New Britain herald., 1915-11-04
Tete-a-Tete Before the Crate Once


 or do I recognize Katie's fine Italian hand?"
 Dicky surveyed the dinner Katie had just served with a whimsical look We were taking combination break l fast, lunch and dinner, the first food either of us had touched since Dicky had ushered in most exciting 24 hours by slamming out of the apart | ment the night before in a towering rage. %.,.-,
 Having repented and been shrive only a few moments before, Dicky, like most penitents, appeared to have forgotten his sins completely. The memory of the long hours of night 1 when I had been frightened by the sight of Dicky intoxicated, and wo"- ried by his failure to come home the thought of the day just passed, when D1cky in one room had slept off his intoxlcat1on, and l in another had suf- fered terribly with a headache, sha- dOwed my joy in our reconciliation. But Dicky was in royal good humor
 This is Katie's idea entirely" I re- piled. T really have had no experience in this sort of thing" added demure- ly. -
 Dicky made a face at me. An an swer I knew was on the tip of his tongue, but Katie's malignant voice interrupted: ....# ...
 "Meester Graham, why you say me | Italian. Me no dago, me Polish girl. I tell you dot odder place, but you say always, Katie's Italian hand, Why you do dot?''
 Dicky threw back his head and laughed uproariously. Then he put his hand in his pocket. As he drew it out I saw that it held bill.
 See what this will do toward soothing your wounded feelings" he said as he held it out.
 Katie put her hands behind her No, no, dot too mooch," she said, but I saw her. eyes fixed greedily upon the money.
 Nonsense" Dicky answered. throwing the bill on the table, "a dollar isn't too much for this life saver and being called an Italian to boot" . .'
 A Reviving Meal.
 He lifted to his lips as he spoke the cup of steaming clam broth which Katie had served us as a first course. I already had drained mine It Wa. indeed delicious, but dollar tip seemed ridiculous to my frugal mind
 Take it, Katie" His voice held note of command, and Katie picked up the dollar.
 You call me vat you pleese for dis she giggled, as she put tho empty cups on the tray. You try dis salt mack-er-el. Dot is goot for" she hesitated for word ..... ' For what ails me-" suggested Dlcky m1schievously, to Katie's confu- sion. | "I no, mean notting." she said as she hurried into the kitchen. I looked critically at the dishes l ready for Dicky's serving If this were ''drunkard's breakfast" I tod myself, it certainly was an incentive to a man to indulge in too much li- quor. I never had known that salt mackerel could look so inviting Katie had soaked them all day unti they were like fresh fish. Then she | had plunged them in boiling water and l had seen her watching then, anxiously so that they should not re. main in the water an instant after | they were cooked sufficiently. Sh, had drained them, laid them on hot batter garnished with parsley and poured over them a most invit ing looking thin sauce, the principa ingredients of which I recognized a. hot milk and melted butter.
 Boiled potatoes, piping hot, and salad that gave forecast of spring crisp watercress sprinkled thickly witt l chopped chiScs. and a plate of ho buttered toast completed the meal which even if I had not been as raven ously hungry as I was would hay tempted me to eat heartily.
 Dfcky's Strange Invitation.
 Dicky did not appear as hungry a l, but he ate a fairly good meal. A } Katie cleared the dishes away an brought the coffee with certain kin of cream cheese of which Dicky
 very fond he looked at mo wnimsica ly.
 Shall we risk our coffee in the li\ ing room again?" he asked.
 l winced at the memory of tn evening before when Katie had serve our after dinner coffee before the ga
 log in the living room. The financis discussion which followed mad preciI itated painful scene. But Dicky, his penitence, had granted everythin
 I had wished, so there seemed to
 nothing left which could cause an discussion.
 Why not I turned to Kati Please bring the things into the othe . room"
 We slipped our coffee, and the
 Dicky lighted cigar. You ought smoke, Madge," he said tcarelessl Wont you try cigarette
 He drew out his case of cigarette
 and proffered me one. I drew back , horror z z "Dicky!" I ejaculated You do m mean you would like to see n sp,nlkinof'