The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-12-30
The Hostess
Guests
BY BEATRICE S. SWEET

/
form. I've clung to the straight an,
narrow path with the tenacity Will
which drowning man clinEs Il
! the life line thrown him. But some
| how or another | will swerve, ant
then Jim Elson gets another escap
AIDE 10 write out and print. You ma,
have, heard of me; my name is Jen
kins~-William B. Jenkins.
Elson, Jones and their party were
, In hot pursuit of me when | left
Tibet after the episode of tho Bud
dhist temple, and l decided that the
best way TO elude pursuit was to &c
right back to where we all belonged
and where they would never think
of looking for me. So I came ia
Boston
| walked over to Huntington Ave
nue., rejecting to myself that a man
with my resolution had far better be
well fed than half starved, and |
smiled faint heartedly as | auto
matically searched the empty
pockets.
| halted hesitatingly before the
Criterion Club and wondered where
should get that meal, and | idly
watched the we'll dressed men pass
In and out the brightly illuminated
doorway. when suddenly | bethough
myself of plan. My clothes might
look worse. | wore a cutaway--its
style was recent. To be sure, my
collar was a little soiled nv
cuffs frayed, and | had lost the heel
OF shoe, but why not?
assembled the steps brisklv and
entered the wide vestibule. nv over
coat was taken from me In an in
slant, and | passed into what took
TO be writing room I stared
around curiously-trying not to be-
tray any sign that ! was unaccus-
toned to the place, and was there
fore little disquieted when
found a man gazing at me fXedly
from a shaded corner. | walked to-
ward him easily, and cooIly halted
few steps from his chair, surveying
the groups around me with apDar-
ent tranquility. To my further dis
quietude, he arose and approached.
Mr.. Robbins~-our new men,
berg" he asked interrogatively /
name gave me an open.
ing-bnt my companion seemed at-
most astontshed at my Affirmative
He hesitated for a moment. II be,
lieye | met YOU the other night" he
said slowly.
i remember now" | replied. Il
have met SO many these first few
weeks that your face slipped ny
mind for an instant"
thanked heaven that the doabt
fnl look disappeared from his fare.
'Yes.e he cried tAnd thiuk
owe you dinner. Remember?
suppose you claim your bet to-
night?"
Can't say that do remember"
replied, smiling inwardly. hut If
son want to pay a debt, I'll accept.
III lose to you another time. and | |
him to the cltb dining
Dom, Luck" cried % myself. |
Luck, Billie p. ~ and slowed my |
leelless shoe beneath the table and |
sept my cuffs beneath the cloth.
Ny comrade ordered ordered ex-
ensiVely. and my breast swelled |
With gratitude. He spoke constant. /
" seldom referring to the club on /
is members. but talked very intelll-
;ently of the political and legal |
World His name didn't know, end I
he old time method of asking
How 50 difficult name is spelled
avoided 1t might be Smith or
brown,
Tom Hemingway over In the cor
ier." he said confidently And
.amsou and Dick Waters at the
bird table on the other side and
Iello there's Roger Peters in the
obby-one moment while ! speak 10
i'm. I've been looking for that man
or week order cigars and coffee
nd he dashed off
7 leaned back comfortably and OF.
ered Fifteen minutes passed
'weHts. Il turned uneasiiY Where
fas my host? Thirty minn et; a h
7aiter asked me If / waHiad asy-
hing further. / shook n3F head.
nd looking UP found his eye fixed
n my frayed cuff ! hastily thrust
he offending arm from sight be-
cath, the table cover aud watched
he waiter recede from yie1 then
astily arose 10 search foi a1y eon7-
anton.
At the door | met my waiter with
is chief and was snmniarilt ha'34d
Il was dining with ! sud
emily halted | neither knew the
rams name nor where he was.
My interrogation smiled "Fii take |
i'm, Pete" he said. and he grasped
TO by the arm and piloted me ,
cross the corridor TOO astounded
nd weakened to protest, and in the
pom on the other side found nay
companion. Az n e@
Here's the other one, said nay
istodian. A little man at desk it
niled sareastically: Both had 6
am dinners, eh III s'pose | should |
ave dropped on Won before you got y
our fills but didn't want. to take a
le chance Of offending member. b
on" he pointed to my fellow diner, II
know to he crooked. but / was In