Evening star., 1921-10-09

provided and threw one knee comfor-
tably over one arm of 1t. he ran his
fingers through his hair, smiled at
his audience and opened his book. He
the pages. turned the book over.
Somebody has handed me the
double cross" he said. Some guy
has pinched by tome and handed me
a lemon"
What is wrong?" asked Mrs. Jack
Somebody pinched my poems and
gave me a cook book" said Benny.
"'Aunt> James Cook Book" he read.
1.-Two thousand cho ee recipes for
the kitchen and the chafng dish.
Compiled by twenty-four of america s
most noted culinary artists. Price 81
net Well, no matter! 1t will all be
the same in thousand years"
But it does matter! exclaimed Mrs.
Jackson, vigorously.
Not a Bit" said Benny, Il can
read this just as well. Good home
stuff, free from Objectionable fea-
lures. 1 will read first" he said.
turning the pages, "a little thing en-
titled 'Eggless Angel Food page ass.
top of the page"
please. MIR Barrr said Mrs jack
son. pleadingly.
Now. here!" said Benny. who is
doing this reading, you or me? II
you are, go ahead and read. l don't
care. You don't think l enjoy coming
out here in the woods and reading
to lot of-of ladies. do you? Let
me read what l want to. Honest, !
get so tired reading those same old
poems over and over that this will
be a pleasure. 'Eggless Angel Food.
Take one cup of butter and mix well
with"
Mrs. JACKSON stepped back and
A'A clasped and unclasped her hands
nervously while Benny read the recipe
from start to finish. He kept time
with the words by swinging his foot
back and forth as it hung over the
arm of the chair. He ended and
turned over a few pages.
1.-The next number on the pro-
gram," said Benny, sis "A Digestible
Welsh Rabbit Clarence, before 1 dip
into this little gem. suppose you hand
me cigarette
Mrs. Jackson made a gesture of
hopeless despair and James brought
Benny a cigarette and light.
UNI" said Benny, drawing a lung
full of smoke, and he threw his other
knee over the chair arm beside its
fellow. Thus comfortably arranged,
he rested his head on the opposite
Digestible Welsh Rabbit" he read.
Take one pound of fresh cheese
and slice into straws. Put half bot
tie of beer'-that sounds good to
me-'into the chafing dish, and when
well heated add one teaspoonful of
salt one mustard spoonful of cay
Benny raised his head and looked
at Eleanor.
Don't bother about me. kid" he
said. Il like these. This is some
book. Things in this book 1 never
imagined in my life"
But you know, Reginald" said
Eleanor, you came out to read your
own poems to the ladies. I'm sure
, they don't care to hear cooking recipes" "
lis that so!" said Benny. And
suppose it don't make any difference
what I like to read, does 1t? Oh
| well, have it your own way! Bring on
the book. We will now have few
minutes recess while the book is be-
ing brought. And while we are wait
ing, what is the matter with letting
George William pass the sandwiches?
Just a little later" said Mrs. Jack
son.
"But. I'm hungry" said Benny, sit
ting upright.
Jackson, I'VE will adjourn to the
other room, all of US"
"When 1 have read" said Benny
mockingly. That's fine for you. YOU
didn't have to scoot out from town
on an empty stomach. But think OF
poor me! You don't care whether
drop dead in the middle of verse OF
not. 1 can read and starve. That's
always the way. If was some poor
guy you'd hand me SIS for an after
Moons work like this, and feed me
before you trotted me out, but Just
because I have bank roll it's nc
food for Reggyv Everywhere l go II
! is the same way. Kick II l want my
coat off; kick if sit in ia chair; kich
all the time. And now all l ask 1oi
is a sandwich"
| James" said Mrs. jackson, nercely
"give him g. sandwich" :,
| "Oh, make it half dozen. James,,
said Benny, and James made 1t hall
| a dozen, bringing them on delicate
| white-and-gold plate and placing
| them on the stand at Benny's slde
He took one of the sandwiches ane
dvoured It greedily and washed Il
down with swig of water. Eleanor
came with "Ashes Of Thistles," Mr
| Reginald Barrs celebrated book OF
I poems.
"You are overriding it," she Wh1s'
pered.
"Am II" whispered Benny. and h
took the book and a sandwich anf
arose. He opened the book, smiled
at Mrs. jackson. took a large bite o.
sandwich and looked at his audience
'Um humf mum humf hum hun
humf," he mumbled through thu
sandwich.
i a. nv. Ar1f