Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-06-16
THE FOURTEENTH GUEST.

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unexpected that happens, and that to
be prepared for emergencies one must
be both a philosopher and fatalist AZ
! Professor Smythe, musician, piano
tuner and general utility man-in
musical way-was going to the Globe
Theatre, where he was to play a flute
obligato with the regular orchestra, he
would have been much surprised IL
any hint of new calamity in his run
down fortunes could have been then
and there foretold. He certainly thought
he had taxed the ingenuity Of adverse
fate to its umost. and he had enough
misery on hand to last a lifetime. But
the misfortune awaiting him was OF
grotesque turn, and quite unlike the
others. which were the commonplace
ones Of illness, poverty and bad luck ia
everything he undertook.
AS he walked along in the shrinking,
depressed fashion that had become ma
tural to him through haDitude and mis-
fortune, he was aware OF the sudden
opening of a door in a handsome resi-
dence he was passing, and a MOOD Oh
orange light beaming across his pain.
AT the same time a man in evening
dress ran Iihtly down the steps, seized
him by the arm and said briskly:-
My dear sir, excuse me, but Wouiu
you do me great fayor|
Professor Smythe forgot to draw into
his shell. so sudden was this attack. He
stood still. like the wedding guest IN
the Ancient Mariner but finally
stammered his need Of haste and the
occasion of it.
Il will pay you twice as much and
YOU will have nothing to do but make
Yourself agreeable 1t will be a great
accommodation, and l shall never for
get it. 1 can see by your appearance
that YOU are a gentleman--conslder me
a friend and accept my offer.
But what service is required or
me?" asked the Professor, who mad
vague idea that a grand piano had sud-
denly gone wrong.
"Why, you see, 1 am giving dinner
to some friends. 1t is all on the table,
and we have just discovered that there
are thirteen of us; that would never DO
at all. Now if you will dine with us
YOU shall be well paid for your services
and [ dare say you will be in time for
YOUR flute solo at the theatre, as you
can be excused when you desire. You
Will come? Thanks.
The Professor followed his host IN a
state of absolute subsection, as II he
might have been hypnotized; but the
fact was that the poor man had not
broken his fast since morning, and the
delicious aroma Of the dinner coming
through the open door proved irresistl-
BILE. He gave his name in a whisper
was handed over to a servant who tooS
him upstairs TO a guest chamber, help
ed him remove his shabby overcoat,
and whisked off his best suit with sill
yer handled brush, taking its thread
bare CLINT for dust. 1t was well he was
engaged toplay, otherwise he would not
have been in evening dress. He was beA
ginning to enjoy the little comedy IN
which he was himself an actor.
There was no introduction. His host
mOtioned him to a seat between the
maiden lady and severe matron who
turned her silken back on him to talk
to her neighbor on the other side. The
Professors pride did not once assert It
self. He was masquerading was
all.
But fate had not done with Professor
Smythe.
The consomme had dash Of cham
payne in it, and new life was infused
into theveins of this professional diner
out. The fish and game and pate that
followed were all triumphs of the Gull
nary art, and the hungry man cloyed
the edge of his appetite, not by the bare
imagination of a feast but by the feast
itself. 1t was no feast of the Barme-
eide. either. for the yiands were actual,
and the wine was not a pretense, but
delightful vintage, served in cut glass
goblets. The poor Professor felt like
saying to his neighbor pinch me, for
twas like a dream or an illusion rather
than a reality
But the striking Of the clock remind
ed him that he had been there an hour,
and as he had broken the spell of the
unlucky thirteen, he ventured TO eXcusa
himself and rose stifly from his place
and bowed himself out Of the room.
He was followed by a servant who
handed him an envelope with the COM
pliments of the gentleman with whom
he had just dined. Not for worlds
would he have opened it, though it was
unsealed, before the man, but he ac-
cepted it graciously and went up stairs
to get his hat and overcoat unattended.
A number of handsomely appointed
chambers were on the upper hall, and
the Professor glanced into each as he
passed on his way to the particular
guest chamber where he had left his
belongings. Perhaps he was a tritie
overcome by sherry and other beyer-
ages. but he thought the room had been
darkened and that it was all right. He
stood a moment in the doorway and
locked cautiously in, peering about at
the luxury. but at the same time notinS
that it was not the dressing room for
which he was looking Before he could
step back and turn down the corridor
again. the unexpected happened. He
receiveda sudden and violent push from
behind. which flung him forward out Of
the doorway into the room, the door
was instantly locked upon him, and he
was prisoner.
"Smythe luckw said the poor man as
he tried in vain to open the door, and
knew by the rumpus he heard outside,
that the house was in a state Of eX-
element: Il suppose they will think I
was trying to steal something
And to add to his terror he heard the
alarmed household coming upstairs, and
the next moment the door Of his room
was opened and his host, backed by all
the male guests stood in the open door
way.
what are you doing here?' was the