Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-14
II Your Soul Spectrum Happens
to Be Overshot With Blue To-
day, Try This Lively, Humor.
Gus Yarn Of College Life
as a Remedy.

lie was In his sophomore year and eked out
measer resources by waiting four hours a day
In the coop dining hall, She was q freshman
ana came there 10 eat. He was iank OF figure.
but OF an open countenancs and hopeful dis
position. She was lim,d. pale and eheapiy
snrbed with little 10 commend her 10 the mas
culins eye except golden bfaids, which in her
diffidenes she tried 10 conceal. and two soft.
blue eyes with = wistful light in them that could
not BE- concealed AZ all. When she could get Il
she took the most inconspieuous table This
happened TO DO ono Of his. and q waiter learns
u read human nature. She studied the bill OF
rare critically. frowningiy, AZ IL consulting a
very fastidious taste. but ho knew as q matter
OF fact that she was doing Misunderstanding
three ways from the soup or two from the
dessert to get a combination that would give
her the greatest sense OF funess for the slight
est depletion OF her purse
Ths second time sho honored one OF his tables
Joseph Hancock smuggled an extra pat OF but.
ter 10 her under cover OF some excess bread.
Tho Girl noticed II. OF course. and gave him
shy. grateful look. That was the first time that
no knew that her eyes, besides being blue and
wisifui. had mines of polished diamonds In the
depths Of them. The kindllng OF those spark
ling lights gave Joe somc kind OF thrill the
exact duplicate Of which he had never before
known.
"Gosh!" he gasped out In the sntryway ana
consulted the mirror In tho washroom to make
glass and as shiny as onyx.
When for dinner the girl again chose one
OF his tables Joe felt flattered and encouraged
to speak. but kept the remark carefully within
the line OF his professional relation to her by
suggesting. "Coffee's poor tonight. but can
recommend the milk" He said this in an un-
dcrtons necessarily. and undertones almost in.
evitably have note OF the confidential In them.
To this not the girl responded. II prefer
milk" she admitted. lifting the soft. blue eyes.
"only-only II doesn't taste like the milk we
used to get down on the farm"
This will" assured Joe. proudly. Leave 1t
to ourself"
At tho ice box he dexterously manipulated
the pitchers and the glasses under the very eye
OF tho Jap custodian. and tho girl got glass
that was half cream.
"O!" she sighed after taking sip. and glow
ed upon him.
"On the a. t." he warned. not with his lips,
but by lowering the screen Of an eyelid for a
second. the accidental 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, dlushing
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 by smuggling two pats Of butter to tho
side Of her plate. She acknowledged them with
q grateful look.
my names Joe Hancock" he confided, re-
arranging the salt. pepper and sauce bottles,
and pretending to brush imaginary crumbs from
the other side Of the table excusing his
lingering presence.
That's . good name." the girl said. smiling
at the sound as II it gave her pleasure.
Like IT." remarked Joe, beaming.
Hancock ts--is so classic-in American his
tory. you know" she responded. az trying to be
very pleasant. "and Joe is such an honest
name don't you think?"
Joe blushed beautifully. whats yours?" he
demanded. interestedly.
Lela-Lela Mason" she responded with
frank simplicity.
"Gee!" said joe his brows rising. "Thats
peach Of name"
''You are awfully kind" she commented. and
then, lest he should misunderstood her mean
ing. tapped the glass Of half and half signifi-
cantly. M
kind Il my middle name--to some people"
he boasted.
cock busied himself with sundry goings to and
fro. occasional irresistible glances were stolen
1T the meek golden head yonder, and a design
and = program began to take form within his
mind. design slightly predatory in one direc-
tion. but nobly charitable in another.
"Chef" he began, impressively, when ap-
proach and petition might be made to that
dark. majestic presence who presided in the
kitchen. when say Small steak you give
me small steak. don't you?"
"Ah sho' does. college boy" affirmed that
sweating lump Of ebony with an air Of con-
scious rectitude.
well. now" proposed Joe in wheedling
tcnes "from this on, once In while, you
are going to hear me pipe Steak small instead
That's high sign-take me? When you hear
it grab T-bone, cut the bone out of It
and fix It up so It will 60 by the checker az a
piece Of round"
The black chef looked thoughtful under his
white cap. and increased the measure Of his
frowning dignity as he weighed the cool sugges-
tion to organize 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 half dollar into the yellow
palm Of black hand that happened to be
mysterionsly open and conveniently near.
II cant keep this up you understand. Sam"
he explained. putting pressure upon the half
dollar till 1t weighed like = golden twenty
I'm workin' my way; but it's for a poor little
girl, freshie. She's half starved. and just as
a matter Of humanity, I've got to fatten her up
till she can do herself justice, in her studies at
least"
Joe got . good deal Of plea into his tones,
and the black man had sympathetic heart. as
well as . palm that itched.
"Au right. Mistah Joe," he conceded. grand
iy. "I'll collide wild you on de proposition; and.
once in . while when you-alrs finances will
stand it. you collide wild me-" and he tapped his
pocket and rolled his eyes. both significantly.
You're on" declared Joe. with croak Of
emotion in his utterances. and hurried outside
to make a suggestion to a certain young lady
as he tore off her meal check.
Now. in simple truth. the cheapest steak
was beyond Lelas means: yet she could not
appear ungrateful and came the next night
determined recklessly to major on that Wand.
:. WIS . miracle steak that she got-rich. ten
der. juicy, unbelievably palatable. And as the
days went on other miracles were wrought in
the old dining hail. Instead Of being drowned
In thin blue fluid called by the trade
name OF milk. her cereal of mornings and her