South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-09
WHY -sIADGE FELT STRANGELY
ANNOYED AT A PHONE MES
SAGE FROM DICKY.
That you, Madge .


into his voice when he asks some
favor of me which ne knows Is un-
reasonable.
Yes" I answered. smiling TO my
self. What is il. dear?''
Would it put you out very much
II l brought a man home TO dinner
md TO stay the night?''
why. no." / answered promptly.
although / was not especially joy
ful at the prospect DO know
him?"
mo, but for that matter, neither
do 1. Met him at lunch today, and
he seemed 10 take an unaccountable
interest in yours truly, especially
when 1 began TO tell him about our
shack there. Guess he wants 10 get
place in the country.
Anyway. you know me. The bril-
liant thought struck me that it
would be a good idea 10 show off
beautiful loving wife and country
home TO lonely bachelor. hence my
invitation, which he grabbed pronto.
So do your prettiest. sweetheart.
Well be there about 6 o'clock Hope
II won't Inconvenience you. So long.
I hung up the receiver with "A dis
tinct feeling Of annoyance at Dicky.
IL was not the first time he had
phoned to tell me he was bringing a
guest 10 dinner but always before il
had been some one 7 had met at
least once. And there was something
about Dickys meeting with this man
and the circumstances of the invita-
ton that made me dread 10 meet him
He must be a rarely critical person,
indeed. for Dicky TO wish TO show
or his home TO him. I knew Dicky
well enough TO detect under his non
sense a real desire 20 have the house,
the dinner and my own appearance
as creditable as I could make them.
OF course. the first consideration
was the dinner. knew if that went
off well the rest OF my problem would
he easy. Katie always keeps the
house in exquisite order. for she is
the kind of woman who's never
happy unless she has broom in one
hand and a busting cloth i'm the
other. 1 knew that if 1 personally
attended TO the room the guest was
to occupy. the arrangement OF the
dinner table and such flowers as I
wished to get. Katie would do the
rest.
/ sat down in my big Preside chair
and planned the menu.
What Madge Planned
oysters. of course. for anyone COM
ing out 10 dinner on the south shore
OF Long Island would expect oysters
fresh from the bay" L could send
Jim 10 the harbOr for them any time
during the forenoon
The rest of the dishes 1 picked be-
cause OF Katie proficiency in cooking
them. Her cream OF celery soup is
always excellent, and 1 have taught
her TO roast fowls according to an old
recipe of my mothers. until they
would-as Dicky says-Snake a man
forget his home in the enjoyment OF
their lusci0usness. For vegetables |
planned scalloped potatoes and new
snap beans.
/ decided not 10 have fish course
and. as II was so late in the winter
10 have a spring salad OF watercress
cucumbers and chives. with French
dressing Then one OF Kaue's des-
serts. with cheese and coffee. would
complete a dinner which I felt rea-
sonably sure would appeal TO any
hungry man, even il ne were as cri.
tical as Dicl<y's manner indicated.
As / neared the kitchen I heard
Jim's voice. roughly tender.
Never mind, kid. don't you care
II will come out right never fear
and Katie's subdued smile in re.
turn. stopped outside the door. no
Wishing 10 intrude upon them. won.
deringly vaguely what was trOubling
Katie. Then I heard the outsid,
door close. and the clatter OF pan.
upon the stove. and knew that Kat,
was at work again.
/ saw traces OF tears upon her fac,
as 7 entered the room. but decided
20 ignore them. especially as I saw
Katie keep her face averted from
me as much as possible. She evi
IDENTITY did not wish me 20 know sh,
had been weeping.
katie ] made my voice as brisl
and matter of-fact as possible. sus
pecting that the stimulus OF a din
ner for a guest would do her good
Mr.. Graham has just telephonec
that he WILL bring a man home To-
dinner tonight. He will stay al
night and be here fer breakfast il
the morning 7 want an especially
nice dinner. with one OF those delici
Gus pink puddings OF yours. yol
know the kind you made for Mr.
Graham's mother the INST dinne
she ate with Is"
What Ais Katie?
II was an unfortunate reference
katie's face hardened.
Il know" she said. dot tim
water got on one side. she find out
no touch. ! no like dot old woman
hope she not COON back for Ions
long time
or course. / should have re
proved the girl. but ! knew by tn
traces Of tears on her cheeks tina