The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1906-12-01

mo. sir-they didn't say"
The DEVIL" said Walton.
Tho maid closed the door entirely,
she didn't want to take any chances.
Tired and hungry. Walton got into
the cab again. He had to have din
ner-he'd 90 back to the club and
look up the neglected Ashton.
Station" he said, and they clat-
tered ON again.
Hail an hour later he arrived At
the club, and made his way anxious
~ through the dining-room looking
for the erstwhile guest. In the most
secluded part Of the covered porch
. party of people laughed loudly and
nerves all this gayety. and he
glanced at them peevishly. Then he
stopped and gasped. Mrs. Walton
was in the midst Of her best story.
and Ashton and Mrs. Gregory leaned
toward her In rapt attention. Walton
strobe to the side of the table. like
Lear about to break into the ban
ishment speech.
Well" he snorted.
Mrs. Walton looked up at him
sweetly.
"Oh. hero you are. dea.. Where
have you beenf'
Where have l been? Where have
I been?"
Say how-do-you - do to our
guests. and Join US. Have you dined?"
That was the last straw. He bowed
to Mrs. Gregory and Ashton and sat
down.
No." he said. II have not dined."
Mr.. Ashton said something about
your suddenly having remembered .
dinner engagement. and basely d.
sorting him"
We'll. you know why deserted
him. The boy said 1t was urgent"
THE boy-the boy?" she sail.
vaguely. II got your message to dire
with you at the club, 30 picked Mrs.
0sagory up and came along to md
poor Mr.. Ashton about to dine, with
the Bachelors"
to rescue mo from that dire fate"
Ashton interposed.
I'm delighted to hear It," said Wal
ton. grimly. And now II you don't
mind. I'll begin At the hrst. I'm
starved and l feel that I've earned
something ~ . reward"
IF you'll get Mrs. Walton to tell
you her splendid story about the maa
who couldn't md the dinner he was
invited 70. you'll b. doubly ~
warled."
mo doubt Mrs. Walton Il IN q.
cslsentt story stslIsr.'' As rpaa1Asd.
so3ensnly. and sospething In his tons
sent Mrs. Walton into paroxysms Of
laughter.
"Well?" said Mrs. Walton. after
their guests had departed. "Wsn?"
he repeated, all his ire returning.
Mrs. Walton began to laugh.
ut may be very funny for you to
send me chasing all over Elmwood
looking for an imaginary dinner, but
I'm unable to zee it,"
"Of course, you are, you poor, old
martyr! You see. I thought the
Gregory dinner was tonight, 70
arrived in state. to ind Mrs.. Greg.
Org sitting down to = lonely repast,
Mr.. Grsgory having stayed in town
Well. you know how awfully proper
she is. and what tease she II, and
knew that IL she discovered my mis-.
take she'd be awfully embarrassed.
and I'd never hear the last of 1t from
him. 30 thought quickly. and said
I'd come to carry her OF to the club
to dine with Us. hoped we'd get
there In time to head you Oh, but We
didn't, and poor old Ashton. who was
wandering about like lost soul. said
you'd been gone some time. tele-
phoned the house. and Maggie said
you'd just left there. but ~ you didn't
know where you were going, she
couldn't call you up. So. what could
do?" she concluded.
But to greet me, after 4 hot cbase
like that. with pleasant smile AID
cooily ask me II I had dined."
We'll. dear, couldn't let Mrs.
Gregory know"
Hang Mrs. Gregory! Here 1 was
trying to get raise out of Ashton.
which he thinks the company can't
afford, and ! was Just getting hins 70
zee my point of view. when that boy
called me OF. You notice that your
dinner party will cost Us somethlng,
because III not get the raise, now.
"Oh, but you will"
What do you know about IT."
well, 1t didn't take me long to dis
cover that Mr.. Ashton's hobby was
rose gardening, and told him that
n vaa vouY hObhy ton 7 aaid a. 80.
the sorrow, the only sorrow Of our
lives that We couldn't afford to have
. hot house for roses. and he was 70
perfectly delighted to ind that you
had this taste In common, that he
told me he thought the company
would have to put up for the hot
house. after January 1st."
But. great Scott, Louise. don't
know an American Beauty from .
potato plant"