The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-04-16
Murray, the Waffle
Fiend
By BARBARA KERR

Isn't it a pity" sighed Ruth zen a
try to her brother Bob as she tooh :;
mental note of some new arrivals "' +
the rooming house next dOor' 'ii"' :
those deor Old houses that have seen !
better DAYS must inevitably, like their
stricken old owners, 20 INTO tle us =
card? / know that the Gentry hoihe 5
must shudder when ii contempiates
the fact that you and | are the on! :
living things that keep up us respeo
liability and prevent IL also Decoiii'n7
n rooming house with noisy roohiihs-
| house kids sliding down its walnut
! banisters, and clacking, gosslpihs
! clearinghouse women lhlesllhS ''
sacred precincts"
Bob laughed. "'Pon my soul, hu'i,
,.ou talk like a man-why clacking!
They are; they have nothihs "
do: their prying eyes follow me rum
cellar to garrett till want to ask lhein
10 come over and help TO do something
userul." declared Ruth, who had been
asked three times that day If hers was
rooming house, she Kept HOUSE 81
strenuously for Bob.
ITS yours for an early breakfast IL
YOU catch that tive-thirty tralh' buu-
div. Better make that page your last
; one" and she rumpled his hair lo'-
ingly as she passed his chair.
She arose nOiselessly next morning.
hurried into Il bungalow apron ana
nifty cap and went down TO prepare
5 the waflles, her usual treat for BOD
: when he was going away Tor the Jay
= They were very devoted, trying 10
make up to each other for the loneh-
ness of the big house since their pa
I rents died.
Ruth paused moment, thinking IL
i time To run up and call Bob, but, hear
r ing "A noise of moving chair on the
porch, she ran out and in the hazy
e dawn. noting his comfortable pose, his
IL feet on the balustrade, she slipped up
y and, nibbling his ear. said: "Wallies
)f and maple strip now ready in the din
le ing car"
She darted back, snatching open the
is waffle iron and filing nice, hot piate'
e, ulaced il for Bob before he came into
the dining room.
III She was filling the iron when Bob
II entered the kitchen, paused ut her ell
On bow and in most peculiar tone
o. asked: May l inquire who Is the
SH waffle fiend?'
al Ruth looked up, trying to fathon
'e his expression; he gazed at her. es
d. slows them away like tramp" The
t,..t ola
py the dining room startled her. SIT
rushed in a nice, mellow voice asked
on ANY more of those wonderful waf
i'h files, darling?" and pair of fine BROW
III eyes smiled at her as she leaned weak
u ly against the door, while Bob, bris
ile fling like a terrier, strobe forward.
what do you mean by speaking I
0' my sister in that way:"
Yes. and what do you mean b
coming into our house in this way:
emf demanded the angry Ruth.
nee The young man arose hurriedly
ier- his feet, looking from one to the Otl
the or. as if not sure that he was awak
III MY waflles are burning" moane
'o'- Ruth, dashing to the kitchen.
please hurry-oh, what ira
edy!" exclaimed the uneXpect'
guest. "And the only real wailles T.
tasted since my mother died."
'o OF course. with the mutinOus bl
'ioH eyes of Ruth in the kitchen, the M
soon adjusted everything. Bob 81
how easy it was for stranger ne
am door 10 wander onto the wrong pOr
'"9o at such an hour. as he was to mot
mere TO a nearby village at daybreak.
when Ruth returned with anotl
plate of hot wafiles they were so (
crossed with each other that Bob
DING most forgot to introduce her till an
the aSperated clearing of her throat wa
rlcts ed him. Both rose promptly.
pup Pardon. Sis" begged Bob. 1T
an is Murray McIlvain, brother of an
on college mate; he's rooming next dc
We've been brushing up mutual
quaintances."
Ruth, her face study, looked a:
at she were not going to acknowledge
leans Introduction, but Mr.. Mcllvain, "
ently his most ingratiating smile, held
blast his hand. Il know any one who
tur' make such waffles as these will
leans hold a grudge against poor inno6
whom fate led into an ambush.
sides am the injured party-thinl
my lacerated ear
d 3d. Ruth blushed. 1.-THE wafiies,
meri- murmured. an excuse to take rel
y in in the kitchen. When she returned
COM did not mind the rallying of Bob
house Murray about her biting his ear.
"You must have thought 1t
playful waitress" teased Bob.
well, l was bit stunned, al
> oV' ted Murray, 'bSt after seeing
T. was tasting those waffles l was just {
ne 70 ask her to bite the other ear v
'hsion you appeared