Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-01-06
A Culinary
Capture
The Sequel to Nanon's Birth
day Banquet.
By VIRGINIA TYLER HUDSON.
CopvriQht 1915 hv Anerican praaa
By VIRGINIA TYLER HUDSON.
Copyright. 1905. by American Press
Association.


gle women fewer, in the construction
camps along the keys, it must be ad-
mitted that the coming of Nanon
O'Higgins caused scarcely a dutter In
the busy camp life.
When old Jim O'Higgins carelessly
! remarked that he would not eat at the
camp table, as he had his daughter
with him and would take his share
from the commissary to his shack, 1t
was the cue OF AMER Regan and Peter
| Ingraham and rrenchy Despard to
stroll casually over toward the O'Hig-
gins shack at the close of the frst
days work. 1t was not because Of
lack of welcome that they went no
more-at least for some time.
Not much for looks. sure" was the
] pronunciamento Of AMER Regan as
| they went back to the bunk boat down
at the edge Of the scraggly coral beach.
Her eyes gave me the creeps too.
at the world"
Mos probably" put in Frenchy, "she
have-not with re worl, but with re
old O'Hlggins, who have name her
Nanon. Parblieu Such name for
such femme. Youth and beauty GER
J tissement, it means. and when you see
her, pouf! 1t vaneeshr'
One day Ingraham was stretched on
the white sands when O'Higgins came
upon him.
I'VE want you and some of the boys
to come up to the shack for dinner to-
night. Mr.. Ingraham." said the old man
hesitatingly. This is my little girls
birthday, and thought
Ingraham hesitated.
"Oh. why nOt?" he thought. This
once won't hurt me. The old chaps
fond Of the girl. 1 suppose. too, and he
hates to see her neglected" So he an
svered as he rose, yawning: Gall right,
| O'Higgins. wen be on deck"
All three Of the men knew what 1t
was to dine we'll In the city Ingra-
ham was known as such an epicure
| that 1t was a standing joke with his
friends that he would starve down on
the keys on the construction camp COM
missary. Like all true Frenchmen,
Despard, too, knew the value Of things
culinary. But each was compelled to
admit that never, even in the best clubs
and restaurants, had they sat down to
daintier feast than that provided In
the little Florida shack. And that, too,
on the necessarily limited fare.
"Mais QUIZ exclaimed the delighted
Frenchman as together they strolled to-
ward the beach. Such soup. Such
: an entree. Such sauce bernaise 1t
would appear that we have moderated
the Mile. Nanon! Never have l had
such a salad of cocoanuts. 1t was
beautiful-enough to make Oscar turn
the envious green"
AT last he has been smitten with
the charms of Nanon," solemnly muir
INJURED AMER. THE little god has got
busy and hit him in the stomach. But
| surely he don't expect to be without a
rival. l, too, monsieur, have these
many years been in search OF good
cook"
Ingraham looked at his companions
scornfully.
Little beastsp' he muttered.
81 weesh to inform you" said
Frenchy Despard one night, after a
longer visit than usual, when he and
Nanon had gone for a walk along the
coral beach. "zat have re honaire to
be betrothed to Mile. Nanon OHig-
gins" He bowed low.
"Well, you turned the trick on US,
all right, Frenchy," said the some
what discounted AMER. May l hope
to have an occasional invitation to eat
at your house? l can't say but what,
on the whole, I'm just as we'll salts
fed. Well at least have the cook in
the family, so to speak"
Ingraham looked up with a frown.
For the first time the girls side of this
occurred to him. She was to be sac
rihced. But. with "A shrug as If he
would efface the thing, although the
girls dark eyes haunted him, he turn
ed to his boob.
Two days later Despard came in
from the construction camp early. He
was intrusted by the superintendent
with a message for O'Higgins to pre-
pare lot NlSll llolh ohe VI thS pV"i"
of directors whose yacht had been
sighted. He went therefore, at once
across the beach TO the shack in the
palm trees With the freedom Of the
accepted lover he turned the corner of
the house toward the little kitchen.
"She will be preparing for me the
grand dinner" he said to himself unc-
tuously and leaned across the sill of
the window through which he could
hear the rattle of pots and pans. The
sight that met his eyes made his jaw
drop and stlled the greeting on his
lips. More quietly than he had come
the, man withdrew aud skunk across
the beach TO the bunk boat.
Only an idling darky boy was in
sight when Despard reached the wait
ing motorboat. into which he hurried
! Iv aIimhad carving a suit case and