The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-03
CHAPTER XxxIx

WI the moon-faced Klonaperi
@ called from the doorway
and no voice had ever sounded sc
musical In Vee-Vee'S ears.
The prince rose from his knees
and busted his trousers with a
fastidiousness that no crisis could
Jar. my wife was having night
mare" he explained, with all the
hauteur of prince who resents
the questioning of an inferior.
"Well, shake a leg, prince,
Happy advised him good-natured-
lily. "It's way past my dinner time
and I'm hungry enough to eat snails.
Come on and get busy with your can
opener"
"I'm not servant" the prince
scowled at the impudent kidnaper.
IF you want any dinner, you had
better cook it yourself!"
Naughty little prince!" Happy
chided him. IT gotta nurse my
baby, prince" and he patted the
automatic which he held affection
ately in his hands. "You don't
reckon I'm going to squat down at
a fireplace, with my back turned to
bold, bad little prince like you, do
you?"
"I'll cook the dinner" Vee-Vee
said in voice that she strove to
make matter-of- She welcomed
the chance to be busy, and the kid
naper's careles reference to a can
opener gave her an idea. 1t would
make a better weapon than her bare
hands, and the long right, with all
its evil possibilities, lay before her
She found the little wall cupboard
stocked with enough food to keep
the three of them, and Satan,
too, if he chose to spend any of his
valuable time in the hut. for several
days.
On small triangles Of delicately
Drowned toast, she served heaping
spoonsfuls of creamed chip beef,
filling up the plates with buttered
string beans. To conclude the meal
there were crackers spread with
strawberry jam, tinfoil-wrapped tri-
angles of soft Camembert cheese,
and large cups Of coffee.
The preparation of so elaborate a
meal had more subtle motive be-
hind it than a desire to save her.
self from madness by activity. And
as Happy" and the prince ate
hugely and appreciatively, Vee-vee
realized that her scheme had every
chance of succeeding. The moon
faced, good-natured kidnaper had
accorded her a careless sort of
chivalry from the first. In his eyes
too, had been CLEAN of admira-
ton, but, not of covetousness. TIC
hiEi she was the princes wife, OF
rather, his ex-wife, and he, Hap
py," had no chance while royalty
was around. But as he filled his
stomach with the Unexpectedly de-
licious food, she saw that she hac
won him completely.
I'D be willing to stack you up az
a cook against the chef at the Ritz,
ne Lolu ner With expansive sin
certify. mot that I've ct at the Rit;
more'n once or twice." he grinned
but I've heard tell as how it's got
a swell feed trough. I don't blam,
you for marrying girl like her
prince. Some guys have all the luck
But how did a millionaire societ,
butterfly like you ever learn to cool
like that?" he asked SUDDENLY.
"Oh. I've always loved to rough
it." Vee-Vee smiled, though hel
heart beat faster at the hintyof sus.
picion in his voice. We've had :
camp in-in the mountains eve
since was child, and I frequent
| ly cook q meal. I love to cook"
| Knowing my wife's love for cam,
life was what inspired me to plal
this--ah-little outing for her." tn
prince conteracted blandly. Hi
fat, round little cheeks were fushe
from the big meal he had eaten, an,