Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-21
BY EARL DERR BICGERS
Copyright by Bobbs- Merrill Coz

| Inn followed the example of good di-
gestlon and waited on appetite.
What Mr.. Magee fippantly termed
his dinner party was seated at last
and there began a meal destined to
| linger long in the memories of those
| who partook of II. Puzzled beyond
words. the host took stock of his
guests. Opposite him, at the foot OF
| the table he could see the lined tired
| face of Mrs. Norton, dazed, uncom-
pretending a little frightened. AT
| his right the great red acreage of
| Cargan's face held defiance and some
amusement; beside 1T sneered the
cruel face of Max; beyond that Mr..
BANDS countenance told story OF
worry and impotent anger and on
Mr.. Magee's left sat the professor,
bearded, specialized. calm, seemingly
| undisturbed by this queer furry of
events, beside the fair girl of the sta
| ton who trusted Magee at last. In
| the first few moments of silence Mr.
Magee compared her delicate fea-
lures with the coarse knowing face
of the woman at the tables foot, and
inwardly answered No"
| Without the genial complement OF
talk the dinner began. Mr.. Peters APP
peared with another variety OF his
| canned soup, whereupon the silence
was broken by the gastronomic en-
deavors of Mr.. Max and the mayor,
Mr.. Magee was rejecting that con-
versation must be encouraged, when
Cargan suddenly spoke.
81 hope | ant putting you folks
out none" he remarked with obvious
| ga rcasm. ut ain't my habit to drop
| in unexpected like this; but bust
ness"
Were delighted, I'm sure, sald
Mr.. Magee politely.
~ suppose you want to know why
I'm here" the mayor went on.
"Well-" he hesitated-"it's like
this"
Dear Mr.. Cargan," Magee broke
, in. "spare us, l pray. And spare
! Yourself. We have had explanations
| until we are weary. We have decided
! TO drop them altogether, and just to
/ take II for granted that, in the words
of the song, we're here because were
/ here"
IAN right" replied Cargan, evil
i IDENTIFY relieved. THAT suits me. I'm
tired explaining, anyhow. There's a
bunch of reformers rose up lately IN
Reuton-maybe you've heard ABOUT
: EN- A lovely bunch. A white neck
/ tie and half-portion of brains
: apiece. They say they're going to
| do for me at the next election
Mr.. Max laughed harshly from the
vicinity of his soup.
"They wrote the first joke book,
them people," he said.
well" went on Cargan, there
amt nobody so insignificant and pif-
fling that people won't listen to 'em
when they attack man in public
/ life. So I've had to reply to this
, comic opera bunch, and as / say,
| I'm about wore out explaining. I've
! had to explain that / never stole the
town / used to live in in Indiana,
and that | didn't stick up my father
with O knife. 1t gets monotonous
So I'm much obliged to you for pass
ing the explanations up. We won't
bother you long, me and Lou. l got
a little business here, and then well
mosey along. Well clear out about
/ . o'clock"
NO" protested Magee. so soon
We must make 1t pleasant for you
while you stay. l always hate hosts
who talk about their servants-I have
a friend who bores me to death be-
/ cause he has Jap butler he believes
was at Mukden. But | think / am
justified in calling your attention tc
ours-Mr Peters, the Hermit of Bald
pate Mountain. Cooking is merely