The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-15
THE EVENING STORY
Saving Uncle Henry.
(By Award Ridgeway.)

phone that stood at his elbow and
smiled as he recognized his wife's
voice. One of the arguments in favor
been that the reduction In rent was
vastly greater than Colton's commute
ton. and Mrs. Colton's occasional trips
to town. They had not counted on the
telephone bill which more than made
UP the difference.
Whats the matter now" he ask
ed good humoredly. 1.-THE cook left?"
That's only part" came the ans
wer, 1.-THE cook left and the Nelson's
have just had word that his sister
is dead, and they can't come"
That will help some" declared
Cotton encouragingly. There won't
be SO many to cook for"
But Eleanor will 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 it leaves just thirteen"
"Thirteen's lucky" cheered Cotton.
'You should be glad that Eleanor is
there to get the dinner"
But Uncle Henry is frightfully sup
erstitious," reminded Mrs. Cotton.
Its bad enough that you can't come
and that my own sister must stay
away to get the dinner and We'll 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 come ?"
ION his vacation-but I'll get
someone. Don't worry, Vida"
Cotton hung the receiver on the
hook and Mrs. Cotton beamed as she
turned from the instrument. Bob was
dependable and that worry was off her
mind.
1t was her 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 Col
ton had been compelled to remain in
town to attend an important confer
ence of the trade and could not pos
sibly 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
telephoned Cotton to send him out
Probably he would send out the book
keepers 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
quiring Mrs. Colton?" Vida fairly
dragged him across the hall and into
the dining room, where she carefully
closed the door
I'm awfu1ly sorry" she began. "Mr.
Cotton asked you to come out because
we wanted to avoid thirteen at the
table. But it happens that a Mr..
Grimsby could not come either, and
so now you would make the thir-
teenth."
ct see,' he said with a light laugh.
Then I'll head back for town.
81 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 IL. You must 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. IF 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
lCA PaA-tAJ 1O tuIouSA llSIS anu
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 a sigh of re-
lief
"I'm glad that Bob was detained in
town." he said. cit will prevent there
being thirteen at the table. I'm not
but / know of two cases
where there were thirteen at the table.
year was out. I'm getting to be an
old man, Vida, and while I'm not SUI
perstitious about it-well-it's Just as
we'll 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 out standing ready to serve,
but his face was as impassive as
though he had been a butler, and not
at bookkeeper. all his life, and it was
with little f1utter of pride that Vida
realized that the local guests would
suppose that they had imported a but
Ter from town for the occasion.
The dinner passed off splendidly.
The butler acquitted himself with the
greatest credit and Eleanor did her
cooking school training full justice.
Before the coffee was served, Uncle
Henry was whispering to his niece
that he was going to make her a pres
ent of the house for Christmas and
attend himself to some details of
decoration.
Vida had hoped to lead him to the
subject of new rugs, and this volun-
tary promise delighted her. AS she
led the way back to the parlor, she
fairly radiated delight.
1t was some time before she could
to slip away from her uncle.
and she was just about to go to the
kitchen to see how Eleanor was get
ting along when Norah. the maid,
poked her head cautiously between the
curtains and made a signal that she
tod To har 81 rasS