Gilpin observer., 1913-01-02
.00KING FOR DINNER
BY II. LITHoow.

Cunniff's invitation to Thanksgiving
ainner had been delivered over the
telephone, as has become usual Gus
tom in these hurried and unregener-
ate days. This. however, did not lead
Cunniff to infer that the entertainment
was to be in the least degree infor-
NAL. On the contrary, Cunniff be-
lieved that when the Drummonds did
anything they did it we'll. He was
judging from their automobile and
Mrs. Drummond's gowns and their
general air Of prosperity, for al
though he knew the family rather
we'll, he had never been at their
house.
Say" Cunniff asked Brown, who
likewise was to be a guest at the
dinner, where do the Drummonds
live, anyway"
"At Fiftieth and Underwood ave-
nue." said Brown. THAT big gray
stone affair. You know it?"
"Oh, yes" said Cunniff. grandly.
However, as a matter of fact. he
did not know 1t at all.
Late on Thanksgiving day he looked,
up the Drummonds in the telephone
directory between wrestling with his
tie and brushing his hair. He found
the name at once-4949 Underwood
avenue. Having got the tie to suit
him, Cunniff started off briskly at
quarter to seven, for the house was
only five blocks from his residence.
He ascended the steps briskly and
was trife annoyed at the delay in
answering his ring. When the door
was at last opened Cunniff took for
ward step and murmured tentatively
his hosts name.
The maid swung the door open.
eyes, this is Mr.. Drummond's house.
Come in," she said. please wait in
the library" Then she vanished.
Cunnin. in some bewilderment, d.
vested himself of coat and hat in
the large entrance hall and proceeded
into the room indicated. 1t was
empty.
There was neither host nor hostess
lurking in the corners and no other
guests mad arrived.
MY watch must be horribly fast!"
Cunniff said to himself. uncomfortably.
He sat down because there was
nothing else to do and looked about
him. The room was indeed handsome
and probably would appear still more
attractive when all the artistically
shaded lights were turned on. At
present only one burned on the wall
near an oaken reading table.
A dead silence reigned. AS his eyes
Cunniff made out the dining-room
table some distance of In the adjoin.
ing room. Only the bare mahogany
confronted him. Even a mere man
knows that for a dinner party the set
ting of the table must come some
minutes before the eating Of the meal
Cunniff crossed one foot over ths
other and tried to be patient. When
twenty minutes had passed without
another arrival or the appearance of
his entertainers the unpleasant convic
ton that something was wrong broke
upon him.
Yet why had he been admitted II
anybody had come down with seri.
GUS illness and the dinner had been
abandoned?
Just as Cunniff. in a cold perspira.
tion, was miserably meditating seizing
his hat and coat and sneaking out he
heard footsteps on the. stairs. The
set society smile he at once donned
for Mrs. Drummond's delectation froze
on his face as a girl walked in whom
he had never seen before. She was
young woman with a most delicious
face and Cunniff observed attractive
little quirks at the corners Of her
rosy lips.
Good evening"" she said a little
dubiously, as she eyed Cunnin. She
acted as though she had expected
somebody else: Father has Just tele
phoned me from the railroad station
He and mother have arrived in the
city from their Thanksgiving visit
They failed to get the earlier train
II you can wait till eight o'clock"
But" Cunniff stammered. what
about the dinner party?"
The pretty girl took hold Of
chair and stood behind It There
isn't any" she said mildly. "Did-did
father ask you to dinner! He's &c
absurdly absent-minded occasionally
Aren't you Mr.. Beckmore. the presi
dent Of the road?"
Good gracious, moi" Cunnifi got
out, glad of something tangible to dis
pute my names Cunniff and l am
supposed to be at a dinner party al
the Drummonds' at Fiftieth street and
Underwood avenue! And want to
know what has happened to the din
ner!"
The pretty girl bent over the chair
back and laughed. why. I'm so sor
ry!" she choked. TITS the Drum,
monds two doors up! We always get
each others mail and packages. but
we never got one Of their dinner
guests beforei And you've waited
all this time!"