The San Francisco call., 1896-01-01

you my word did not ask single soul to
Join US o-morrow-to-day, / mean.''
'sWe shall see, replied his wife grimIy,
and laughed inwardly as she reflected that
the conspirators must have been true to
her and carried out their carefully studied
plot.
Six O'Clock was the dinner hour. Char
ley in comfortable smoking jacket a
New Years present, was seated before the
fire and enjoying its grateful influence on
the cold December evening.
"How fortunate, how really fortunate,
my dear, that there will be no one to dim
ner this evening", he said, pleasantly.
I'VE can have a good rest. Now. isn't
this real nice?"
!. ~ have my doubts, Charles,n replied
his wife, gravely. .Y GU know your over
weening SIM If you have avoided it this
time | consider it nothing less than a
miracle
Just at this moment the bell rang.
: ~ guest, " she said sadly. =
:"Imp possible, my dear. 1 assure you
have not asked a soulo -: :. ~: =:
:: tsWhy, Charles. dear, boy,nn exclaimed
:Conspirator No. 1.ss'I hope /: am: not too
late. You said 5.:P: NJ. at the club, and L
hurried to make: the appointment good, 4"
and he handed his overcoat and hat to the
servant. -: 80
/. Mrs. Charles glanced expressiyely at her
dejected-Iooking* HUSBAND: as she shook
hands with her: ally. :: ! -. : ::
: 81 assure you. I broke a previous. engage
ment TO-. dine with Charley, he. was so.
pressing,M continued the guest. -. - III e
would insist Upon my: .dinin g with him
thls:evening.' :. "A gain: the bell rang, and
conspirators 2 and 9 entered. -. - )
I: We are "a, little ahead oftime, Charles, y
they said but it was SO: chilly outside we
determined to take advantage. >of. your
fire. 2 t.: I. - = S.: = -: :.
=. The miserable host; greeted them with
poorly umed *cord rdiaIity, and carefully:
avoided meeting his:Wife, ,S:eye s.: +.
>. MCharles: would not take no: for :an-an-
swer;;' chimed the :plotters. I'VE; had to
dine with him this evening: Or forfeit his
.friendsh forever 3 s.. " :. III. r.
: . Well, >gentleme en-, s; dinner. is ready
.gasped the badly,rattled entertainer - will
you"haVe:an appetizer: before we: go in r. =. =
:. t'Cfreat heavens, y he reflected there is.
nothing for:dinner but "a few chops We
:areruin ed.|.' E =: =: -: :
Ting.a-hng. went. the bell a again,- and
-conspirato 4, 5; and Z crowded in: -: ::
:: q tHowdy do, dear boy, .howdy do. and
they rushed. AT :" the conscience -strickenE
host. - We met at: the club and
concluded . to- walk up together. Four
their. way u p, but as you said $3.50 they:are
not in a hurry. s g.. .:, :..
S. Charleyss. face was. CHASTITY. so. woe
:beg5ne, ind eed ;::that%his~w who:had am:
.ticipated@ the raid by preparing a German
dinner, had to- fly from th e roo MT to >con-
.ceaI her :nirth::- And when. the rest of the
gang came e..noisily. in, helooked so<ill that
one of the most humane of the >eomspir=
ators :ehoked a glass. OF. whisky down the
throat of the: wretched victim to keep him:
from. a total collapse: - :.: :..
: During dinner he. hardly took note: of:the
number and profusion Of the dishes SO
completely: dazed- was the unfortunate
man.: Ii any idea of the abundance of the
food invaded his brain he possiblyc consid-