Oxford Democrat., 1921-01-18
BISCUIT PERFUME
BY R.SRAY BAKER


O. 1880. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
At seven o'clock George Henderson's
alarm clock rang down the curtain on
the dream and his eyes sprang open.
The room looked the same as al.
ways. and yet there seemed something
strange about II. Finally It dawned
on him that a perfume from the past
was scenting up his surroundings
perfume Of baking biscuits.
The strange thing about It was that
Ia his dream he had been seated at a
table about to begin an attack on
warm biscuits and maple syrup.
The faint sound Of an oven door
banging shut and the rattling Of pans
came from the next room.
"The new light housekeepers,"
George commented. as he crawled from
bed and began to dress. "That won't
last long. Mrs. Maloney simply won't
stand for any baking"
Arriving at his Office, George waded
into his correspondence. gave instruc-
lions to his assistants and clerks, then
secluded himself from all callers and
gave himself up to day dreams.
Elsie Havers was the cause and the
subject Of these dreams, George could
not forget her. although he had seen
her last ten years ago. At flrst, when
he came to Detroit, he had given her
scarcely thought, he was so busy
making good In the real estate game"
and besides, his fellow workers were
acquainted with q number of attractive
city girls, one Of whom quite cap
hvated George and allowed him to
spend a great deal Of time with her
and great deal Of money on her; un-
i'll her former sweetheart, who had
been West, came back AID married
her. and took her to Colorado.
When George recovered from the
blow he discovered he had never loved
Vivian; 1t had been simply case Of
infatuation. His thoughts naturally re-
verted to Elsie. and he attempted to
renew his neglected correspondence
with her. His letters came back un-
opened. stamped "Unclaimed." he
wrote to mutual friends and learned
that Elsie and her mother had left
Harbor Springs and were living in Chi
cago, although their address was unob-
tainable.
"Why not pay the old town a visit,
anyhow" he asked himself after a few
moments more of cogitatio1.
Twelve hours later he stepped off
the train at Harbor Springs. AS he
walked up bluff his gait increased.
Before long he met farm flivver
In which he noticed a number Of large
tin cans.
Hello" he called. "Wait a minute"
The driver applied the brakes, and
the machine stopped.
"Well, WELL" said the driver. "If 1t
amt George Henderson,"
"Bill Jackets" George exclaimed,
and he extended hand, which met
a firm, warm clasp. "Are you still deal
Ing In maple syrupW
,"You bet. Here's thirty gallons. I'm
taking 'em to the store"
won't twenty-nine be enough for
the store?" asked George, reaching for
his pocketbook. II haven't tasted
maple syrup n ten years."
'Nope, I can't sell It." Bilrs face
was covered with multitude Of grim
ming wrinkles as he added. "but I'll
give you one. for old times sake. you
know. You used to be my best Gus
TONER"
George thanked him and trudged on
with his can Of syrup. 1t was heavy,
but 1t wouldn't be after he found the
shady spot. Soon he came to four
corners. On each Of the corners was
house. George paused In front of the
smallest.
"Elsie's old home" he sighed. "Won-
der who lives there now?"
He mounted the porch. The door
was open and only screen barred his
progress. To his astonishment the
same perfume that had assailed his
nostrils two mornings ago came from
the interior Of the house.
He knocked. and a middle-aged lady,
with white hair, hustled to the door.
When George saw her he dropped the
can Of syrup on the porch floor.
"Mrs. Havers!" he almost shouted,
wringing her hand
"Well, well, George. It does seem
good to look on your face once more.
And what's in that can7 Maple syrup?
I might have knowed It. You're just
In time for breakfast-an we have
biscuits-always do for breakfast
even down II Detroit"
George was walking toward the
kitchen. he stuck his head through
the doorway and his eyes took in a
young lady bending before the oven.
The girl looked up and their glances
met.
"What-what are you doing herer
she faltered. and her eyes found the
floor.
"I just dropped In for breakfast.
You see, have maple syrup, and you
you have the biscuits; so thought
we might collaborate.
= . .
"Yes," observed Mrs. Havers, as
she poured syrup on biscuit, I'VE
thought 1t would he nice to spend the
summer In the old home-be resorters,
like the folks over on the point; 50
here we are-came just yesterday
morning. Yes, we liked Chicago fairly
well. but Elsie thought she could get
better position In Detroit, SO we moved
there only last week. We found nice
place right at the start. but we had to
get out-because we just had to have
our biscuits, and Mrs. Maloney said
the other roomers couldn't stand the
smell Of them; so we decided to take
q vacation. and use up some Of the
money we had saved. and. as I said
before. here we are"
chIna's Clay Cliff Dwellings.