Arizona state miner., 1926-06-26

| one flight Of stairs to his apartment.
| There stood Gomel, ears cooked and
eyes fixed longingly on the closed door
of his own apartment, just across the
narrow hall from that Of Bert's; but
there was no sign of recognition from
the preoccupied man. AS he opened
! the door of his apartment, Beatrice
| ran toward him with Outstretched
arms.
The door was forgotten and the
hungry Gomel saw his opportunity.
With a quick bound he entered, even
| as Beatrice was folded in the arms of
her husband.
"Well," she cried, breathlessly, "how
| much is it?"
Bert made himself smile. That's
the dessert" he exclaimed.
"Oh," cried Beatrice, "it must be
larger than you thought; we'll"
Her laugh was replete with Joy.
"And 1 have the most wonderful
steak and it cost more than we ex-
pected, too-and the vegetables and
ALL and the table looks lovely"
$50 do you," said Bert. He seemed
excited. Let's cook the steak to-
gether."
There was pleasant kissing and
bubbling sound from the stove as they
entered the kitchen. Beatrice put a
| dainty apron on over her simple frock
and Bert tied the strings.
"Get the steak from the refriger-
ator," said Beatrice, as she lifted
cover from a saucepan; then she
turned in alarm, for there was
scuff1ing sound and suppressed oath
! from Bert. "Confound that dog un-
der my feet. How did he get in here,
any way?
81 don't know" exclaimed Beatrice
in amazement, as her eyes followed the
rapidly disappearing Gomel; perhaps
he came in with YOU"
| with me-" cried Bert, Indignantly,
turning from the refrigerator with the
steak. And at that moment, Gomel
reappeared in the doorway with an
undoubted "yes, with you," expression
in the whole aspect Of him.
Get out" thundered Bert, and be-
| fore he, or Beatrice, or the dog real
lied, he had hurled the steak at him.
1t landed full against the dog and
sent him sprawling upon the floor; but
he was upon his feet in an instant and
began to test the value of the meat
with his young, sharp teeth.
Bert stared, stupefied by his own
act, while Beatrice gazed at her cher
ished steak as though she did not
know just how she could be expected
to go on without its support. "How
could you, Bert" she walled.
He turned his dazed eyes to hers
and something in them made her run
to him. "Oh, WE'LL" she said with
shrug, 1--WE can get another one" But
he made no response to her smile.
Bert" she cried, "you didn't get that
increase"
He nodded. ''The firm couldn't af-
ford it, Mr.. Wolford explained" He
| turned aside and his eyes encountered
Gomel in beatific enjoyment Of their
sacred steak. He took a wrathful
step toward him but the dog was not
| to be overtaken so easily. Firmly i'm
planting his teeth in his dinner, he
dragged it off with him in his STAN
pede to the door and down the stairs.
Bert ran out and leaned over the
balustrade. The dog had disappeared,
but what he saw made him gasp.
"Aunt Amanda ~ he exclaimed. Ye
gods, and she was so particular and
| .;oA chn
tifully welcome and dinner was
| served.
How many vegetables she ate! Poor
lady, that was all there was She did
most of the talking, and Beatrice and
Bert managed to smile and laugh cor
rectly When the meal was over and
they were seated in the tiny living
the dessert Oh, we'll, nothing mat
tered.
Aunt Amanda laughed. "L like to
drop in unexpectedly surprised my
nephew and his wife last week; such
extravagances." She raised her eyes
in protest; then opened her bag and
drew out two checks, each for five
| hundred dollars, and gave one TO
Beatrice and one to Bert. "a we'll
ordered, economical meal" she an
nounced, "and you listen to an older
and wiser person talk. 1 like young
people with common sense"
Then, as though sensing that there
was some glory being appropriated
that was his property, Gomel appeared
in the doorway, and with a joyous
bark dashed into the room
'What nice little dog" said Aunt
Amanda. whats his name?'
Spike" replied Bert, as he leaned
forward and patted Gomel's head.
Great little fellow"
Obedience