Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-17

did not. She tOyed with q ron and
crumbled II with her nervous fingers
And she did not even taste the won
derful stew.
"Jane. you're the sIlliest girl ever
saw" commented Mrs. Carter, as she
ate the good things provided by their
italian host with Q relish. 81 really
think that, with as good husband az
you have, Jane, you ought to show q
little self-control and confidence. You
are jealous now, aren't your"
II am not Jealous" fiared Jane.
"only why on earth did Bob tell me
he was coming here when he dldnt
intend to at all. he knew 1 wouldn't
come here-I never would have, IL II
hadn't been for you. All the time he
intended to have lunch some place
else"
"Of course, what you're thinking,
Jane, is that he is having lunch some
where else with somebody else, isn't
it?"
"Well, I'd like to know how I can
help thinking thatw
Mrs Carter lifted the thick little
cup Of black coffee to her lips and
then ate her last morsel of cheese.
when your father and 1 were
young, Jane"
"Oh, please don't go and preach
about you and father. OF course, you
never got Jealous. But father prob.
ably never did thing like this"
Jane pulled her fur collar about her
neck. II suppose that hateful, In.
gratiating little man knows I'm mad"
she thought. But the proprietor
bowed with nn inscrutible smile as
they left the restaurant.
When Jane got home she first de.
clded to make some sandwiches and
leave them, with pitcher of milk, on
the dining-room table, and then 90 to
bed with a pretended headache. But
after she had thought the matter over
little she went to work to prepare a
dinner Of unusual excellence.
"Tll just let him know I'm not jeal.
Gus, anyway" thought Jane. "And I'll
never tell him went to his horrld old
lunch place, either. If that proprietor
don't tell him--but, then, of course, he
won't"
Jane hustled about planning and
cooking dinner. Then she dressed In
a frock that Bob especially liked, and
when he came In was ready to greet
him with more than her usual enthus.
iasm. So intent was she on her effort
not to seem peeved that at first she
did not notice Bob's grouchiness. But
when he sat down opposite her at din.
ner she saw his frOwn, an unusual
thing with Bob.
"Where did you lunch today?" His
first words were disturbingly direct.
"Why-at the Ivy Lane" lied Jane
quickly.
Bob looked at her keenly. Sudden
ly the tables were turned and Jane
to be on the defensive. Bob
had asked her the one question that
she longed to ask him.
"At the Ivy Lane, did your What
timer
"Oo--at one; yes, ut one."
"That's mighty strange" said Bob,
and quick look of distrust came into
his face.
"Oh, Bob, don't look at me like
that! 1 didn't have lunch there at all.
L"
swell, then, why did you say you
were going tot"
"Pd like to know what right you
have to get cross about where had
lunch. Where did you have lunch"
"Why, at the Ivy Lane. hate those
tea rooms. But you seemed SO cut
up about it when 1 said 1 couldn't !!
come up that hustled up there, and
then you weren't there"
"Bobp Jane was out of her chair |
and around at his side In a moment. |
bob, listen to me. 1 had lunch down |
at your grubby little Italian place. |
Mother and thought we'd come down |
and surprise you-and then you were |
not there-and thought"
what did you think, janet"
"Oh, don't know what thought |
But 1 think you're the most wonder
full man alivev