The Democratic advocate., 1908-11-06

TIC ADVOCATE, WE
.sThat will help some," declared Col
ton encouragingiy. There won't be
so many to cook for"
"But Eleanor VIII have to get the
dinner" walled Mrs. Cotton That
takes the three Nelson's and you and
her away from the table. Don't you
see that 1t leaves Just thfrteenr"
"Thirteen's lucky" cheered Cotton.
ssYou should be glad that Eleanor Is
there to get the dinner"
"But Uncle Henry Is frightfuiiy SUI
nerstit1ous," reminded Mrs. Cotton.
ats bad enough that you can't come
and that my own sister must stay
away to get the dinner, and we'n have
to tell him that she Is out Of town,
but when we ask him to sit at a table
with twelve others-Bob, you must
send out some one. Can't that nice
looking bookkeeper conner
"On his vacation-but I'll get some
one. Don't worry, Vida"
Cotton hung the receiver on the hook,
and Mrs. Cotton beamed as she turned
from the instrument. Bob was de-
pendable, and that worry was off her
mind.
It was the first dinner party in the
new home, and her uncle was to be
the guest of honor. 1t had seemed
hoodooed from the start First Cotton
had been compelled to remain in town
to attend an important conference Of
the trade and could not possibly get
out.
Her sister, Eleanor Norris, had been
called into service to replace the cook,
who had left, declaring that she would
see her employer and the guests sepa-
rately and individually condemned be-
fore she would cook for eighteen per-
sons, and then at the last moment the
Nelson's had sent regrets. cutting the
number at table down to the thirteen
abhorrent to Uncle Henry, from whom
the Coltons had "expectations."
Vida had noticed that her husbands
bookkeeper was an extremely good
looking young fellow, and she had tel
ephoned Cotton to send him out. Prob
abIy he would send out the bookkeep-
er's relief. and Vida gave no more
thought to the matter save to offer up
a fervent supplication that his table
manners should be good.
The others had arrived when there
was a ring at the bell, and in her anx-
iety Mrs. Cotton herself rushed to the
door, A tall, clean cut young man
stood at the entrance, and at his in
uuiring "Mrs. ColtonT Vida fairly
dragged him across the hall and into
the dining room, where she carefully
closed the door.
'I'm awfully sorry" she began. "Mr.
Cotton asked you to come out because
we wanted to avoid thirteen at the
table. But it happens that a MI.
Grimsby could not come either, and so
now you would make the thirteenth"
ct see," he said, with light laugh.
seThen I'll head back for town."
"I couldn't let you do that" cried
Vida, with a gasp. 'There is no train
until 9:57. You will not get to town
until almost II. You muf stay here
and have some dinner. I'm sure you
won't mind eating in the laundry"
'I'd rather like it." was the genial
response. eff you will indicate the
general direction I'll head that way
and let you get back to your guests"
Vida pointed to the door to the but
ler's pantry. "Go through there and
tell them who you are" she directed
then she hurried back to the waiting
diners. Her uncle was standing by the
door.
"Was that another guest?' he de
manded uneasily.
"Just a helper that Bob sent out
from town." she explained glibly, and
Uncle Henry breathed sigh of relief.
"T'm rather glad that Bob was de-
tanned in town." he said. "It will pre-
vent there being thirteen at the table.
I'm not superstitious, but I know of
two cases where there were thirteen
at the table, and each time one died
before the year was out. I'm getting
to be an old man, Vida, and, while I'm
not superstitious about it-well, it's
just as well not to tempt fate"
Vida smiled her understanding of the
case and as Norah appeared in the
doorway to announce that dinner was
served they all filed out.
Vida sustained a shock Of surprise
when she saw the man her husband
had sent on. standing ready to serve,
but his face was as impassive as
though he had been q butler and not a
bookkeeper all his life. and it was
with little 1utter Of pride that Vida
realized that the local guests would
suppose that they had imported but,
rer from town for the occasion.
The dinner passed off splendidly. The
butler acquitted himself with the
greatest credit, and Eleanor did her
cooking schcol training full justice.
Before the coffee was served Uncle
Henry was whispering to his niece
that he was going to make her pres
ent of the house for Christmas and at.
tend himself to some details of decora.
tion 49,. -s..-
I Vida had hoped to lead him to the
subject of new rugs, and this volun-
tary promise delighted her. AS she led
fn r1a oh fa aiv1x