The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-12-01
Saving Uncle
Henry.
BY AUord RidSetOoy.
Copyrighted, 1908 by Associated
Literary Press

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 nowT he asked
good humoredly. 1.-The cook left?"
That's only part" came the answer
1.-THE cook left, ana 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 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 it leaves just thirteenY
"Thirteen's lucky" cheered Cotton.
'You should be glad that Eleanor is
there to get the dinner"
"But Uncle Henry is frightfully SUI
perstitaous," reminded Mrs. Cotton.
'Tt's 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 come"
ION 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
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
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 so
now you would make the thirteenth"
"I see," he said, with light laugh
''Then I'll head back for town"
II 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 H. You must stay here
and have some dinner. I'm sure you
won't mind eating in the laundry"
'T'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
Ier'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 guestT he de-
manded uneasily.
Gust 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 ] 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 fled out.
Vida sustained 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
bookkeeper all his life. and it was
with a little fiutter Of pride that Vida
realized that the local guests would
suppose that they had imported 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 pres
snt of the house for Christmas and at
tend himself to some details Of decora-
tiOn.
Vida had hoped to lead him to tie
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
manage 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 signal that she
wanted to see her mistress.
81 think you'd better come out in the
kitchen, ma'am," she whispered. THAT
strange man and Miss Eleanor do be
carrying on something awful. He
kissed her when he thought my back
was turned, but l saw them in the sill
yer tray. They've been at it ever since
he came"
HE is annoying Miss Eleanor
asked vida correctingly. 1t was out Of
the question that Eleanor should enjoy
his attentions.
"Divil a bit she's annoyed insisted
Norah "She likes it."
with dignified tread Mrs. Cotton
moved toward the kitchen and threw
open the door. Her sister was wiping
III had