The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-08-10
PANTRY SHELVES
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honselH Polly kissed her husband u
fcciionaiely aud haslencd out.
John watched his wife so down N
street, waited 10 wave TO her when 10
reached the corner. then turned avn
and gayed floomlly nbout the comfoiI
able sitting room. suddenly, for som
reason or other. become ~ foflorn. ic
this sending away of his wife OF
little wish TO their son had been NJ
own doing. After playing the part %
faithful nurse 10 his slr weeks aiiacl
OF rheumatic fever she certainly dc
served. now thni hc was well on m,
road TO recovery. biz of vacation.
The hrst few days Of Polly's abscnc,
passed awny pleasantly
hut bay the end ef the week he bcRar
10 look around FOR something 10 do anf
shcepshly recalled hls wlfe's ndmonI
tlun about cleaning house.
As be- llmpcd slowly from room IA
room he was aware that everything
NN0 AZ NfNA ~ IlNt
Straighiawny John plunged Into his
task. poking abandonedly Into jara aud
bottles and paper'bags. arranging and
rcarrnnglng things 10 suit his mascu.
line idea Of the way pantry shelves
should be.
Two weeks later Polly came home,
rosy checked once more glal 10 see
her husband and overlooking with
stories about the darllngness OF John.
third.
II Just guess yon'll be pleased TO
have some more good things 10 eat.
John. dear" she said. "To begin with
I'm going TO make up your fayorlte
chocolate cake for support"
Polly's husband. supremely content
10 have her back. sat ia the old
kitchen rocker, comfortably putting his
pipe, his eyes happily watching mis-
wife MS she hustled about.
Presently she disappeared into the
pantry and he heard her rummaglng
around Then she emerged and he
heard her say half TO herself. "There
now. was afraid ! was out OF II. But
! find have got n little baklng powder
after all. Thought I'd have to borrow a
mite from Dora"
John chuckled, remembering where
he found that baking powder. Why
would women, the best OF them. mind
you, tuck away little dabs Of stun in
old envelopes or paper bags and then
forget all about them7 IL II hadn't
been for his putting that baking pow.
der into an old baking powder can
where II belonged, she'd have had TO
frot over to neighbor's. wasting
time.
Half an hour later his wife opened
the oven door and In his minds eye
John plainly ylsuallzed the cake In all
It's wonderful three-storied glory, each
layer miracle OF lIghtness. An ex-
rlamatIon from his wife punctured tho
vision.
"Why, why. why. John, I've never
had that happen beforei" pollys face
expressed utter dismay.
John rose and peered over his wfe's
stopped shoulder. On the oven rack
we're three cake tins, each sending forth
a delicious odor and containing some.
thing that was nicely Drowned, but
which lay fiat as the proyerblal pan.
rake. 81 can't understand III" Polly
walled.
She walked over to the table, picked
lp The baking powder can, tipped out
! little of the contents In her palm and
asted It. For a moment she stood
here with puzzled frown on her
'orehead Then, That's not baking
oowder--that's boric acidr she cried.
For moment John did not under.
stand. Then, slowly, a great light broke
lpoD him and sheeplshly he grinned.
'My fault, Polly" he confessed. "I--
found a little envelope full Of white
'owder on the shelf. 1t said on it-I
p guess 1t must have
'een 'B. a. Written in pencil, you
NOW, and not very clear. Anyhow, II
to me like baking powder
md put 1t where 1t belonged"
"Well-of all things I" said his wife
That's what Mary used to use for the
aby--left 1t the time she was here
listing. | suppose to man they look
xactly alike" She paused and eyed
er husband suspiciously. "But what
we're you doing fooling around those
antry shelves?'
Cleaning EN-" said John, meekly.
hen he frightened. Look, here,
oily, Forget about it. I'm punished.
nylow, by losing the cake!" He b
,oked for all the world like a crest
allen child-like John, Jr., used to
'hen he was little chap
Polly melted
Never mind, John, you'll get your
AXE. I'm going right over to Dora's
or some baking powder. But while :
m gone, John, don't, don't
mo, ] won't" interrupted her hus.
and, mot ever again.. 9 ,
"A s.k1 The Home Of Culture.