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

he recognized his wife's voice. One of
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. 1.-THE cook left?''
"That's only part" came the answer.
''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 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 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-
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
l 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
a fervent supplication that his table
manners should be good.
The others had arrived when there
was 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
y closed the door.
$ "I'm awfully sorry" she began. "Mr
e Cotton asked you to come out because
4 we wanted to avoid thirteen at thu
e table. But it happens that a Mr.
{ Grimsby could not come either. and 81
e now you would make the thirteenth"
81 see,'' he said, with light laugh
'Then I'll head back for town."
;. 81 couldn't let you do that" criet
Vida, with gasp. There is no trair
until 9:57. You will not get to tow
| until almost II. You must stay here
and have some dinner. I'm sure yOl
| won't mind eating in the laundry"
'Id rather like it," was the genia
response. "If you will indicate th,
general direction I'll head that wa!
and let you get back to your guests"
Vida pointed to the door to the but
ler's pantry. $50 through there ant
tell them who you are" she directed
then she hurried back to the waiting
diners. Her uncle was standing by tn
door,
"Was that another guest?" he de
manded uneasily.
| "Just a helper that Bob sent on
| IRON tOWn, she eApidlneu SHDiy, AIT
i Uncle Henry breathed 9 sigh Of relief
Il I'm rather glad that Bob was dc
n tanned in town." he said. "It will pre-
vent there being thirteen at the table
I'm not superstitious. but know Q
III two cases where there were thrice
IS at the table, and each time one die
0. before the year was out. I'm gettin
" to be an old man, Vida, and, while II
not superstitious about it-well, It
,s just as well not to tempt fate"
- Vida smiled her understanding Of tn
case, and as Norah appeared in til
: doorway to announce that dinner wa
- served they all fled out
Vida sustained a shock of surpris
y when she saw the man her husban
=. had sent out standing ready to serv,
~ but his face was as impassive q
u, though he had been butler and not
10 bookkeeper all his life, and 1t wa
le with little fiutter Of pride that vid
realized that the local guests woul
rs suppose that they had imported bu
r. Ter from town for the occasion.
~ The dinner passed off splendidly. IT
w a,,<1or coo,,,&&od hiv,,coy% xx,ftt, ~