Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-02-19
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s.THOSE MINCE PIES 5
By MARY POWER.

Covers were laid for three. Eric
porr declares the mince pies led up to
1t. Mrs. Deane slyly hints some credit
Is due her since she herself was indi-
rectly responsible for the unlighted
gas jet at the head Of the stairs. Miss
Barbara, however, keeps mum. It hap
pened like this:
Eric had fallen asleep over a game
or solitaire. He awakened with start
when the improvised table across his
knees, with the cards atop. tumbled
n"isily to the floor. He frowned at his
watch which said eight o'clock.
Suddenly Eric shifted eagerly. An
aroma, a delicious honey smell, filtered
mo the room. It was the unmistak-
able OdOr of mince pies. Craning his
neck. he beheld several succulent
brown things ON the ledge of the win
dow directly below.
lie liked his present quarters i'm
meusely. Mrs. Deane. the landlady.
was a rare motherly soul. And there
was Teddyboy across the hall, dear,
loNable kiddie. Teddyboy was seven.
br"Nn-eyed and wistful. Yesterday
the child had said:
"Wisht Corp'ral Jim'd come home
for the party" Eric's hand had trem-
ble,l as 1t stroked the soft. yellow hair.
Corporal Jim" would never come
holne--aas!
Such mOrbldness! Eric swung
around. Those mince pies had upset
him. He would go for stroll.
He found the hall in darkness-an
unusual thing. .---,
door below opened softly and
someone swiftly assembled the stairs.
Dazedly, Eric drew aside. Immediate
ly there was a smothered shrek and,
with presence Of mind, Eric reached
! out.
Her surprised cry had betrayed her
sex, while the quiverng of the supple
| young body, held close, told him she
was mere slip of girl. The thump,
humping of the bundles as they
bounded downward proclaimed pre-
vious shopping expedition. Ard then
she laughed, a little sheepish laugh.
which straightway broke the tension.
"AlI right, kiddie," he told her, "hOld
tight. I'll light up" The light flick
cred garishly.
She was a dainty creature, to be
sure; sweet and pretty. But a kid
die! The mlschievous twinkle in he's
dark, pansy eyes made him chuckle
inwardly. Then, with guilty flush,
| he noted the miscellaneous collection
Of eatables adjoining the stairs.
Through its covering Of stout brown
paper the leg OF q plump chicken pro-
truded. Midway below reposed q
bunch of celery. And cranberries!
There were other things; clusters OF
grapes, oranges, a bottle Of olives lay
at his feet. Mechanically, he stopped.
She bestirred herself. They're all
of them all right. shall wash them.
of course: one mustn't be too waste
full. Mrs. Deane is out" she apol-
cgized, land I was to light up. But
I've been cooking, and thought you"
she blushed for no apparent reason
-,"mOst of the roomers are away.
was fetching these things up for Ted
dyboy's inspection. We're to have .
regular party tomorrow.
'Im glad 1t wasn't my mince pies"
she dimpled up at him.
"Um-m, yes, smelled EN-" he
smacked his lips boyishly.
"Oh, Captain Dorr,' irrelevantly,
'Teddyboy told me all about you.
You've room directly over my kitch-
enette. hope 1 don't disturb YOU"
Anxi0usly.
He hastily treasured her. She
smiled her appreciation, then sudden
ly her face grew grave.
"Teddyboy says you were at s.
. where our Jim was k-killed." Her
chin fell. "I-we-miss him sol"
He Sensed the inevitable heartache.
"Are you sure yOu want--the detailsF'
, he asked gently. She nodded bravely.
He tried to tell her.
! "And he was there, brave laddie, in
the thickest Of the fray, calamity fight
ing. when" His voice trailed on
= huskily. IF only we might have ex-
| changed places" he added bit fierce
a ~. HE had so much to live for,
while II had nobody who cared.
But escaped unscathed," bitterly.
But" She wondered at the scar
near his temple.
"Oh. thatT'-casual like-"Bayonet
\ thrust" succinctly.
! "O-O-Oh"
They had finished the task now. The
bundles were heaped on the bottom
stair. There was an awkward pause
Eric found his heart pounding furi'
Ously, she looked so wan and droopy'
J like.
II "He often mentioned Teddyboy out
there. And you-he called you Bah
sie.'"
| A queer, thrOaty sound issued from
Ill ho- line lilo a cob held in check Their