Evening star., 1928-12-22

~ gressively.
~ last girl"
"'Tis cookin' I'm speakin'
of, mum"
sally was cook, and a good one"
But she left ye," significantly.
Anybody would. at $4."
sally thought 81 very good wages" )"
with more crispness coming into her
voice-"as do. She was with me four
years. Then she got married, and her
husband had work in another town"
Then your Sally was ign'rant,' snip
blame for anything. Do ye want me?'
Mrs AmeS heSitated.
"I've got to do something" she
thought aloud, with boarder taking
nv best room and visitors coming next
week whom I must entertain. couldn't
possibly do all the work myself. You
see" to the applicant, there have been
only my daughter Lois and myself, and
we've got along very nicely without
help since Sally left"
do We want me?"
ut is too much for the little cook
ing in my family" temporized Mrs.
Ames "Your board would be worth
at least s3 You would want good
I'D want the BEST" snapped the
woman. why not, me cookin' it? I'd
take chice bits before it left the
kitchen, would. I always do. No
leavins from the family table, says l.
Some cooks are so common they eat
that way. I've heard. Will ye blieve
me-to the last place got So a week
an the family didn't like meat. So
they let me buy ch'ice cuts for meself,
me pickin' 'em out. An did they ever
mention a cooks board? They Gid not
iris new one on me. could go back
there this very day an get me So
reg'lar. But your ad notice read IKE
We needed cook ser'us, an l was
willin' to 'commodate. though AIM
used to workin' in families that count
pennies" ,s
to her hips and her head was thrown
forward Refined little Mrs. Ames lookeo
UNEQUAL to the impending COMBAT OF
words
At least, so thought Lois, as she stood
before the hall mirror pinning ner nat.
She could not see her mothers race put
the womans was plainly visible as sne
filled the doorway opening into the PACK
hall. There was an attitude OF nattie III
her figure and flash of war IN ner eyes.
The hat on. Lois still heSitateo. Inc
office where she worked was closed ana
she was going to apply at another place
that was advertising for girls. The pay
offeresI was $40 a week, but it was down.
town. and car fare would be needed
twice a. day. Then q cooks board was
considered worth So a week. Hers would
be worth more, for she had a nicer
room. Also, there were unpleasant fea-
lures connected with q girl working
downtown Lois instincts were toward
home.
But these thoughts were not the real
influencing ones. though they flashed
through her mind. Her mothers atti-
tude was one of yielding. She must
have help, of course She had spoken OF
a boarder taking their best room and
Aunt Helen and her boys would be on
in another week With that warliEe
figure in command, what would her
mothers life be?
do We want me to help ye out?"
again came the harsh voice. Il can't
wait on folks maxim up their minds for
ever"
mo, we won't want your help" said
Lois pleasantly. but decidedly, as she
came from the hall We're much
obliged for your kindness. though. 1t
was sweet of you to give up an So place
just to help us out"
But, Lois" began her mother.
"Ive got a girl engaged. mother" re-
assured Lois. so. it's all right. OF
course. We don't want two"
But, when-I didn't know-oh, on
your visit to the drug store this morn
ing Can she cook? Did you find out?"
IT wouldn't like to recommend her too
highly" answered Lois, though / be-
lieve she will do. She can make good
biscuits and bread and Is fair on meats
and pastries" Lois laughed.
why that's finel" broke in her
mother eagerly. Its lot better than
the average"
81 can cook meats an all them
things" from the hall doorway.
And it's been said by even so good a
connoisseur as you mother, that my
cook is fine on desserts" went on LioS.
"Shes had a full course at leading
cooking school and has studied"
OOH" calculated Mrs. Ames faint
ly. "An up-to-date, modern sort. Do
you think could possibly get along with
one of that kind, Lois? II would
hardly dare offer her advice.
"Oh. mother, mother" laughed Lois.
Don't you and I get along just like
strawberries and cream together, and
I've taken lessons. you know"
"But you're different. Lois" still
anxiously. Anybody could get along
with you. and love to do it; but all
the other modernized cooks that I've
seen"
"Ye couldn't get along with any of
'em no way in the world" interrupted |
the applicant in the doorway brusque-
ly. i've seen 'em, too. They spend |
their time in rubbin' an polishin' an |
an fuss for new contrapshun |
pans an kettles. could cook a whole /
dinner in jest one pan, an not waste |
half nor quarter the dishes In Settin' /
q table that a modernizer does. It only |
makes extra work for the dishwaSher. |
Jest to help you out, I'll call my wages
S6, or maybe SIS, till We find it conven-
lent to rise to ST."
Lois shook her head as they both
turned toward her. mo, we don't want |
two women" she answered, "and the |
other one is positively engaged and will
commence work at once"
Then all I've got to say Is it's
an rcbbin'," cried the woman,
flaming toward the door, "advertisin'
Tor cook an then won't take her. An
that chit Of gal has hired another
ehit who amt got no more real knowl-
Edge than herself an who'll burn an
scald an override an under-do an call
t germ -killin'. An I hope she will"
As they heard her haavv stems cross '