The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-17

""o ooiNSiihS ol oSSpdii, anu SO liz
informed several reporters, who
duly chronicled the circumstance in
the evening newspapers.
Suddenly reliet came. AS Mr..
Boomer was sitting at breakfast on
the morning before the day of the
dinner, the servant announced that
a cross eyed gentleman wanted to
see him. Mr.. Boomer eagerly
directed that he should be shown in
at once. In moment man neatly
dressed in black with eyes crossed
so much that you never could see
the lids of more than one at a time,
came into the breakfast room.
Heard, sir, he said, that you
wanted cross eyed walters Tor to NOR
row night. Would l suit.
| Admirably. exclaimed Mr.. Boomer
in ecstacy. Then after a pause, he
asked: Have you long been a
waiter9
Yes, sir: me and my brothers, who
are also cross eyed, went into the
business some time ago, but we amt
bin success. Yer see, he explained
there aint no great demand for the
likes of US.
| Oh, you have brothers? Are they
out of employment?
Yes, sir, they are, unfortunately,
answered the waiter. There are three
OF us sir.
Then l at once engage you all.
cried Mr.. Boomer delighted at his
happy escape out OF what threatened
to become hopeless impasse.
Next evening punctually at seven
MIR. Boomer arrived at the restaurant
to see that everything was right.
The three cross eyed walters in
greasy evening suits were there,
much to his delight, and much to
the disgust of the manager, who had
already cautioned them jointly and
severally to keep out of the sight OF
the ordinary customers OF the place
or he would put stop to the whole
blessed nonsense.
He even ventured to repeat this
threat to Mr.. Boomer himself, who
seeing the mans irritation thought
as we'll to soothe him by an assurance
that the cross eyed walters would
keep to the Thirteen Club dining
room most religiously.
MIR. Boomer had not been in the
dinirg room more than five minutes
before the other members of the
club began to arrive. Mr.. Boomers
cousin Mr.. Bouncer, was the first 10
come. Then followed rapidly, Lord
Eustace-of whose acquaintance
Mr.. Boomer was particularly proud
Mr. Hardy Punter, Mr.. Pewter,
Mr.. Basher-dramtic critic to the |
Park Lane Reformer-Mr. Sneevle,
the rising poet-who has been rising
for years past but is not yet within
measurable distance OF the top-and |
FIVE other gentlemen, whose names
are not of sufficient importance to
need mention. The thirteenth man
however was missing-Capt. Fred
Terrington. Nobody. however, was
surprised at this; Capt. Terrington
had never within human memory, !!
been known to be on time.
When 7.I3 arrived Capt. Terring- |
ton was still absent. A consultation
was held as to whether dinner should |
begin without him, but the majority |
was against this, on the ground that
twelve could not possibly constitute
a Thirteen Club. This point was
being vigorously discussed when a
telegraph was handed to Mr.. Boomer.
1t was from the absent man, and ran |
as follows:
Sorry; sudden attack of illness.
Cannot possibly attend. Am send
ing friend in my place.
TERRINGToN.
Awkard, isn't it! was Mr.. Boomers
comment.
Don't like it at all, said Lord
Eustace uneasily.
Don't mean to say you're nervous?
shouted Mr.. Boomer, with laugh
No more than you are, said Lord
Eustace, trifle angry. But this is
a bad beginning. l never knew
Terrington TO be unwell before
especially when there was a dinner
on.
l think his lordship would make a
better subject than member Of the
club, was Mr.. Basher's comment, and
everybody laughed at this dark
saying, for everybody knew Mr..
Basher wasn't a wit.
Lord Eustace was collecting his
small intelligence for the purpose OF
replying, when number thirteen was
announced. His name was Scuter.
He explained that Capt. Terrington
being suddenly taken unwell, had
asked him to take his place at the
dinner, in order that there might
be no disappointment, either to the
other members of the club or to the
public.
This reference to the pubic pulled
Mr.. Boomer together-he had been
looking somewhat unhappy-and he
shook hands with the new conner,
and proposed that the dinner should
at once begin. The rest-some
eagerly, others reluctantly-consented
and soon every one was consuming
his soup and forgetful Of the rather