The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-09-17
By SEWELL FORD

name on the menu. ELMER had the
same chance that / had, only he
wouldn't take it. l even offered 20
help him get a start in the same line
I'd gone into. But no, he would stick
to the little one-horse town. Said he
didn't like the city. Wanted to get
out and moon around over the hills,
watch the birds and all that tommyrot.
Mushy, sentimental cuss, Elmer
You'd never think we were brothers
at all. l tried to talk some sense into
his head. No use. He thought he
knew.
$50 by the time I had piled up my
first ten thousand and bought a third
interest in the business Elmer was
still raising a few chickens and fuss
ing with flowers. The last time was
back there made him one more offer
which he turned down. l told him
was through-then there was Kitty"
Girl in the case, too, was there?"
Ridley mods. "One of the finest"
says he. when first went away she
half promised to wait until l came
back for her. l thought she would,
too. Oh, I don't mean that | wrote
her every week, or anything like that.
suppose I'd been playing around
some with others, too. But when
found her again, looking sweeter and
daintier than ever, l knew she was
the only one. I told her so. But she
didn't care to listen. 1t seems Elmer
had cut me out She was teaching
school and waiting until Elmer could
save up enough to marry her. AS
though Elmer ever would. l put 1t
to him fiat, tried to show what an i'll
justice it was to Kitty and to me.
But all l could get out of Elmer was a
sheer and an invitation to win Kitty
if could, and if couldn't to clear out
and let him alone. So cleared sout
and l haven't heard from hirp since"
More than thirty years. says
Ridley 81 wonder i this-this Elmer
Hatch could be the say, Shorty,
here come the waitress. Suppose you
sound her out a bit"
Sure" says l. And while the girl
is settin' up the table I proceeded to
quiz her. u say, sister," says !, "who
is this Hatch party that runs the
place."
"You mean Elmer?" says she. why
he-hes just Elmer, you know"
81 see," says l, nudgin' Ridley
Somewhere around, is he?"
"0h, yes" says she. Hes In the
kitchen"
sort of superintendent, eh?" sug
gests.
Hes broiling the chickens" says
she. Hes the cook"
"You don't say says l. "A man
cook? What sort of party now, is
this Elmer"
"Why, he's awfully NICE" says the
girl. Everybody likes Elmer, you
you know"
"Of course there is" says the girl.
What does she do while Elmers
cooking?" l asks.
"Why, she manages things" says
the girl. "Shes awfully smart, Mrs
Hatch is"
81 expect she has first name, too?'
suggests.
"Oh, yes" says the girl ELMER
calls her Kitty"
There you are, Ridley" says l, as
tn waitress fits back towards the
kitchen. "Odd, amt it?"
Its all of that" says he. So Elmer
has dropped to this-cook in road
house; while Kitty is-say, l wonder
what Kitty thinks of him now?''
There's no tellin," says l. MAYBE
she thinks he's a good cook. Well
soon have a chance to judge for our
selves"
"S-s-sh!" says Ridley. Here's
Gladys. She mustn't know"
But, Gladys has made discovery
of her own that she's enthusiastic
about Say, Dearie," she breaks out
"you ought to see the swell old ma
hogany in there. Every room just
full of it, and the dearest lot of old
braided rugs. There's the incest
landlady, too; oh, a perfect peach,
with gray hair and natural pink in her
cheeks and the stunningest figure
But perhaps I'd better not let you see
her. You'd fall for that sweet voice
Of hers, even if she isn't as young
as she was once. No, I think you'd
better stay out How about that
broiled chicken?"
Coming up" says I, as the wait
ress staggers in with a big tray.
Uh-huh! 1t was the real article, the
kind blamed few mothers used to
make. And the waffles-M-m-m-m!
Some cook, I'll tell the jury" says
Gladys. Lets steal her, Dearie, and
start housekeeping
There's a proposition for you,
Ridley says l, grinnin'.
Careful, Shorty" says he, cor
you'll start something. 1t doesn't
happen, Gladys, to be a her They
have a he-cook here"