Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-14

her forehead had sharply collidcd
with the edge Of the dressing table.
love, Kitten, are you hurt'"
The pain was terrific. Both hands
clasped over her forehead, she
tried to keep from screaming.
Great guns" forcing away her
hands. That's nasty bruise.
Where's that liniment:"
mo. in the pantry" she moaned.
as he started for the bathroom.
Knowing Warren could never find
anything, she staggered out after
him, her clasped hands binding one
eye.
"On the second shelby the spice
box" pushing through the pantry
door.
But Warren was not there. From
the kitchen came his brusque in
cisive:
Give me knife, Annie. l want
a piece of this raw"
Cropping her way to the kitchen
door, she saw Warren cutting slice
from the porterhouse steak that wa.
laid out ready for the broiler. while
Annie stood by in speechless amaze
ment.
BEST thing for a bruise,' he came
towards Helen. dangling the red
flesh.
"Oh, no--now shrinking from the
repulsive application.
Nov, none of. your squcamish-
ness" Then sharply to Annie. Get
something for bandage."
A illustrated search and Annie pro-
duccd all old pillow-case which she
tore into strips.
Forcing Helen into the kitchen
chair, Warren bound the meat over
the purplish, swelling bruise, tying
the bandage under her chin.
"Not a very pretty job-but it'll
stay" grimly. "Now come and lie
down. Want little brandy!"
On the library couch Helen slipped
thimble-full of brandy while War
rem piled her with vigorous ques-
ticns.
What in blazes were you trying
to do? Break your neck?"
NO, IL was just taking some
exercises"
Exercises! Gone nutty? You
we're standing on your head mutter-
ing to yourself" real concern be-
meath his brusqueness.
II was just counting. 1t said
20 minutes and | couldn't read the
clock upside down"
"See here, been out in the heat
or taken anything?" feeling her
hands and her one accessible tenn
pie for any sign of feverish deli
rum.
Mono" The brandy giving her
courage, she pushed him away. IF
you stand on your head for. 20
minutes, it's-well, it's healthy" not
wishing to admit to Warren's mer-
ciless sccfiing her morbid dread Of
old age.
"Oh, it is, is it? Where'd you get
that brilliant idea?"
There's an article about it in the
April Welfare"
Demanding the magazine, he has
tily scanned the "Why Grow Old'
article.
Helen WINGED under his jeering
comments as he quoted several
paragraphs and finally the eloquent
line that closed the article:
"'As free gift to mankind I
have here embodied the principle
of this simple, practical, yet basi-
cally scientific method of indefi-
nitely retaining the. buoyancy
and beauty Of youth
"Of all the blooming rot! | be-
gin to get it nova new beauti1ying
stunt!' He flung down the mag
azine. "Well, you certainly got quick
results. Ought to send in a testl-
monial with a photo as you look
now. That bump will decorate your
bean for some time"
Its because you startled me-
didn't think you'd come home so
early"
Mighty glad I did. What little
brains you've got would've leaked
out if you'd stood around on your
head much longer. Why my paJa-
mas? They part of the system?
"Oh, IL forgot" Flushing,
Helen wrapped the couch cover
about her grotesque garb, of which
she had been mercifully unconscious.
Tim all right now. I'll go get
dressed" eager to escape.
"Nell, don't touch that bandage,
sternly. THAT stays on all night"
Then with a grin, "And you get no
steak for dinner-remember that.
You've got your portion plastered on
your mapp
Next Week-Helen's Economies
Intrude on a Company Dinner.
(Copyright, 1921, by Mabel Herbert