The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-09-18
Wames
II
By R. RAY BAKER
Copyright. 1919. By the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.l

sic and the other was waffieS. He
never got enough of either.
He could have eaten waffles, with
butter and maple strip; three times
day; but he let his good sense guide
him sufficiently to cut it down to
one.
Usually 1t was in the evening that
he went to McSwenson's cafe to in
dulge in the delicacy that he craved
constantly. They had TO be good
wafles; they had to be made just
right, and McSwenson's was the only
place in town that could please him.
For q year or more he had been a
patron of the place, and for only two
weeks of that period was he dissatis-
fed with the waf1es he obtained.
Dale knew something was wrong
the minute the hot, hOneycombed cake
was set before him. It looked too pale
to suit him.
"a new cook making Them" he told
himself. in tones akin to CONSERVATION.
''Tll bet Jat's quit her job"
He sampled the waffle and then got
up and left 1t. It didn't taste right.
"Got a new cook ?" he inquired Of the
waiter, and held his breath until the
latter answered:
mo: Jat's just gone on two
weeks vacation. She's coming back
all right"
So Dale went without wafles for
two weeks. and was happy when Jat
returned to her post in the kitchen.
No one else could satisfy the craving
Of his inner man.
After his evening meal Dale usually
went to a musical show, whenever he
could find one, which was not often,
because the town was small and theat-
rical attractions not up to high stand
ard.
Finally he bought q photograph, and
that helped some, although nothing
could take the place of a real live mu-
sician. He tried to be one himself, but
his voice had no more music than a
cowbell, and he simply couldn't make
his fingers behave on the strings of
violin; much less could he master the
art of reading notes.
Came the day when Jat did quit her
Job at McSwenson's, and that day
found sorrow in Dale's heart. Life
would never be the same. He searched
place where he could get waff1es that
were halfway good, but nowhere near
~ as satisfactory as those that Jat
had made.
"Why didn't 1 get acquainted with
that girl and marry herr" he asked
himself many a time as he bit into
q sirup-covered cake and shook his
head dismally over the taste of it.
''But it wouldn't have worked out
right" he would add, because I've
got to have music. too, and can you
picture a restaurant cook singing the
'MiserereT"
Finally Dale outgrew the town and
went to the city to try his~luc In
his birthplace he had made fair
living as a building contractor, but he
had worked hard. In the city he hap
pened to strike it just right, and he
accumulated a great deal more money
with much less effort. Less than two
years after his change he had a small
fortune in the bank and a magnificent
home on a fashionable street; but
there were two things lacking-a COM
panion to share the home and an eff
cient ''waff1er." He advertised far
and wide, and tried out at least twenty
cooks, but none could he find to I'LL
the BILL
OF music there was a plenty. Near
~ every night found Dale at theater,
usually one where a musical comedy
or grand opera was the attraction. So
he was well satisfied on that score.
The fact that his palatial home was
a rather deselate place, because there
was no one to share it, created a
yearning in his heart. and soon he be
gan looking about for some one to
make him a suitable wife. He found
her in grand opera.
= Jessie Fairburn was the prima dom
ma In the Acme Musical Concert COM
pany, and she became the object OF
Dale's admiration-first because Of her
voice, and second because OF her phys
ica1 charms-from the time his eyes
first rested upon her.
Having a friend who knew a man
who was well acquainted with the
manager Of the theater, he contrived to
get an Introduction, and during the
month that the company remained the
attraction there he wooed the new
found ideal. at the end of the month
the company went on the road, but
with a new prima donna. Jessie had
consented to occupy the big house with
Dale.
Then how that house did resound
with music! Jessie also was motor
enthusiast aad Dale boue at her eai
that she pronounced perfection. Ev
cry afternoon she would take long
drive, usually with woman friend
forbade seldom could get away from
business.
Now there was only one thing need
ed to make his happiness complete
That necessary element was cook
who could make the right kind Of waf
fles. He continued his search. but his
efforts were fr1itless.
At last he gave up IN disgust. There
was only one chance left, and 1t looked
hopeless. He would try making waf
fleS himself.
One afternoon, while his wife was
; away on a drive, and he had cleaned