Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-07-15
Saving Uncle
Henry.
BY AUard RidSetOay.
Copyrighted. 1905. 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. The cook left?'
That's only part" came the answer
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 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 II leaves just thirteenT"
"Thirteens 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 Wen 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-
| 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
| hoodoocd 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
abhorrenr to Uncle Henry, from whom
| the Coltons had expectations"
| Vida had noticed that her husbands
| bookkecper 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
feryent 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 nj the entrance, and at his in
curing 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 il happens that Mr..
Grlmsby could not come either, and so
now you would make the thirteenth"
II see,' he said, with a light laugh.
"Then I'll head back for town"
Il couldn't let you do that" cried
| Vida, with a gasp. There Is no train
until 9:5L You VIII not get TO town
until almost II. 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. III you will Indicate the
general direction IN head that way
and let you get back to your guests"
Vida pointed 20 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
mandcd uneaslly
Just q helper that Bob sent out
from town" she explained gIiblv. and
Uncle Henry hrcathcd sigh of relief
I'm rather glad that Bob was de-
tanned In town. he said at win pre.
wont thCre Ipiug. thfrtpnD at fIo t,1l.