Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-06-21
The Fourteenth Guest

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the thoroughfare without espying
wayfarer At length, however, a tall
well built young man ambled pas
the house.
He was shabbily dressed, but Their
was something in his bearing which
proclaimed good breeding, and thi
was sufficient for Mr.. Parker Jones
present and somewhat eccentric pur
pose.
CHI Hip he shouted. "Er-
could you come up here for a mo-
ment ?"
The young man stopped short and
regarded him with amazed eyes.
"What do you want?" he asked in
a well bred but surly tone.
81 want to speak to you"
The youth hesitated for a mo-
ment and then swung himself into
the doorway.
"Er-come in here out of the
rain," nHttered Mr.. Parker Jones.
He led the way into a small
smoke room at the rear of the house
and then, surveying the young man,
said abruptly:
"ArO YOU disengaged this even
ing?"
The other smiled bitterly.
"To tell you the truth" he re-
piled, 81 had an engagement with a
certain parsonage whom we must all
meet at some time"
"Er-who may that be?" asked
Mr.. Parker Jones.
Death replied the youth, and
his voice was so harsh that the NJ. P.
leaped backward in terror.
Dear, dear How shockingw
murmured the NJ. P. 81 presume
you are-er-unfortunate? ?"
81 am starving. Haven't had a
meal since yesterday"
Mr.. Parker Jones rubbed his
hands.
Upon my word, this is most for
tunate," he observed, "for my OBJ
ject in summoning you to my house
was to invite you to dinner"
The youth stared.
'Dinner?" he echoed. 81 have
almost forgotten the meaning of the
word"
"Then refresh your memory by
one of my wife's party this
evening. | perceive that you are a
gentleman and that you will do moth
ing to make me regret my some
what unconventional invitation"
The youth smiled.
81 certainly don't eat my food
ike savage, if that is what you
nean," he replied. 'But why on
'arth have yen bestowed this honor
lpon me?"
For the very best of reasons.
Wy wife is the most Superstitious
person in London and absolutely re-
uses to sit down thirteen at table"
He then went on to explain that
he fourteenth guest had been pre-
'ented from attending by reason of
domestic loss and that as there
lad been no time to hire a profess
ional diner out he had been COM
'elled to fall back upon the first
likely person whom he had espied in
Park lane.
"Well, this is a lucky accident for
ne" observed the young man, with
laugh, "and l can promise you
hat l shall do justice to your cooks
chievements. But | can't sit down
D dinner in these clothes"
"Of course not. Come to my room,
nd you shall have an evening suit
f my sons, which he left behind
hen he went to Oxford. Your fig
re is-er-very similar to his, and
ne clothes will fit you fairly WE'LL"
Now, the NJ. P.'s behavior was
unusual, but he was in
EAR Of his wife, and as that lady
ad announced her intention of
the dinner party unless
fourteenth guest could be pro-
ired, Mr.. Parker Jones had decid-
| to do the first desperate deed that
,curred to his inventive brain.
Hence did it come about that half
/ hour later Mr.. Talbot Lake stood !
/ the drawing room, CARRIED in
lowy shirt and splendid clothes, l
latting with his hostess as though
, had lived in Park lane all his life !
I'd had never dined on sausage and
ashed potatoes.
Mrs. Parker Jones was DELIGHTED
Id beamed upon the youth with
eat kindliness, introduced him to I
city Maisie Hope and asked him !
take that young lady down.
The dinner was good, and the
TX was not more dull than usual, !
that he enjoyed himself immense
But there was a skeleton at the 8
lst, and the skeleton was named
lmeTroR Tomorrow ha uuAt NJ Q