The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-10-11

60 out and get real meal"
But Helen had already darted into
her room to dress. Not waiting to
brush her hair. she covered 1t with a
boudoir cap, threw on a loose negligee
and huttered out to the kitchen.
Warren's sighting comments on her
culinary inefficiency were not wholly
undeserved. for about cooking Helen
was painfully slow.
This lack Of speed was due partly
to inexperience and partly to her fas-
tidious overcleanliness. Every pot or
pan that she took from the shelves
had to be thoroughly rinsed before 1t
was used and every fork and spoon
held under the running water.
When she finally got the coffee
started. she rushed in to set the table.
Freshly groomed and with brisk
alertness that made Helen conscious
Of her own dishevelment, Warren now
strobe out.
where's the paper2"
at hasn't been brought in. Wait,
I'll get it,
Outside the kitchen door were the
paper, bread and a bottle Of milk.
Dear, it'll be quicker If I don't
make toast. Do you mind?"
Hand out anything you've GOT
only hurry. Quarter of eight now."
Helen flew back to the kitchen to
the distasteful task Of cutting the ba-
con. With childish, squeamish dread
Of touching anything greasy, gingerly
she unwrapped the fat, oily strip.
Warren always wanted his bacon
thin and crisp. but in her hurry, and
with a not Oversharp knife, she cut
1t in thick uneven slices.
"Get a move on out there" impa-
tiently from the dining room.
'Here, dear, start on this" running
in with hastily cut, seed-bristling
grapefruit.
"Where the deuce do you keep the
napkins2" Warren was rummaging in
the sideboard drawer.
"Oh, wait. that's not napkin r. res
cuing one Of her best doilies from his
crumpling grasp. "They'Be down
here"
Powdered sugar-and another
spoonl Did you think you'd set this
tablet"
The dumb waiter buzzer was clam
oring for the garbage. Helen sour
ried back to lift on the heavy, un-
savoSy can and a bulging bundle Of
papers. Her flowing negligee. imprac-
teal in the kitchen, caught on every.
thing. until, distracted, she stopped to
pin It up.
In maddening succession came the
ice, the mail. the returned garbage
can and q man to look at the gas me-
ter.
Helen was always ut a disadvantage
when she was hurried. II she had
known she was to get breakfast she
would have got up in time. But now
her haste left her nervously flustered.
She was doing everything with the
most cumbersome and time-consumina
indirectness.
Awkwardly she scraped from the
skillet the egg she had Just dropped
In. Warren would not eat broken
yolk. She broke two more, but in
both a thin run Of yellow streaked the
white.
"Get DOWN. Grossly. elbowing the
importuning Pussy Purr-Mew on the
kitchen table.
"See here. I've got to get to the Of.
nee sometime today" Warren was
glowering from the doorway.
"Just a moment, dear. Here, you
can take in the coffee. Don't set II
on the cloth. Wait. take this mat"
When she finally brought in the
bacon and eggs, he was stirring q
muddy cup Of coffee with unfeigned
disgust.
"Oh, I'm afraid forgot to settle
It'll"
"Talk about incompetent maids,
with a snort. "If you're 80 blamed
incompetent yourself-no wonder they
put 1t all over you"
"But, dear, 80 rarely have chance
in the kitchen. Dora resents it-they
all do"
"Well, If you'd spend half the time
on straight, plain cooking that you dc
on mayonnaise, fancy salads and all
the other fool kickshaws. you'd know
how to fry bacon and eggs. Huh, this
layout's a fine looking mess" scowling
Mt the broken eggs and thick, greasy
bacon.
"Those yolks are so thin-skinned.'
apologetcally, "you can't help break
ing them. oh, wait, forgot the but
ter"
Returning with a freshly cut square
| of butter, Helen was confronted by
Warren's pushed-back. empty chair.
"Why, dearI" rushing out in the
dim hall where he was jerking on his
overcoat.
"Tm off for q decent breakfast
downtown" stamping on his over
shoes. Hereafter when the girls out
of commission-we'll beat it to the
nearest restaurant. Understand? Well