The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-08-12

GlSClSSlnT, ana lncn went Oh 10 NUM-
for Lay hat. l was anxious to learn
about the dinner, but not from Mrs.
lioppin.
The LowGens were in the library when
| called-a coy little den, which was
usually sacred to Max and his friends:
but on this occasion Mrs. Lowden was
there. seated at the desk, with a writ
ing-pad before her.
You are just in time" she said, sig
mailing at me with a lead pencil, "to help
us determine who beside yourself shall
come to dinner here next Wednesday,"
BESIDES myself" l repeated; truly
l am in time, if my presence has accom-
plished that much"
You are just about always on the list,
old man. said Lowden. Il should
think you would grow weary of our
dinners"
L started to say something about
GASES in the arid desert of social life,
when Mrs. Lowden interrupted:
Come: give me a name
"Put down little Roach" said1.
Mrs. Lowdcn pressed the pencil
against her lips. ID you really like
him-prctty well?" she asked, doubt
fully. "Besides," she continued. with
feminine disconnectcdness, "hc dincd
here only last week; so it would Lot 90,
you know"
of course" said L: "let me see. How
about Mrs. Hoppin?"
Mrs. Hoppin." cried the lady at the
desk, and her voice suddenly o o on
a shrill quality, quite foreign to 1t. "oh.
no, not Mrs. Hoppin. We had her, too,
last week"
[ meditated for n moment in silence.
Gen. Grumm," | said. at length.
Max Lowden started up and looked
at me suspiciously. His wife laughed
Isn't that funny, Max" She eN-
claimed. Mr.. Robinson has pitched
upon three cut of the ten people that
we had TO dinner last Thursday.'
Put down Count o lIalsse." said !,
seriously.
Mrs. Lowden dropped her pencil and
stared. Max rose from his chair near
the fireplace and brought a Gecanter of
Scotch and Il bottle of settler and 4
| glass. and placed them on the tabour-
ettc at my elbow.
The drinks are on US" he said. "VNho
told YOU about it,"
oh. several" said |, inditfcrrntl.y.
where do you get this Scotch There
was a faint cry from Mrs. L.owden.
Are people talking she asked.
Mr.. Max grabbed the poker. and began
hammering 4 lump of coal in the fire
place.
What difference Goes ii make" said
/. people must have something to
talk about, and a peculiar affair like
that"
But it was not peculiar at all" eN-
claimed Mrs. Lowdcn. ard then added.
incoherently; that was why it was so
strange"
Il see" said I. though I really did
not see 1T all. but was, in fact. entirely
mystificd. Whose idea WAS it, in the
first place."
Il will tell You all about t." said
Max. waving the poker in Il threaten
ing way. ~"Prohably l WAS more to
blame
Max. you mustn't. cried Mrs. Low
den. with great yehemcnce: I'VE ought
not to talk about it. Mr.. Robinson VIII
excuse us. | am sure.
OF course" said /. with great dig
nifty: Il did not suppose il WAS so bad
rs that"
Nonsense. Marie" said Lowden. Il
am going to make a clean breast OF
the whole business to Ned: he may he
able to help us out. But tell me. first
of all, do you think any OF them sus-
pect??"
Not one" said l, with splendid con-
fidencc.
Thank Heaven for that" said Mrs.
Lowden. You may tell him. Man"
You are a bachelor. Ned" said Low
den. and YOU probably have very lii
tie idea of the many and complicated
social problems that people who enter
tain ever as little as we do u meet
and solve. Now | used to think, in the
innocence of my pre-marital days, that
the whole social scheme WAS based on
the desire of certain people to make
things pleasant for certain other peo-
pie whom they like and admire. Blu
bless your heart, my boy, that has no
more to do
"Oh. Max" interrupted his wife.
You are not telling this story the
right way. Mr.. Robinson understands
well enough that every social set has
ATTACHED to it. inevitably. a class of
people that are somehow not exactly
what YOU might call" She hcsitated
for the word.
"Desirable." ! suggested.
"She means the borcs." said Max.
Il mean" said Mrs. L.owden. with
dignity. those people that do not seem
to mix well with Others"
Exactly" l assentcd; the disintc-
orators"
at is perfectly mysterious con-
tinued Mrs. Lowdcn. how many peo-
pie of tina: sort manage To get strings
on YOU. That is what Max calls it.
Some of them are distant relatives of
YOUR OWL. others are near relatives of
YOUR dearest friends. Sometimes they
do things for YOU. before You can head