 Had the portrait of H. H. Hartshorne not been knocked off the wall, what would have likely happened in the story?
When he slid under the table containing the drinks, Miss Pringle, who sold millinery, had screamed: "He'll drown!" One out of every three dirty stories started by party attendees had remained unfinished, because each had reminded someone else of another story. But the impact knocked the hallowed portrait of H. H. Hartshorne, co-founder, from its nail. Mr. Hawkins himself, acting by reflex, attempted to return the portrait to its place until new glass could be obtained. To hear more of it, he said to her: "I'll bet that's been in there ever since the picture was framed. But I remember that my grandmother never bought anything from Hartshorne-Logan because of some trouble her mother had once with the firm.
 The package would have never been delivered.
 Milly would have never been born.  Mr. Hawkins would have fired everyone who attended the party.  The partygoers would have remained sober that night.  The package would have never been delivered.