Evening star., 1921-10-23

the portiere and turned to flee, but
he stopped short. From where he
stood he could see into the parlors
forward corner-a corner shut on
from his first view-and in this cor
ner was woman, She stood with
her back partially turned toward
him and she was leaning slightly
forward above small table. One
of her hands rested on the edge of the
table lightly. She was looking down.
ward at q stuffed bird of some sort
that stood under a glass dome on the
small table, and Benny knew. from
the manner in which she carried her
self. from the curve OF her superb
neck and from the mass of red-gold
hair piled upon her head that she
gowned as a beautiful woman should
be gowned. but, although it was not
yet night. she was in the fullest even
ing dress. Benny took another step
this time. This waA
Benny Barr. He had IDaeta IN shHea
some swell function. - - ~, - = =
But he stopped short again. From
the dining room, which might well
be called a banquet hall, not sound
came. No chatter Of voices. no clat-
ter of silver and china-utter silence.
There was not a sound in the entire
house! 1t was nonsensical! 1t was
impossible. Benny once more looked
Into the QlnlnS rOOm.9,& :.
There were seats for at least
twenty at the long table and now
Benny saw that several Of these were
not occupied. The seats at the head
and foot were vacant. Two, or pos
sibly three, more had no occupants.
and Of, perhaps, several important
guests might have accounted for the
silence. but 1t could not account for
the utter immobility of the guests
already seated. OF the fourteen or
fifteen at table ten were women. and
beautifully gowned. The men Were
in evening dress. Not a sound. Not
a motion of a hand or the movement
of an eyelid! Benny drew the por-
there aside and entered the dining
room. The figures seated at the table
were all % wax!
well. well. we'll. folks" Benny ex-
claimed. "How's the party this even
ing
LIE walked the length Of the room,
looking from one wax figure to
the next. The absurdity Of it all
struck him strongly; it stirred his
abundant sense Of humor; the joke
was on him. for he had thought this
a real party. Not he to be crouch!
He stopped beside one of the male
figures.
We'll, well" he cried. My old
friend Astorbilt! And if there isn't
my old college chum Vanderfeller!
How are you. boys? Some little
party: Countess. l am delighted.
Princess, ] assure you it gives me
great pleasure!"
He bowed to the assembled COM
pany and then laughed naturally at
the wax figures and at himself. 1t
was great little joke.
He rested his hand on one of the
vacant chairs and took one Of the
dinner plates from the table. What
do you know about that" he ex-
claimed. Real roast chicken" He
walked to the sideboard and exam
hattans-the real thing, not imita-
tions. "Well. believe me-" said Benny
the book agent. The ice in the wine
coolers was real ice; everything was
real except the people. Benny chu-
sr shed .ome %sh psrsy sss some hs repeaeS eat i
the show-window swells. Now, I
wonder what's the idea?"
He raised one of the cocktail
glasses to his lips and was about to
Here's to everybody! were on the
end Of his tongue, but he put the
glass back on the tray. Just min
ute. folks" he said. He went out of
the dining room.
AS he had guessed. the woman
bending over the stuffed bird in the
parlor was a wax figure like the
rest. Nor was she alone. When he
walked to the shadowy distant end
Of the parlor he found other wax
ladies. There were four in the par
lor in all, three sitting gracefully
in chairs; their faces in waxen
smiles. Benny greeted them glee-
fully. He called them Gwendolyn,
Arethusia and Cunegunda. The fig
ure at the small table he greeted in
a friendly manner as Cousin Susan.
He took jovial tone with her.
Some bird, Cousin Susan!" he said.
But not edible. Very nice. but not
worth long and continuous study.
Now here is something worth a good
long look-'Aunt James Cook Book
price only 81. 1000 choice recipes
for the kitchen and the chafing dish;
compiled by twenty-four Of Americas
most famous culinary artists Not at
all. Not at ALL" he said eagerly, as
he unwrapped the book and opened
it. GLAD to have you look it over.
Take all the time you want. I'm
dining in the next ROOM"
He removed the stuffed bird and
its glass dome and placed them on
the floor. Where they had been he
placed the open cook book. "CouSiu