Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-02-22
| THE THIRTEENTH GUEST.



young men under thirty years OF age
were assembled in n room in the Abe
marie hotel. New York, impatiently
awaiting the arrival of Hudson Sedley,
the thirteenth guest.
They had been invited to dinner
given by Hubbard Vernon. and ne
nervonsly paced the room, ever and
anon gazing at his watch, and inward
Ii cursing at the tardiness of Sedley.
Every one present. even the writer
of this story, observed that he was
much ANNOYED, and at last he gave ex-
nression to his feelings by uttering
these words.
IF Sedley does not come soon, we
shan have TO sit down to dinner with
That ill-omed number-thirteen.
"Oh. what silly rotr' exclaimed Jack
Denton. surely. Vernon, you do not
place any faith in that old woman's
superstition
Indeed I do" said Vernon; II am
deeply affected by what you are pleas
ed TO call an old woman's supersti-
zion. | am. in fact, so powerfully al
fected by 1t that l would not sit at
table with thirteen for any considera-
ton"
Would nothing induce You TO do
so:" asked Gerald Sinclair with what
considered ill-timed banter.
Nothing" said Vernon, firmly; and
growing somewhat heated ut the tone
and smile of Sinclair. he added. Il
feel so strongly on this matter that |
would rather the devil himself should
ill a seat at the table than sit down
To il with thirteen"
"Ahar, cried Sinclair. ''the devil is
invited but viii his satanic majesty
comeR
While the tones of his voice were
still vibrating. the bell rang. A mo-
ment later the servant announced:
mr.. Sedley."
'tAh," said Vernon, much relieved,
here he is at last. How are you,
Setlley? You are doubly welcome, for
Just before you came we were specu-
lating as TO whether your absence
would not make it necessary for US to
10 sit down with thirteen at table,
Il was detained said Sedley briefly
Il ask your pardon"
There was something odd about his
tone f'n0ticed 1t. and | saw that Yer
non did so. too. But he replied:
Dent mention it. old fellow It's a
delay which might have happened to
any of us
But as grasped Sedley's hand 7
met YerilOn's eye. | don't know ex-
actly whether ii was that or Sedley's
hand which Startled me. But ii Yer
mons look was peculiar. Sedley's hand
grasp was even more so. 1t was quite
clammy. sRake-like. Ugh, | can re-
member 1t still.
We gathered at the table. and il was
my lot to sit opposite to Sedley. Be
side me sat Sinclair. But although he
seemed In unusual spirits and was
more brilliant even than was his wont.
the conversation tagged. There seem
I'd to be some spell upon us, for all
the guests were gay fellows, and, as 4
rule, at dinner parties where there are
no LADIES', the merriment is apt to be
unchecked.
AS for myself, whenever | attempted
any sally ! would catch the eve OF
Sedley, and it invariably exercised an
unpleasant effect upon me. 1 could
not divine the cause. Ordinarily, Sed
ley was as jolly fellow as you would
meet in days stroll down Broadway
but to-night-well, / couldn't under
stand II. I gave 1t up. and devoted
myself to my dinner.
AS il to complete the ill-fortune OF
the evening. the conversation persist
emily turned on thirteen. The various
superstitfons with that number wer,
discussed, and they were many. i
seemed from the amount Of curious
lore brought forth by this discussion
that the evil properties of the number
are by no means confined to the table
ut is said of the Turks remarked
Sinclair, as he slipped a glass Of
sherry, "it is said of the Turks tina
they consider the number thirteen 81
unlucky that they have almost ex
Plunged it from their vocabulary"
so 1t seems, then. remarked Yer
non, ''that the prejudice against thir
teen is not confined to the number O
guestsT
BY no means. Yet that supersti
tion is a widespread one. AS ever,
one knows. it's origin is generally at
tributed to the Last Supper, at which
there were thirteen-Christ and tn
twelve apostles-and from which Ju
das, with the Sayior's words Of accu
sation still ringing in his ears, wen
forth 10 deliver up his Master to tn
death. But the superstition is In re
atty much older, and is mentioned Il
the Morse mythology. This vulgar su
perstition prevails in the minds o
many who firmly believe that 1t is no
only unIueky to sit with thirteen a
table, but that the last man to sea
himself win die before the year /
out"
Sedley lifted his head and fixed hi
eye on Sinclair. Until now had neve
noticed what extremely unpleasant
eyes Sedley had. They were cavern
Gus, piercing, green eyes, and ther
was a sinister CLEAN about them tha
night which actually made me uncon
Portable. But apparently no so Sir
clair
'The vulgar superstition, you sayi
began Sedley. II was the first tim
he had spoken, and involuntarily
hush came over the table. ''The WI
gar superstition, you say? DO You NJ
believe II, them
Believe 1t? Nor sneered Sinclai
ut is an old woman's chatter. 1t
fit only for. the consideration Of CHI
dren and FOOLS
by the way" said Vernon, looklr