The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-25
EVENING STORY
Wames.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

l
appetite for two things. One was
music and the other was waffles. He
never got enough of either.
He could have eater waffles. with
butter and maple syrup, three times |
a day; but he let his good sense guide
him sufficiently to cut 1t down to one.
Usually it was in the evening that
he went to McSwensons cafe to in
dulge in the delicacy that he craveo
constantly. They had to be good wal
files; they had to be- made just right, |
and McSwensons was the only place
in town that could please him.
For a. year or more he had been
patron of the place, and for only two
weeks of that period was he dissahs-
fled with the waffles he obtained.
Dale knew something was wrong
the minute the hot, honeycombed
cake was set before him. 1t looked
too pale to suit him.
"A new cook making them" he told
himself in tones akin to consterna-
ton. "Ill bet Jat's quit her job"
He sampled the waffle and then got
up and left it. 1t 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 waffles 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 usual
! ly went to a musical show. whenever
he could find one, which was not
| often, because the town was small and
| theatrical attractions not up to high
| standard. ~
Finally he bought a photograph,
| y olf III r1
could take the place of a real live
musician. 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 a violin, much less to mas
II ter 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 the town over and finally To-
Gated a place where he could get waf-
files that were halfway good but no.
| where nearly so satisfactory as those
that Jat- had made.
why didn't I get acquainted with
that girl and marry her?" he asked
syrup-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 pic
ture a restaurant cook singing the
| 'Miserere?'~ -s'.A
Finally Dale outgrew5 the town and
| went to the big city to try his luck.
In his birthplace he had made a fair
living as a building contractor, but
he had worked hard. In the city he
happened 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
ma gnificent home on a fashionable
fng-a companion to share the home
and an efficient "waffier." He adver-
tised far and wide, and tried out at
least twenty cooks, but none could he
find to fill the bill. =
OF music there was a plenty. Near
ly every night found Dale at a theater,
usually one where a musical comedy
or grand opera was the attraction. So
he was well satisfied OIL that score.
The fact that his palatial home was
rather desolate 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.
Il Jessie Fairburn was the prima
donna in the Acme Musical Concert
Company, and she became the object
of Dale's admira t1on-first because OF
her voice, and second because of her
physical charms-from the time his
eyes first rested upon her,
Having a friend who knew 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 c,rirna donna. Jessie had
, consented IT, ,cupy the big house with
Dale.
Then how that house did resound
with, music! jesse also was motor
enthusiast, and Dale bought her q
car that she pronounced perfection
Every afternoon she would take q
long drive, usually with a woman
, friend, for Dale 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
waffies. He continued his search, but
, his efforts were fruitless.
At last he gave UP in disgust. There
| was only one chance left, and il
looked hopeless. He would try max
ing waff1es himself
One afternoon, while his wife was
away on a drive. and he had cleaned
up his work sooner than usual. he
came home, went into the kitchen and
unearthed a cook book. in which he
found a recipe that suited his pur-
pose. So he donned< an apron and
proceeded to cover himself and a good
share of his surroundings with -four
milk and eggs. But somehow he man
aged to.zeoncoct yellow mess that
looked as If it might do.
In a drawer of the cupboard Dale
found. a small brush, and with this he
smeared the waffle-iron thoroly with
grease. The brush was an old one,
however, and a number of the bristles
played truaEt and stuck to the irons.
I r. 0lv r,fctSiro off the