The Washington herald., 1922-06-07

He was in his sophomore year
and eked out meager resources by
waiting four hours a day in the
coop dining hall. She was a fresh
man and came there to eat He was
lank of figure. but of an open coun-
tenance and a hopeful disposition.
She was timid. pale. and cheaply
Earbed, with little to commend her
TO the masculine eye except golden
braids. which In her diffidence she
tried to conceal. and two soft. blue
eyes with a wistful light in them
that could not be concealed at all.
When she could get IL she took the
most inconspicuous table. This hap
pened to be one of his. and a waiter
learns to read human nature. She
studied the bill OF fare critically.
frowningly. as II consulting a very
fastidious taste. but he knew as a
matter Of fact that she was doing
'math'-hguring three ways from
the soup OF two from the dessert to
get a combination that would give
her the greatest sense Of fullness
for the slightest depletion of her
purse.
The second time she honored one
OF his tables Joseph Hancock snug
gled an extra pat of butter to her
under cover OF some excess bread
The girl noticed 1t. of course. and
gave him a shy. grateful look. That
was the first time that he knew
that her eyes. besides being blue
and wtstful, had mines of polished
diamonds in the depths of them.
The. kindling of those sparkling
fghts gave Joe some kind of thrill.
the exact duplicate of which he had
never known before.
Gosh. he gasped out In the
entryway. and consulted the mirror
In the washroom to make sure his
hair was slicked back as smooth a,
glass and as shiny as onyx
When for dinner the girl again
chose one of his tables Joe felt
hattered and encouraged to speak,
out kept the remark carefully
within the line of his professional
relation. to her by suggesting.
Conees poor tonight. but 1 can
recommend the milk" He said this
In an undertone necessarily, and
undertones almost Inevitably have
a note Of the confidential in them.
To this note the girl responded.
"a prefer milk" she admitted, lift
ing the soft. blue eyes. "only-onIy
II doesn't taste like the milk we
used to get down on the rarm.-
This Will" assured Joe proudly.
Leave II to ourself"
At the icebox he dexterouslv
manipulated the pitchers and the
glasses under the very eye of the
Jap custodian. ADD the girl got a
slass that was half cream
%" she sighed. after taking a
SIP. and glowed upon him.
he =
MS lips but by lowering the screen
OF an eyelid for a second, the accI-
dental presence Of the head waiter
IN the Vicinage having compelled
such discretion. The girl caught
the import of the signal and bowed
her face to her food. flushing
slightly. This was the first time
Joe knew there could be color in
those transparent cheeks.
The girls anaemic, run down
starved he diagnosed. and satisfied
some impulse Of his heart bv
smuggling two pats of butter to the
side Of her plate. She acknowl-
edged them with a grateful bow.
My names Joe Hancock" he con-
hded. rearranging the salt, pepper
ana sauce bottles and pretending to
brush imaginary crumbs from the
other side of the table as exeusinG
his lingering presence"
That's a good name" the girl
said. smiling at the sound as IL IL
gave her pleasure.
Like IT.? remarked Joe. beam
ing
Hancock isis so classIc-in
american history. you know" she
responded. as trying to be very
~ =
est name. don't you think"
Joe blushed beautifully. What's
yours he demanded InterestedIy.
"Lela-Lela Mason" she respond
ed with frank simplicity.
Gee" said Joe, his brows rising
That's a peach Of a name"
You are awfully kindr" she com
mented. and then. lest he shbuld
misunderstood her meaning. tapped
the glass of half and half signifi-
cantly.
Kind Is my middle name-to
some people" he boasted.
In the next few minutes, as
young Mr.. Hancock busted himself
with sundry goings to and fro, oc-
casional irresistible glances were
stolen at the meek golden head
yonder. and a design and a program
began to take form within his mind,
a design slightly predatory in one
direction but nobly charitable in
another.
Chef" he began impressively.
when approach and petition might
be made to that dark. majestic
presence who presided in the
kitchen. when say Small steak
you give me a small steak, don't
your"
"Ah sho' does. college boy" af-
hrmed that sweating lump of ebony
with an air of conscious rectitude.
We'll. now proposed Joe in
wheedlinx tones. from this on.
once in a while. you are going to
hear me pipe ste: small instead.
That's a high sign-take me? When
you hear II grab T-bone. cut the
bone out of II, and fix 1t up so II
will 20 by the checker as a piece of
round"
The black chef looked thoughtful
under his white cap. and increased
the measure Of his frowning dig
gestion to organize a system Of
petty larceny.
"Ah gifts you. Mistah Hancock" {"
he admitted at length. but what
else does All git?" The emphasis
was significant.
Joe thrust a half dollar into the
yellow palm Of a black hand that
happened to be mysteriously open
and conveniently near. IT can't keep
this up Won understand Sam" he