The Washington herald., 1917-10-29

her tray and his, which he took with
a protesting grunt as he followed her
down the line.
The cold table came first with fruit.
apple sauce, and an amazing variety
of fancy salads. The steam table
proper came next. Only n few of the
big copper receptacles were filed as
it was too early for lunch. but there
were fried and broiled fish. corned
beef hash, and stewed tripe. Beyond
this was the dessert table with a be-
wildering assortment of pies and lay
er-cake.
Where d'you get bacon and eggs?"
glowered Warren.
"Oh. they don't cook anything to
order-but there's fish. Dear, that
fried perch looks delicious"
As Warren stood holding his tray
with awkward incompetency. Helen
left her own and helped him select
his breakfast. CantaloGpe. fried perch,
coffee from the steaming nickel urn,
two ? cent mullins and a l cent pat
of butter.
His check punched, she sav him
safely settled at a nearby table-his
Grumbl!ng comments silenced in the
pink-meated cantaloupe.
Hurrying back to her own tray,
she was free for a leisurely selection.
Scorning cantaloupe. obtainabie every
morning. she concentrated on the
fancy salads-delectable mayonnaised
mounds on crisp salad leaves. IAN
salads 10 cents" was the alluring
sign over the table.
Gloatingly, Helen chose two
funny with green peppers and cream
cheese with nuts and celery. The
steam table she passed with hardly
glance. This breakfast was to be
unique. Ignoring all orthodox
breakfast rules, she would have
only the things she really loved
which she rarely had.
The layer cake was her next OBJ
jective. Orange, chocolate, cocoa
nut, and lemon jelly We're a few of
the various filings between the
white or gold layers She decided
on white cake with banana cream
hlling and thick soft frosting. A
saucer of stewed figs. a cup of cof-
Zee, then back to the salad counter
for dill pickle. and Helen's eyre
glous breakfast was complete.
We'll, what did you drawn"
grunted Warren, finishing the can
taloupe as she came up. Then star
ing at her tray, For the love of
Nike"
I can have a regular breakfast
any time" defiantly. "I wanted
something different"
We'll, you've got it, with n dis
gusted sniff. "Of all the BLOOMING
messes! You might have that Law
out wished on you at an afternoon
bridge, but can't imagine any sane
person choosing it,"
don't see why salad isn't all
right for breakfast-more digestibIa
than bacon" spooning a mayonnaised
morseL IT'S all a matter of habit" I"
one that's pretty universal. I'd be
SICK as dog if ate that mixture"
HoW's your fish, dear?p to divert
MS attention from her tray.
Fair. grudgingly. Flag that girl
Tor glass of water"
She only clears the tabIes-vo
nave to wait on ourselves. I'll get # &"
From the cooler at the end of the
counter. she brought back two glasses
and an extra pat of butter, for which
warren had called after her
How about that cOrned beef hashop
as he finished the fried perch.
'Oh, it looked delicious. Would Won
like some?" N
Taking his check. Helen darted tri-
umphantly back to the steam table.
IL WAS good food, she eXuIted
When with undiminished relish War.
rem attacked the delicately Drowned
corned beef hash with a second cun of
coffee. 'A
His wants finally appeased, Helen
turned to the enjoyment of her own
breakfast. The two salads, dill picklo
ana slice Of raisin bread, formed
the first course, followed bv the figs
ana the deliciously moist layer cake,
wen, what does all that come to-"
demanded Warren. draining his CUP.
~ our checks Sc cents" scanning
the punched figures, and mines only
AZ cents"
Great Scott! Get all that for
nlnety-eight?" Then, fumblinr in his
pockets, who d you tip here?'
Why, there's nobody to tin we
waited on ourselves"
But Warren left Is cents under his
plate for the girl who cleared the
tables. ''i'
Showing a dollar bill through the
cashiers window, he pocketed the two
pennies with an embarrassed grin
breakfast for two-gs cents Must
We struck bargain day."
And wasn't everything delicious >.
glowed Helen when they came out on
the street. Its cost us s.. so or more
every morning at the hotel-and what
did we nave? Just fruit, coffee. bacon
hak n.