The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-09-23
The Fourteenth Guest

ihe door Of the great white hone.
a = rs e. lane swung open fariously IL,
ana AT. Parker Jones, N. p. cloth
60 IN the regulation uniform which
society has allotted to men for even even
ing wear, stood fitfully ON the door =
step sheltering himself from The
ram u, beneath the classic portico.
The night was 50 unpleasant that
tne street was well nigh deserted.
and it therefore happened that +,
several minutes the N. P. scanned 1ea
tne thoroughfare without espyinp !
wayfarer. At length, however ! tall
well built young man ambled mast hast
the house. Pas'
de 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! Hill" he shouted. or
could you come up here for 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.
= want to speak to you"
The youth hesitated for a mo-
ment and then swung himself into
the doorway.
come in here out of the
ram, muttered 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:
Are You disengaged this even.
ing?"
The other smiled bitterly.
ITO tell you the truth" he re-
piled, Il had an engagement with a
certain parsonage whom we must all
meet at some time"
Er-who may that be?" asked
Mr.. Parker Jones.
'Deathp' replied the youth, and
his voice was so harsh that the NJ. p
leaped backward in terror.
Dear, dear! How shocking!'
murmured the NJ. P. 81 presume
you are-er-unfortunate 2"
81 am starving. Haven't had 4
meal since yesterday"
Mr.. Parker Jones rubbed hi
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. RI have
almost forgotten the meaning of tn,
word"
"Then refresh your memory b.
making one Of my wife's party thil
evening. l perceive that you are
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 foot
like a savage, if that is what 20,
mean" he replied. stBut why OF
earth have you bestowed this honor
upon mer
@For the very best of reasons
Nv wife is the most superstition
person in London and absolutely re
fuses to sit down thirteen at table,
He then went on to explain tina
! the fourteenth guest had been pre-
vented from attending by reason o
| 4 domestic loss and that as Their
had been no time to hire profes
sional diner out he had been com
PEELED to fall back upon the frs
likely person whom he had espied y
Park lane.
ssWen, this is q lucky accident TO
me- observed the young man, witt
a laugh, "and I can promise yo'
that / shall do justice to your cook
achievements. But can't SIT dow
to dinner in these clothes.
/ tsOf course not. Come to my room
- rh.ll hove an evening sui
Of my sons, which he left benin
when he went to Oxford. Your fig
ure iser-very similar to his, an
the clothes will fit you fairly we'll
Now, the NJ. P.'s behavior wa
certainly upusual, but he was I
fear Of his wife, and as that lao
had announced her intention Q
abandoning the dinner party unles