The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-06-15
The Fourteenth Guest

anu MI ain COuCo, W. :, ClOlll'
ed in the regulation uniform which
society has allotted to men for even.
ing wear, stood fitfully on the door.
step, shelteriAg hiinself from the
rain beneath the classic portico.
The night was so unpleasant that
the street was well nigh deserted,
and it therefore happened that for
several minutes the M. p. scanned
the thoroughfare without ospying
wayfarer. AT length, however, fall,
well built young man ambled past
the house.
He was shabbily dressed, but there
was something in his bearing which
proclaimed good breeding, and this
was sufficient for Mr.. Parker Jones
present and somewhat eccentric pur
pose.
"Hi! 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 shrly tone.
~ want to speak to YOU"
The youth hesitated for a mo-
mcnt and then swung himself into
the doorway.
"Er-come in here out of the
rain," muttered Mr.. Parker Jones.
He led the way into a small
smoke room at the rear of the housa
and then, surveying the young man,
said abruptly:
"Are 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 bc?" 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 Observation-Disclosures"
81 am ttarving. 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. II have
almost forgotten the meaning of the
word"
"Then refresh your memory by
making one of my wife,s party this
evening. l perceive that you are Il
gentleman and that youwill do moth
ing to make me regret my some
what unconventional invitation"
The youth smiled.
81 certainly don't cat my food
like a savage, if that is what you
mean," he replied. ''But why on
earth have you bestowed this honor
upon me"
"For the very best of reasons.
My wife is the most superstitious
person in London and absolutely re-
fuses to sit down thirteen at table" "
He then went on to explain that
the fourteenth guest had been pre-
vented from attending by reason OF
a domestic loss and that as there
had been no time to hire a profes-
sional diner out he had been COM
PEELED to fall back upon the first
! likely person whom he had espied in
Park lane.
swell, this is a lucky accident fol
me-" observed the young man, with
laugh, "and | can promise you
that l shall do justice to your cooks
achievements. But l can't sit down
to dinner in these clothes"
"Of course not. Come to my room
and you shall have an evening suit
of my sons, which he left behind
when he went to Oxford. Your fig
ure is-cr-very similar to his, and
the clothes will fit you fairly we'll"
Now, the NJ. p.'s behavior was
certainly unusual, but he was in
fear of his wife, and as that lady
had announced her intention Of
abandoning the dinner party unless
fourteenth guest could be pro-
cured, Mr.. Parker Jones had decid
! ed to do the first desperate deed that
occurred to his inventive brain.
Hence did it come about that hall
an hour later Mr.. Talbot Lake stood
+ in the drawing room, garbed il
snowy shirt and splendid clothes
chatting with his hostess as though
he had lived in Park lane all his life
and had never dined on sausage ant
mashed potatoes.
Mrs. Parker Jones was delighted
and beamed upon the youth witt
great kindliness, introduced him t.
/ pretty Maisie Hope and asked hin
to take that young lady down.
The dinner was good, and th'
talk was not more dull thaD usual