Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-02


the arguments in favor Of the removal
to the suburbs had been that the re-
duction in rent was vastly greater
than Colton's Communication and Mrs.
Colton's occasional trips to town. They
had not counted on the telephone bill.
which more than made up the differ
ence.
"Whats the matter now?" he asked
good humoredly. "The cook left?"
"That's only part" came the answer.
'srhe 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 Col
ton 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 SUI
perstitious," 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 Gomez
"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.
1t 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
ably he would send out the bookkeep-
er's relief. and Vida gave no more
thought to the matter save to offer up
n 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
lquiring Mrs. Colton?' 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 Mr.
Grimsby could not come either, and SC
now you would make the thirteenth"
81 see," he said, with a light laugh
"Then I'll head back for town."
ST couldn't let you do that" cried
Vida, with n gasp. There is no train
until 9:57. You will not get to town
until almost II. You must stay here
and have some dinner. I'm sure yol
won't mind eating in the laundry"
I'D rather like it, was the genia
response. IF you will indicate thu
(, general direction I'll head that way
and let you get back to your guests"
Vida pointed to the door to the but
e iler's pantry go through there ant
tell them who you are" she directed
e then she hurried back to the waiting
J. diners. Her uncle was standing by tn,
S door.
: "Was that another guest?" he de
: manded uneasily.
c "Just helper that Bob sent on
/ HUM toN SuG SAuiuiiS0 SiiDiss GIN
1 Uncle Henry breathed sigh Of relief
t ''I'm rather glad that Bob was de
e tanned in town." he said. "It will pre-
q vent there being thirteen at the table
i. I'm not superstitious, but 1 know o
q two cases where there were thirteel
o at the table, and each time one die,
before the year was out. I'm gettin
to be an old man, Vida, and, while II
, not superstitious about it--well. it
. just as well not to tempt fate"
, Vida smiled her understanding Of th
q case, and as Norah appeared in tn
doorway to announce that dinner wa
II served they all filed out.
III Vida sustained shock Of surpris
when she saw the man her husban
had sent ont sanding ready to serv'
but his face was as impassiye q
| though he had been butler and not
bookkeeper all his life. and it, wa
| with a little futter Of pride that vid
realized that the local guests woul
suppose that they had imported bu
Ter from town for the occasion.