New Britain herald., 1915-11-24


 I touched the bell with a feeling of I could not conquer I was afraid something might have hap- pened to the oyster juice, but more than anything else I feared that Katie might do, or say when she came into the room and saw Frank Lester. She had promised to control herself, but l knew her impulsive temperament and I trembled as I heard her foot steps. As she came into the room, Mrs. Underwood asked Mrs Lester something about her baby, thus di- verting her attention. I stole glance at Frank Lester He was bantering Dicky, seemingly oblivious to Katie's presence, but I noticed that his face was red.
 Twill you bring the oyster juice, please, ,Katie?'' I said quietly.
 l was proud of Kate in that moment Not a flicker of an eyelash, not a glance betrayed anything but the cor rect attitude of a we'll trained maid. She vanished without a word and re- turned in moment bearing the bowl of oyster juice.
 '"Ah-h!" Harry Underwood heaved a deep sigh. "The country is saved. Dicky, I warn you that if you don't pull that oyster stunt pretty soon l shall begin on Mrs. Lester"
 Nobody paid any attention to him. however for Dicky had added the lem on juice to the butter, and was stir ring it with the air of a Druid per forming one of his rites
 He finished the blending and then picked up the bowl of oyster juice and poured it's contents slowly into the mixture already in the chafing dish, stirring carefully as he did so.
 When he had stirred it to his own satisfaction, and it was bubbling, he relaxed his intent look, and turning to us, said:
 ''Who was kicking about the red pepper? Do you really think had too much in the last time 7"
 That was only Harry, Dicky," Lil- Han Gale said soothingly. Fix it up the way you always do, only hurry, for we are all starving."
 "Why don't you begin on the sand wiches, then?
 "No, Dickybird,'' Lillian returned with an affected air of martyrdom Not morsel shall pass our parched lips until you are ready to eat too Perhaps that will hurry him up a bit,' she added with wink to the rest of uS
 Ready in a minute, now" said Dlcky .encouragingly, putting in the oysters after he had carefully seasoned the mixture in the chafing dish with salt, black pepper, paprika, and just a dash of cayenne. Are the hot dishes ready, Madge?"
 Madges ''Rarebit Martyrdom''
 I touched the bell again for Katie and at a signal from me she brought the hot soup plates, the only suitable dishes I had in the apartment, and placed them before Dicky.
 Dicky put a liberal portion on each plate and Katie passed them to the guests. Then she passed around the crackers, and we all were valiant trencher men" for several minutes.
 had never eaten oysters prepared m that manner, and I had to admit that Dlcky was justified in his boasts 70 me Of his culinary prowess. They were delicious, and the plates were quickly emptied
 More' said Harry Underwood la conically holding up his plate.
 Down in front, Oliver Twist" re- turned Dicky. Don't you know my
 
 for otherwise you wouldn't enjoy the rarebit. You will observe that the chafing dish is going. But it will be re- put in your time at those sandwiches. if anybody takes too many of em, I'll take the plates away"
 'Stingy, stingy,'' mocked little Mrs. Lester. Still the rarbit is worth it. I never used to like them until ate Mr. Graham's."
 Katie had removed the chafing dish and now she brought it back again and connected it with the electric light socket While the water was coming to a boil, Dicky took up a cup into which the yolks of two eggs had been placed, and stirred slowly into it two teaspoonfuls of dry mustard, two of Worcestershire sauce, two scant ones of butter, a few drops of tabasco a dash ot cayenne, another of black pep per, and liberal sprinkling of salt and paprilla. These were the propor- , tions for two pounds of cheese
 Katie set at his elbow a bottle of ale which Dicky had uncorked in the af- 1 ternoon, so that it would be of the ex- act flavor he wanted. He finished the ! blending the mixture in the cup, se ! 1t aside and put into the blazer a heap. ing teaspoonfUl of butter. When it had . simmered he added the cheese. Ther i for a few minutes nobody spoke, fo1 1 Dicky acted as if tho settlement of the war depended upon his success ir blending the melting cheese with the 1 ale which he poured on from time to time almost drop by drop.
 As he picked up the cup containing r, ixytr1 1~ l sucn care I summoned Katie to bring i some heated plates, for I knew the 1 stuff was nearly done. As Dicky stirred the mixture in the cup into the mass ir the chafing dish I tried to summon my 1 cco lcr, Int ood