The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-10-20
A FRIEND IN NEED

1t was a mild September morning
A blue haze hung over the hills the
sunshine gilded the stubby fields.
The young man trampng up the dusty
highway drew in long breaths of the
invigorating air He was a smooth
faced young man, with a keen eye and
resolute chin. He was dressed in a
gray suit that was shabby with dust
So were the stout walking shoes, 60
was his brown alpine nat. Presently
he paused before handsome house that
crowned a little eminence overlooking
the pleasant valley below. Opening the
iron gate he walked up the pathway
to the front door. Thera was a ca, Il
over the electric bell button with the
legend, Broken" The young mar
stepped around the house and raped
at the rear door. 1t was opened by
lady in a tasteful morning dress, q
lady Of Enthusiastically good looks, but
with careworn expression.
rs Judge Robbins at home?" inqur-
ed the youth.
NO" replied the lady; "the judge was
called away suddenly and will not be at
home until Friday evening""
Then catching sight of the strangers
disappointed face, she added: Are YOU
the young man the judge expected"
81 believe I am he answered.
He said you were handy person."
the lady continued, her face suddenly
lighting up. Can you cook?
The young man slightly started
Then he smiled. Memories of camping
ri
to him.
I've had a little experience in the
art" he replied
Come right in" said the lady, and
ushered him into the dining room. sit
down, please" she said, "and | will ex-
plain, My cook suddenly left me yes
terday morning, her mother being i'll,
and my second girl followed her in the
afternoon. I'm alone in the house with
my little daughter. She is recovering
from a severe illness and needs great
deal of attention. So you see / am
quite unable to attend to any domestic
duties. Besides, it is almost impossible
to secure help out here so near the close
of the season. We are to go in town as
soon as the judge ca mind time to make
the arrangements. Until then | must
manage to worry along the best / can.
The work | want you to do is far more
important just now than the tasks the
judge had planned for you. / will give
you Sc week and you may have Wed
nesday afternoon off Have you any
"None that would be available for the
prpSppt oortiypppcy rar1ied "a ypl1ytr
man with a queer smile.
well, ! can't afford to be captious,"
said the lady, II trust you don't stay
out nights?"
Il doubt If the attractions Of the
would be sufficient to keep
me from my needed rest" replied the
young man.
I'm glad of that" said the lady;
with few exceptions my cooks have
1een fond of absenting themselves from
he house at night. OF course | never
lad a man cook before. What did you
Il was about to say. ma am re- I
marked the young man, that I'm
afraid | am not enough of cook to
warrant my expecting any such privi-
eyes,"
The young man found plenty cf sup
1les on hand in the Robbins larder and
vas told to order any extras he wanted
through the telephone. Mrs. Robbins
furnished him with an old suit of the
Judges for working costume and sur
mounted it with a long white apron.
thus equipped he sailed in and laid the
foundations of his first dinner in the
Robbins establishment He recalled
ds long camping experience, and he
lacked this by frequent recourse to
nodern cook book that reposed on the
helf in the Robbins pantry. He was