Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-09-08

cake thickly iced with Ehite
When the men had set the table in
the dining room there was a feast in
deed.
This is a regular birthday party"
chuckled Tom us he carved the chick
en-. MAUD needn't bother about get
ting any dinner. This is good enough
for met
Suits me down to the ground"
agreed Silas Dingee. II suppose Maud
will scold when she finds I've treated
you to a picked up meal when she
likes to put on company frills when
you come down"
"Humph." shifted Tom Finch, who
was more interested In the good things
before him than he was in the elabo-
rate preparations for any meal. Seems
to me you live pretty high Didn't /
see a steak and mushrooms and some
kind Of pudding in the icebox?"
You did" said Silas cheerfully.
Those are for dinner
What is all this food for them"
Search me-" retorted Silas. Have
piece of this perfectly 'splendiferous'
birthday cakeT
Tom Finch looked rather startled and
laid down knife and fork. You are
sure-sure 1t isn't anybody's birthday"
he faltered
Silas meditated Not mine or
Maud's. 1t may be Hildas or the cats
birthday. They don't count, though.
What's that?"
That" proved to be the buzzer from
the dumbwaiter. and silas Dingee has.
tened into the kitchen and fused
around bit. Presently he returned
and sat down again.
ice cream he explained. "Maud's
evidently going to have 1t for dessert.
Funny, though, she should have or.
dered such quantity"
A feeling " apprehension settled
over the two men as they consumed
the delicious cake, which was rich
with fruit.
IF ever ! tasted birthday cake
Tom was beginning when Silas Dingee
interrupted impatiently.
Hang 1t ALL man, can't you stop
croaking? What If we have eaten ev-
cry hanged thing In the house. eh
It's my house. isn't It? I'll eat the ice
cream II want tor he ended reck.
lessly.
Lets save something for Maud"
grinned Tom Finch as he pushed back
his chair.
As he spoke the door opened hastily,
and Maud Dingee, flushed and rather
excited from her hurried trip home.
came In, followed by remarkably
pretty girl with ermine furs Struggled
around her neck.
"Tom Finch!" cried Maud, falling ON
her cousins shoulder And over his
shoulder her eyes surveyed the re-
mains of the feast.
Silas Dingee looked NJ his wife and
saw horror In her gaze She cifine for
ward and looked at the remains of the
chicken. the evidences Of salad the
bare half loaf Of bread and finally the
damaged cake
The girl in the doorway looked on
with friendly. amused eyes.
"Silas Dlngee." shrieked Maud al
last, what have you done?"
Had bite TO eat, as you told me
to-" retorted Silas deiiantly.
but-you've" voice was
close to tears nOw-"you've eaten all
the refreshments"
Refreshments for what?"
For my party"
your purity? When?"
Tonight. pooser' she sobbed angrily.
Didn't you know that this is our wed
ding anniversary and it's Polly's birth
day, and was going to have the love.
Hest surprise for you? The Campbells
are coming and the Lanes and the
Treats
Silas Dingee was pale. but he held
his ground.
How was to know. Maud?' he ex
planned.
you might have remembered the
day. she reprOached him.
81 did" he prevaricated Didn't
bring you vlolets?' Triumphantly he
produced the box OF flowers.
Still Maud eyed him suspiiously
you often bring those on ordinary oc
casions," she said, but her husband's
chagrined face quite melted her heart
so that presently she smiled and said
1t didn't matter and remembered to in
troduce Tom TO the pretty Polly In the
doorway.
Everything turned out beautifully
after all. Dingee frantically tele
phOned TO q caterer and florist and
Maud and Polly dashed around and
Strengthened up the rooms for the ex
pected company
They ate n hurried meal In the kitch
en-, Tom Finch skillfully making sand
witches for the two girls
1t was n most delightful party. Still
Dingee saw there was one tiny cloud
which even the sight OF Toms devu
ton to Polly could not lift from hi
wife's heart.
Although he did not ask for an
PLANTATION, Sllas Dingee is quite sur,
that Maud was more hurt because he
had forgotten that 1t was their wed
ding anniversary than she was over the
stolen dinner.
However. to be on the safe side, he
has carefully noted on his desk calen
dar the important date for next year
and there isn't any likelihood that he
VIII forget 1t, especially as Tom and
Polly have selected the same date for
their own wedding