Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-03-10

| Old saying, There's many a slip 'twixi
the cup and the saucer" the other day
IN speaking of disappointment friend
Of his had experienced IN losing his din.
ner through missing train-a dinner tc
which he had been invited and at which
he had been selected TO respond 10 one
OF the toasts.
The simple missing Of the dinner was
more than set of at the old General
Shields hotel, ON the West Chester pike.
A company Of twelve Philadelphians in
terested in real estate developments had
gone ont in the country for the purpose
Of looking about for profitable invest
ments, and had sent word to the proprie
tor OF the old hostelry Of their coming
and ordered an old fashioned turkey din
ner to be ready at 8 o'clock.
The order put the proprietor in his best
humor and the entire establishment into
IN unusual furry of exciting preparS
tion. The hostler hurried to the nearest
farmhouse, where he purchased the
finest turkey to be had, and carried it
back to the hotel In triumph. Taking
1t into the stable he dispatched and
plucked 1t in great haste. Everything
was excitement in the large kitchen from
the time the order was announced until
late in the afternoon, when the last dish
was ready TO be carried to the dining
room.
The news Of the gentlemen coming
spread through the village, and every
one felt duty bound to go to the hotel
and see them. and none took a greater
interest In the affair than the boys.
They had finished their chores unusually
early and were promptly on hand long
before the hour OF serving the supper.
OF the entire community none felt his
personal importance more than Dave
Peters, the colored waiter.
Dave was OF portly build and prided |
himself In his appearance, and IL he had |
q hatred for one thing more than any
other, that thing was u claw hammer |
coat, which Ae said belonged to society
gentlemen and not TO waiter, conse-
quently no held to the old fashioned
jacket. Just before the
time for announcing that dinner was
ready q number Of the village boys stood
peering through one Of the dining room
watching Dave arrange the
iiderent dishes on the table and sd-
hiring the display made by the twelve
napkins in rs many cut glass goblets.
After viewing the effects of tho
able with countenance beaming with
abstraction, Dave strutted toward the
loor and disappeared by descending the
tairs leading to the kitchen, and few
later reappeared, carrying on
large dish the turkey, done to lovely
rown and beautifully garnished with
arved roses, sprays Of parsley and COL I
ry tops. Walking toward the table he
ound that no room had been left for the
entral and chief adornment Of the
.ble. Taking the situation in at
lance, Dave saw his mistake, and hur-
edly set the dish down upon the broad
ii OF the window through which the
oys were peering, and began rearrans. J
X the table to make room for the ]
irkey. :
No sooner had he turned his back TO .
ie window than one of the boys softly
nd quietly raised the sash, while an
Eher grabbed the turkey from the dish
nd hed across the hotel yard toward
10 old stable. followed by his compan-
MS After making room for the large
sh Dave turned around, stepped to the
indow, raised the dish and placed il in
, position in the center of the table.
'ver noticing that the bird had flown.
DING to the sideboard he picked up the
Ipper bell and gave il violent ring,
ms notifying the host that dinner was
ady.
This way. gentlemen; this way,
ease" spoke the proprietor to his
lests' step this way, gentlemen"
aiding them through narrow passage
ON the bar to the dining room. No
oner had he reached the dining room
an his gaze fell upon the empty plate
hen he exclaimed. David, where iu
. name Of General jackson Is tina,
rkeyY'
Poor Davei Never was man taken
're by surprise. When for the first
no he noticed the broken platter his
nad smile vanished. In an instant his
" fell and his large eyeballs stared
'st frightfully. while his whole frame
'ok with terrible tremor. All he
aid say In reply 10 the abrupt and en-
attic question was, "Dont know, sir;
Was dAr. IL was dar." and hu, rying TO
kitchen stairs he shouted down,
oa. Phoby. whar in debls dat tur
"
'0s erlong now, you's got IL MP dr.
8 Ergo The disappearance was not /,
y mystery 20 the waiter and cook. /
To tho proprietor as well, who in an 9
'iogetic manner asked the guests 10 :
air again to the barroom while a
rough Investigation could be made.
'ry one in the house. including the a
tler. was questioned and cross Ques-
led. yet no light could be thrown on a
mystery. After wasting an hour in a
ng 10 find the missing bird. and after
with the guests, fried ham y
eggs were substituted Tor the turkey. a
was not till two hours later, when y
guests were about to depart, that the :.
prictor learned what had become OF =
turkey. One of the boys. more bolh !,
his companions. came back To the "A
10 see how tho joke worked, aud v.
kiaz the story Of the tirds disap- n
saos too good 10 keep. told IL To Quo