The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1909-04-30
The Hostess
Guests
By BEATRICE 8. SWEET

Wnlcn uTOWuluS CluSo W
the life line thrown him. But some
how or another l will swerve. and
then Jim Elson gets another escap-
ade to write out and print. You may
have heard of me; my name Is Jen-
William B. jenkins.
Elson, Jones and their party were
In hot pursuit Of me when left
Tibet after the episode of the Bud
dhist temple, and / decided that the
best way to elude pursuit was to go
right back to where we all belonged
and whore they would never think
Of looking for me. 80 I came to
Boston.
walked over to Huntington Ave-
nue.. rejecting to myself that a man
with my resolution had far better be
we'll fed than half starved. and
smiled faint heartedly as l auto
matically searched the empty
pockets.
halted hesitatingly before the
Criterion Club and wondered where
I should get that meal, and I idly
watched the we'll dressed men pass
in and out the brightly illuminated
doorway, wnen suddenly I bethought
myself OF plan. My clothes might
look worse. l wore cutaway-its
style was recent. To be sure. my
collar was little soiled my
cuffs frayed. and I had lost the heel
OF n shoe, but why not?
ascended the steps briskly and
entered the wide vestibule. My over
coat was taken from me In on In
stant. and I passed into what l took
to be writing room. stared
around curiously-trying not to be-
tray any sign that I was unaccus-
toned to the place and was there
fore little disquieted when
found man gazing at me flXedly
from a shaded corner. ! walked to-
ward him easily, and coolly halted
few steps from his chair, surveying
the groups around me with appar-
ent tranquility. To my further dis
Quietude, he arose and approached.
"Mr. Robbins new MEM
ber?" he asked interrogativcly. ]
nodded-the name gave me an open
ing-but my companion seemed al
most astonished at my Affirmative.
He hesitated for moment. 81 be-
said slowly.
'I remember now" | replied. II
have met SO many these first few
weeks :hat your face sl'H!ed my
mind for an instant"
thanked heaven that the doubt
full look disappeared from his face.
'Yes" he cried And think
owe you dinner. Remember?
Suppose you claim your bet to-
night7"
Cant say that I do remember"
replied. smiling inwardly, but II
you want to pay debt. III accept.
I'll lose to you another time" and |
followed him TO the club dining
room. Luck" | cried 10 myself
Luck, Billie b." and | slowed my
heelless shoe beneath the table and
kept my GUNS beneath the cloth.
My comrado ordered ordered eX-
tensively. and my breast swelled
with gratitude. He spoke constant
ly. seldom referring TO the club or
its members. but talked very intelli-
gently OF tho political and legal
world. His name I didn't know. and
the old time method OF asking
How 50 dfficult name is spelled"
avoided. 1t might be Smith or
Brown.
Tom Hemingway over In the cor.
ner," he said confidently. And
Lamson and Dick Waters at the
third table on the other side. and
hello! there's Roger Peters in the
lobby moment while | speak 10
him. I've been looking for that man
for week order cigars and coffee, >"
and he dashed on
| leaned back comfortably aud OF
dered. Fifteen minutes passed.
Twenty. l turned uneasily. Where
Was my hostf Thirty minutes; a
waiter asked me II l wanted any
thing further shook my head
and looking up found his eye fixed
on my frayed cuff. I hastily thrust
the offending arm from sight be-
meath the table cover and watched
the waiter recede from view-then
hastily arose to search for my com
ramon.
At the door / met my waiter with
his chief and was summar'ly halted
II was dining with" l sud
denly halted. I neither knew the
mans name nor where he was
My interrogator smiled. IN take
aim. Pete" he said, and he grasped
me by the arm and piloted me
"rross the corridor too astounded
"Ad weakened to protest, and in the
room on the other side found my
stwhile companion.
Here's the other one" said my
custodian, A little man at desk
smiled sarchsticaily. Both had
your dinners, Ell? ! s'poso | should
have dropped on YOU before you got
your nli, but / didn't want to take
the chance OF offending a member.
You" he pointed to my fellow diner,
Il know to be crooked, but was
not sure OF you"
II ives Invited" protested.
He invited me I'M" cried my for
iuer host.
The map at the desk grunted con
temptuously, Have The police
come yeti" be Queried Of the head