The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1911-01-11
The Mysterious
Luncheon

| Nntn MTS. received the III
vitation from Mrs. Carter, whose hus-
+ band was a business acquaintance of
Kimball's and therefore had to be
treated somewhat delicately, she made
number OF sputtering, inarticulate
noises which ended in a quite articu-
late assertion that she would not go.
| After she had proclaimed positively
at least a dozen times that she would
not go and nothing could induce her
to go. she sat down and meekly in.
| formed the abhorred Mrs Carter. per
post. that she would be delighted to
accept her very kind and welcome In
vitation.
The morning of the luncheon
/ dawned stormy and unpleasant. Mrs.
I Kimball protested at every stage OF
| her toilet that she could not and would
not go. When she eventually did get
started II was somewhat late, and the
long trip from her north shore sub
urban home to the South side, punctu-
ated by delays to trains and cars, was
torture to her She breathed sigh
of relief As. after glancing at her
watch and noting that she was only
Ave minutes behind the hour appoint
| ed. she pressed the electric bell.
/ To her surprise no one opened the
I door. She waited a few minutes and
/ rang again. There was still no re-
I Spouse. In some doubt. she rang again.
/ This time the door was opened about
TWO inches by a maid with a dismal
I countenance. An odor as of fried po-
tatoes and other viands which are
usually reserved for purely family oc-
I away into the street Mrs Kimball
took a hesitating step forward
is Mrs. Carter at home?" she ven
tured
Don't know" snapped the maid.
I but ! can go and look II you've 4
mind to come in"
Mrs. Kimball stepped inside the door
and the maid disappeared. leaving the
guest a prey to disquieting surmises.
| Was II possible. she asked herself.
that she had mistaken the day7 She
put this possibility aside as absurd. as
she had a distinct recollection OF the
wording Of the invitation. Filled with
uneasy thoughts. she heard excited
voices in the rear OF the house. but
these were quickly drowned by the
closing OF a door. After what seemed
N interminable time another door up
stairs opened and her hostess came
rustling down. X
"oh. my dear" she gished. Il was
beginning to be afraid you weren't
coming. Come right upstairs with me
and take on your hat, 80 that we can
b" perfectly Informal and comfort
able.
she rustled up in front Of Mrs. Kim
ball and pushed her arectionately into
a bedroom.
Now. make yourself perfectly at
home" she urged. while ] run down
and take a peep into the kitchen You
know how housekeeper feels about
seeing to things personally" Then
she disappeared.
I'm sorry to say there In disap-
alphabetically when she reappeared
after a long Absence.
Mrs. THRILLER. whom ] asked you TO
meet. has been taken I'll and was un'
able to come" She pushed a caress-
ing arm through her guests before
she continued: But ! Just couldn't
let myself be disappointed of you and
thought you and could have a nice
little home luncheon together"
Arm In arm they descended the
stairs. and were Just about to turn
into the living room when they were
halted by the sound Of loud. trucu
lent voice.
Say, Mrs. Carter" called the voice
didn't better get three pounds OF
steak1 with company and the chill
dren no two pounds won't go round
hardly"
Mrs. Carter turned a brilliant Grim.
son and dropped her guests arm.
Excuse me Just a minute" she said
There seem to be domestic compii.
cations"
Mrs. KimbaII wandered into the liy.
ing room and once more waited. Near.
Iy an hour later when the guest was
almost in the last tbroes of hunger
luncheon was served
II consisted of steak. baked potatoes
heaps which had evidently been ann
noned from a can sbrimn salad hear
ing the same impress canned peaches