
fellow, with an evil countenance. "Ain't
three enough?"
Its ali / can lodge tonight" said the
landlord. Then, bending down, he whis-
pered in my ear:
Just five of us-odd number-Just what
we were talking about"
His hand trembled nervously on my shoul-
der Strange-and he was big, burly fel-
low. with limbs like a giants!
bring out your wine ~ cried ons OF the
men, "or something stronger il you've got
it. We've travelled far, and every man of
us is wet through
"Yesr' cried the others, give US some
thing strong - something thatll warm US
quicker than your fire there!
Glasses were soon clinking, toasts were
PROPOSED and responded to, and the three
travellers who were so fortunately sheltered
began 10 make merry.
Their merriment amused me, but did not
join in it. Twas noticing the landlord at
odd intervals.
He sat near the fire far enough away
from the table-sllent and mOroSe. l was
leaning back in my chair my arm resting
on the table. The three strangers sat oppo-
"Come. landlord cried one, land you,
stranger" addressing me, come, have a
round with US. We're just party of five.
Let's be sociable!"
"Pn drink with you." said the landlord,
rising, "but not at the table. | never sit
down with odd numbers"
The room echoed with laughter.
Wei, you're a good one, said the tall,
ill-favored fellow. You've been fright
ened bysome old witch's yarn. Come. draw
up chair. and I'll warrant the devil wont
catch your
I'll not risk it, for all that. I've got my
prejudices."
- Why not put your Greludices to the tcst,"
1 said, land dissipate them forever?"
Too much of coward" said one of the
men. 81 dare him TO take chair and make
one of Us"
Pour me out another drink. I never
took that wOrd-'coward from any man.
IN sit with you"
The man was hard drinker. He had
told me that when we were supping wine
together before the advent of the three
bOiSterOus travellers. To this | attribute
much OF his nervousness and superstition.
he tossed of another glass and then ap-
preached the table uDsteadily, as it seemed
to me, and sank into chair.
"Now, to the landlords health !" cried the
men, and glasses were filled again.
He drank long and deeply. Tie pallor OF
his face increased; his hand trembled viO-
lently, strange light crept into his eyes
and he stared vacanty around the room.
Presently the filed glass fell from his
hand to the floor. He looked from face to
face with wild, appealing eyes, then his
head fell forward until it rested on the
table.
When we lifted him there was no sign of
life in the staring eyes.
Good Godl'' l cried, "the man is dead v'
And the rude voices Of my rough compan-
ions echoed, "DoadT
Here was mystery! But in this world,
so plain, yet so mysterious, far stranger
things are happening every day.-FRANK L.
STANTON in Atlanta Cons titutiou.