Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-12-03

SHORTY 0tter Billy ltonurlCk en-
gagement to Nan Dlsston he made a
discovery. 1t had to do solely with
Mans lips Billy learned that when
she pronounced the childhood shihbo-
leth, "prunes and prisms," Mans mouth
shaped Itself into a delicious pout.
Bily made the most of his dlscov-
cry, but with the instinct of the true
scientist forbore making use OF his
knowledge save on exceptional occa-
sious When the inevitable. though
fortunately infrequent lovers quurrels
occurred, Billy always played his
ace with Say 'prunes and prisms,
Nan, dear And with Mans lips say
ing very plainly, please kiss me- Old
Man Gloom always took to ignominous
flight.
With the entrance Of America into
the world war came the first rift in
Mans happiness, for she learned that
Billy had signed on for the first
Plattsburg camp. 1t took more than
one repetition of the "prunes and
prSms' formula before Nan became
entirely reconciled to Billys taking
the plunge, and then with charaCteris-
tic spirit Nan resigned her own job as
stenographer with a local realty firm
and entered the government service
as u yeonan C).
Billy won his shoulder bars with no
trouble whatever and went overseas
In the fall of 1917. Four days before
he entrained for Halifax Nan became
Mrs Billy Hendricl. Their honey
moon lasted brief six hours, and
Billy had to resort to ''prunes and
prisms' again before he could coax the
slightest semblance Of a smile to
Mans face.
II know it's foolish, Billy, dear" she
said. "But it's So hard TO lose you
the minute I've got you. But you'll
came bnck again, Billy Boy, won't
your
And Billy promised, though bit
soberly.
Followed months OF loneliness for
Nan, relieved by Billy's frequent let
tiers. Then, when Billy mad moved up
to the front line, came weeks of anX-
iousness and suspense for Nan, for
with the Yanks at grips with the Hun,
Billy's steady flow of letters stopped
And then on Armistice day, with a
city full Of joyous, shrieking half
crazy patriots, the blow fell.
"Regret to report Lieut. William
Hendrick seriously wounded in action
September %" read the telegram from
the war department
Weeks of uncertainty finally gave
place to throb of joy. Billy was com
ing home again-the effects Of his gas
sing practically gone, but still with
nerves shattered.
In the spring Billy came home again
IA bit wan, and with nerves still on
edge, but cheerful and optimistic with
al.
Everything would be fine and
dandy, dear" he told Nan, "if | were
only earning our bread and butter in
stead of you"
"The first hundred years are the
hardest" smiled Nan cheerfully.
where do we eat today, Billy Boy?'
"Anywhere, so long as 1t is quiet"
returned Billy. 81 confess these down
town eating places do get on my
nerves a bit"
Nell pondered. II know the very
place." she replied. Come on"
Fine" commented Billy. Food
very fair and rooms quiet Everything
'beaucoup except that it's SO darn
dark"
Nan thought bit. Finally, "Prunes
and prisms, Billy" she breathed eX-
citedly.
Huh? What's the idea, with the
whole room full?"
mo, not this time; Billy Boy. I've
got big idea Gregolre wants to sell
out. Let's buy. I've got every cent of
your allotments still, and some Of my
salary. We can swing it Just as easy"
"But what's prunes and prisms got
to do with it?"
"Prunes for our speciality. Prune
whip, prune soufle, jellied prunes,
prune glace-oh, hundreds Of ways :.
Wen glorify the humble pIune and
make it famous"
"And prisms?' suggested Billy.
"Prlsmatic glass in the windows.
You said the room was dark. 1t won't
be with prismatic glass. Come on,
dear; let's get started"
And inside of week Gregoire's
changed hands. Blly's naturally ar
tistic taste came into play in newly
decorating the rooms in "A scheme of
quiet gray, with white chintz at the
windows "Of prismatlc glass" accord
ing 10 Mans specifications. The sign
over the door, Of course, read "Prunes
and Prlsms," with an explanatory line,
IT'S where you eat"
The oddly of the name was suffi-
cient TO attract attention And Nan
saw to 1t that food and service were
such that transient patrons became
regulars. The new venture was sue
cessful from the start, and with some