Evening star., 1928-10-12

NINA LANE . eyes SWept tiIe
i loaded tray on the rail beside
her. Meat order, 35 cents. salad
IL II cents hot rolls and butter,
cents: coffee cents; apple pie
and cheese. 13 cents, Total, IL cents
Substantial nourishing meal, she
thought as she punched the register and
tore the slip loose. That man was ac-
clstomed to good home cooked meals,
family man Emma judged the Gus
toners of the Palace cafeteria by theT
travs. They were coming faster now.
A lettuce salad with vinegar dressing,
brown bread no butter; pot Oh green
tea and two thin slices OF pneaPpiet,
Hardly a well balanced diet and not
many calories. Poor woman was Diet
ing She could see it in the hungry
eyes cast in the direction of the trench
naStrv counter. Chocolate pie, ice
cream. q bottle of milk and a huge slice
of watermelon. A freckled face grlnneo
over the top of the tray as Johnnie Ad-
ans waited for his slip.
Such a lunch. Johnnie" she scolded
'You should eat more vegetables II you
want 10 grow big and strong"
Mashed potatoes covered with gravy,
fried chicken. fruit salad topped with
whipped cream, beaten biscuits and TWO
pats of butter, a cream pun and coffee,
No dieting in this case, and the stout
red-faced lady smiled back at her in
anticipation Of her feast. A group OF
school girls came through, short haired,
short-sEirted, giggling. Their luncheons
were almost universal with chocolate
sundaes for dessert. begoggled pro-
fessor stopped beside her. While Emma
figured up his check he read from
book carried under his arm.
"Butter?" queried Emma. And don't
you take cream in cottee?
"Butter?" he repeated absent-mind-
edlv. Yes, of course, and cream, too.
I have forgotten them. l Will get them
if you will keep my tray. Thank you.
Butter and cream"
While he went in search of the miss
ing articles, Judge Hardness, wife came
with the tray Snobby. Wonder she
would eat in a cafeteria, putting on
airs The way she did, thought Emma:
At 1870 the rush subsidized School and
Office we're again in session. and the
steam tables on the other side were be-
ing cleared. The girls were busy Shln-
ing the SpotlesS nickel ratings and
counters Emma opened her book at
the turned-down page. She always
managed to get a half hours reading
between 1870 and 2:30, when the Pal
ace Cafeteria closed its doors until the
supper hour.
A tray slid along the nickel railing
and came to rest beside the cash reg
lister Emma laid down her book and
her eyes for moment rested on the
hand that protruded from a frayed
clean cuff. 1t was familiar Then to
the food-a bowl of corn flakes, a small
pitcher of milk, graham crackers cup
of tea Her eyes went up to the mans
face-a tinid, pale face, tired blue
eyes; eyes that smiled, however, at her.
She looked again at the tray and
scowled.
That's mighty poor excuse for
lunch, William Watson" she said sharp
ly. You need nourishment! You need
foodl You're sick!"
He shook his head sadly as he took
the check from her hand.
II Just don't seem to have any appe-
tite lately, Emma. And along with a
bad case of indigestion last week-I go
pretty slow. And then eatin' alone as
/ do nowadays-but seeing that you
mentioned it I might go back and get
one of them baked apples"
Tell her to put some whipped cream
on it-lots!" called Emma, and then
she looked about quickly, hoping none
of the girls heard. What would they
think? She, a woman of IS, telling a
man what to eat. And, of course, they
didn't know she and William were old
friends for years and years.
II don't get to see you so often since
went to live on the farm, Emma" he