The spectator., 1921-11-22


 T don't see why he didn't write! '" said Mrs. Halden pettishly. Of course I'm glad he's coming home for Thanksgiving, and all that, but he might have given me longer notice. But that's just like Bob-always drop ping In like a tornado, with no more than a telegram the day before he comes-and how I'm to get his room ready, I simply don't see! have the dinner to attend to, and goodness knows it's hard to get things these days without making preparations for an- other guest. If he'd only written ! All he had to do was to sit down week ago and write"
 "Now. mother, don't get all wor- ried." pretty Barbara Halden slipped on arm around her mothers ample waist T know you've thousand things to do and Bob's coming makes 1t harder-but you just go ahead and manage the dinner. I'll fix his room and everything"
 Bless your heart, dear, run along and get 1t ready. I'm always gald to see Bob" Her speech was cut short by the abrupt exit of her daughter, who danced off up the stairs, followed by her mothers call. "Be sure and put out the smoking table. You know how Bob likes his pipe!"
 "All right, mother dear-I will " And Barbara sped to the little room under the caves that had been sacred years ago, when he had first come to their town to practice law and had taken up his residence under Mrs. Halden's hOspitable roof which he declared almost offered comforts enough to make him forget that he ever hnd had any other home.
 Since that summer, when he had saved Mrs. Halden's little savings and her home from the clutches of a grasp ing syndicate of real estate sharks, he had been like a son 70 the good woman. She had let him do very much as he pleased around the house, and had even hinted at his paying no board. but Bob had insisted on giving her what he termed ridiculouSly in- adcluate sum each month.
 When success brought him fame and fortune he had refused to take up oth. CT lodgings, claiming that he enjoyed the home cooking and the home asso- ciations of the little brown house near the edge of the town more than he could ever like the garish splendors of a hotel or the loneliness of bach elor apartments.
 For the past two months he had been travelling Tn the West on a big railroad case. His sudden wire, re- ceived the day before Thanksgiving, had been the first apprisal of his re- turn that Mrs. Halden had had.
 Now as sha busily arranged her kitchen in preparation for the manu- featuring of a dinner that should sur pass all her former efforts in that line. she blessed the chance that brought "her boy" as she called Bob home at the holiday season, while she outwardly feigned great irritation al his unceremonious announcement o1 his return.
 Meanwhile. up in Bob's room. Bar bara was busily putting things straight, spreading clean linen on the bed, arranging the cover on the dress CT. seeing that the smoking table was supplied with matches and trays fol Bob's ever-present pipe, and generally making things fresh and sweet for ths reception of her hero. For Barbara Bob wae a good deal of hero, thougt she would hardly have confessed it even to herself.
 She attacked the dresser last of all intending to take out of the drawer any odds end ends that might be 1T them and leave space for shirts, col lars and other articles of masculine | apparel.
 The big lower drawers were empty and beyond quick glance in searci 1 if truant dust she did nothing tc them: but one of the small top draw