Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-05-28

ty-hve, able-bodied, Well-groomed ana
unmistakly English.
Why was he touring around with
two overdressed women while that
poor woman's husband and brother had
gone to the front? Was patriotism
stronger in the poorer classes? With
the need of the army so great, why
were there SO many well-groomed
young men still about London?
81 wanted to go on to the Flying
Horse" complained one Of the women.
WED have got waited on there"
"Yes, she's deuced SLOW" The Eng
lishman knocked loudly on the table.
Another couple came in now, an ell.
derly man and his wife. They took one
of the small tables by the fire.
Dear, I'm afraid she's too upset to
wait on all these people," whispered
Helen anxiously.
Warren did not answer, but he
glared at the Englishman, who again
pounded on the table.
The woman. now painfully lustered.
came in with tea for two.
Right away, SIR" to the impatient
Englishman, as she set the tray beside
a moment. SIR"
II say, this is a rum start" broke in
the Englishman. "If you can't wait
on us. Just say so. and we'll go on to
the Flying Horse. We can't stay here
all day."
THAT gentleman seems in hurry"
drawled Warren derisively. you'd
better serve this to him. Well wait for
ours"
"oh. thank you. Sir" murmured the
woman gratefully, as she hastily
served the tray on the other table.
81 ordered meat tea for three" as he
returned Warren's glare.
"Yes. sir. I'll bring the rest right
away" placing before them the plain
tea-bread, butter. cake and marina.
lade.
When she came back with plate OF
cold meat. Helen saw that her hands
we're trembling. From high shelf on
the sideboard she reached for another
cup. 1t slipped from her tremulous
hold and crashed to the floor.
II say. what's the matter with her
anyway" sneered the Englishman,
when with crimson face she disap.
peared with the broken cup. She's a
bit queer. isn't she? And this is a
jolly poor tea. No watercress and no
forks" striking his plate sharply with
his knife.
In the silence that followed there
came a sound of suppressed sobs.
To Helen's surprise, Warren sud
denly started up and strobe out to-
wards the kitchen. She waited breath.
lessly. What was he going to do?
In a few moments he returned. car
rying a tray on which was dish OF
watercress, the third tea and some
forks. These he slammed down before
the astonished Englishman. Then he
stood back and announced brusquely:
THAT woman out there's up against
1t. Her brothers Just died in a French
hospital. Three weeks ago her hus-
band was killed. She's trying to keep
this place open-yet you come here
and bang on the table. Now I'm going
to pay one pound for this tea for my
self and wife-and /. as you may no.
tice, am not an Englishman! Your bill
for three teas is only six shillings-
now it's up to you!"
A dead silence as Warren took up
the tray and stalked out.
Helen, unable to bear the amazed
glances of the others, rose from the
table and ran out after him. The
kitchen was at the back. There she
found Warren calmly filling a teapot.
In small pantry adjoining. the wom-
an, her face hidden in her apron, was
sobbing convulsively.
That's right-pitch in! Cut some
bread there" ordered Warren. mo.
let her cry it out. Do her good. Well
wait on those people; that1l help
darn sight more than any maudlin SYM
pathy."
Helen's own hands trembled as she
cut the bread and put it on the tray
Then she put on the marmalade and
watercress, which was ready to serve
in small glass dishes.
"oh, wait" as Warren started in
with the tray. "oughtn't we to butter
that bread?" anxiously. "They always
dol"
well. this time they'll butter it
themselves" as he cut off lump of
butter and dabbed it on the plate with
the bread. That other couple gets
this. Now you fix some for u.s."
The kitchen and pantry were spot
lessly clean, but pathetically bare of
food. Even in her excitement Helen
noticed that. She had just fitted out
another tray when Warren appeared
with a broad grin.
They're taking up a collection. That
Englishman looked pretty sheepish.
but he came across all right. They've
got something like five pounds-and
another couple Just come in This
tray ready?"