The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-12
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FROM t@t Ff'HCh - y. BCrfhOtd.
Absorbed in the telegram which had
Just been handed to her, Nine. Mariner
did not hear the click of the gate as It was
| opened and shut nor the approach Of her
/ guest, Maxine Richard the artist
/ Am the frst?' he called gayly. "Coun-
try etiquette, YOU know" he added as he
/ drew nearer
Nine. Mariner glanced up with troubled
| frown
Dear me- | am 50 perpIexed she said.
Il scarcely know what to do. | have just
received telegram from the Cortots' say
ing that they cannot come out from the
city for luncheon. 1t is half p 81 ii now,
and the others will soon be here, What
can do?-
But | fail to see the trouble began the
artist His hostess Interrupted him.
Why, If the Cortots don't come, 1t will
make MS exactly thirteen at the table, and
Nine. Second would never in the world
consent to such an arrangement, nor would
|, for that matter
Would YOU like me to 20 away" asked
Maxine with smile at the perpleSei
Nine. Mariner
Not for worlds But listen. You have
plenty of friends about here. Do go and
ask somebody, anybody to come TO lunch
con with me. It's "A queer thing to do,
know, but you can explain. the crcum-
stances Get Pierre Deslandes. the novelist.
He lives near here
Anything 70 obliRe YOU. madame said
Richard, with his best bow. Il will bring
guest il have To hale him with ropes"
Good boy, You have saved my life"
and the pretty Nine Mariner waved him
farewell with her brightest smile
Half an hour later Maxine Richard was
wheeling rapidly along the road returning
from the home Of his friend Desandes
where he had found the house tightly
closed
What the dickens will madame say
when come back alone?- he thought
ruefully
Absorbed in the problem of his super
sttious hostess. he failed 10 see pedes-
trian directly in front of him and before he
could stop himself they were both rolling
in the warm dust
What in thunder do you mean by running
down an innocent traveller demanded
the stranger wrathfully.
A thousand pardon.. monsieur said
the artist oontrtely. 1T was entirely my
fault Then. sudden thought striking
him ne continued rapidly: May ! ask you
to do me a great favor. sir beg and en-
treat that you will consider it.
There is lady in this neighborhood
who will look upon 1t as an honor If you
will take lunch with her to-day. The cir
cumstances are most pressing. other
guests failing, there remain only thirteen
Thirteen Do you understand? Will
you take pity upon her and be the fourteenth
guest;'
Well. upon my world exclaimed the /
man, surprised at the proposition.
say yes | beg you, sir | haven't the I
ghost of an idea who you are. but I'm sure
you must be presentable- You consent
do you not2'
1T would certainly be a most amusing
adventure and I'm "a hungry as a dog
not to mention that I've lost my way.
Well. yes. ri do it!'
Good And listen Here's another idea!
You shall be my friend whom no one here
knows and whom promised TO bring back
with me
As they talked. the two men approached
the entrance TO Nine Mariners summer
villa. A moment later, in the presence Of
his hostess and her assembled guests. the
artist -aid seriously:
Allow me 10 present my friend. NJ Pierre
Deslandcs the well known author
No one doubted the noveist's identity.
and. the butler having announced luncheon.
he guests went ont 70 me table.
The next morning seated at his desk
Pierre Dcslandcs opened his mail which
,eemed unusually yoluminois
The first two letters. begging for auto
IRA phs. he tossed caplessly aside but the
hrd he read and reread with dee pening
wonder. II war from a lady thanking him
or the honor he had done her the day
previous in accepting her impromptu in
'itation TO lunch, and expressing her regret
or the painful scene which followed and
which she hoped had not led to any dis
greeabe conse quenCes.
Pierre Deslandes laid down the letter in
mazed astonishment He had not ac-
epted any invitation the day previous
Bah, it is some crazy joke, he thought
o himself.
But his surprise rrdouhled at the sight Of
he next letter which was 81 gned by an
tterly unknown gentleman. who wrote TO !
ow undyine gratitude for the novest's I
indness in recommending the writer to q
he famous publisher, lAcroiX I
The fifth letter was from lady reminding I