The Omaha morning bee., 1924-07-19
Adele Garrison
INV Husbands Love"
Who Is the Masked Person That
Stared at Madge?

That Harry Underwood would re
member my inordinate liking for sea
food 1 was sure, and I therefore was
not surprised when after an hors
doeuvre of anchovies and caviar, the
waiter brought clam cocktails, FOL
lowed by cups Of steaming clam broth
The portions of both appetizers and
cocktails were smaller than the ordi
nary and I recognized another spe
cial touch of my escorts. A dinner
he orders has a number of courses
but all the earlier ones are curtailed
lin quantity, while their quality-ano
lnovelty-are accentuated.
But 1t was when the third course
came on that Mr.. Underwood's spark
ling eyes and expression, like that
of a benevolent Sunday school Santa
Claus, told me that he expected me
especially to enjoy the contents OF
the silver.eovered dish which the
waiter served as II he were perform
ing a rite.
I often wonder what are the real
Thoughts beneath the reverential
solemnity of walters before the dishes
they serve. That they often perform
their functions with mental tongue
in the cheek" I am sure.
The contents of the dish brought
genuine enthusiasm. however. to my
gustatory soul. which found express
sion in quick speech:
"Ohl Roasted escargots" / ex
claimed gleefully. Wherever did you
find them? I haven't seen any"
Harry Is Reminiscent.
"Since the war" Mr.. Underwood
supplemented, with a triumphant
smile. Neither has anybody else tc
speak Of But there's genuine
French chef in the kitchen here. and
wherever there's a French culinary
expert you'll find enails."
Don't call them that" I said with
petulant little shudder. 'It dulls
the edge OF my appetite"
'Pardon" He grinned mischiev-
ously. But you ought to have SOU
above the alphabet. Dye remember
how Dicky and Lii used to glover
while you and reveled In this
course?"
"I don't want to-" I retorted. as
began the delicate task of extracting
the tempting roasted morsel from the
tiny hot shell. "If l did, l should re
| member Dicky's comments ON the
dish and probably send half my por
ton away untasted.
"He had some vocabulary. the old
Dicky.birdlp my husbands Oldest
friend said reminiscently. and then
after a little silence. he spoke
abruptly: "Them were the times, old
gal! Them were the times!'
There was an intonation In his
voice which caused me to look at him
sharply. Was It possible that he re
greeted the folly which had cost him
Iillian's wifely comradeship. even
though romantic affection never had
entered into their union, or was his
repining simply wish for the return
OF the social evenings which he. LII
liam, Dicky and l used to spend
together?
"Shall We Dance?"
apparently fippant little speech. anc
took refuge In as apparent an absorp
| ton in the escargots. When he spoke
again It was to voice some laughahle
| iow.toned comment upon an oddly
assorted party OF diners near us, and
when the course which had 30 de
| lighted me was finished. he gave Q
direction TO the waiter TO delay the
next course and. rising, held out his
hand to me.
"Shall we dancer" he asked, and
for perhaps ten minutes. which. t'
my surprise, found all too short
l renewed pleasurable experience
which I had not enjoyed since Harry
lunderwoods path In life diverged &c
sharply from that of his wife and hii
most intimate friends, Dicky and me
Dicky used to ray there was M
better dancer In the universe thar
Harry Underwood, and in the old days
shared his opinion. His step wal
| perfectly fitted to mine, and wher
dancing with him always forgot the
anlmosity against him which gen
orally lay deep in my consciousness.
He had lost none of his skill,
found in the first few seconds of oul
dance together and deliberately I pu
away from me the protests my Puri
tan conscience was frantically tryinf
to register upon my mental retina
and gave myself up to the enjoyment
of the moment.
1t was upon our fourth round OF tn
floor that became conscious OF eye
following me. IL was n rather sub
conscious sensation, but / a1wnyI
heed the psychic little warnings. ant
furtively turned my head towar,
the direction from which I had fel
tho glance.
From beneath my eyelashes I saw
tho dias upon which the cabaret per
formers waited between their turns.
A group OF dancers whose face
were concealed by masks stood there
and / knew that the eyes OF ono o
them were fixed upon mo