The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-10-01
Baking Powder Girl
Couldn't Cook
By SIDNEY BLAIR

down Fifth avenue. "It's the loneliest
place in the world-me for San Fran
cisco the minute my works done"
Neal was hungry, but he hated the
thought of another lonely dinner In
a strange restaurant. He decided to
get something at a delicatessen and
take it back to his hotel. That would
be better than eating where he could
see other people dining with each
other.
He turned down a cross street near
Washington Square and went to Sixth
avenue. Just ahead Of him was a girl
with a Pekinese puppy. She turned in
to a delicatessen store, and he fol-
lowed.
Probably going to get some cold
ham and potato salad for her nus
bands superb he thought disgusted-
ly.
When the pretty girl with the dog
was waited on, she Bodybuilding
powder.
"Great Jerusha, she must be going
to bakep thought Neal, and envied
the man she was going to do 1t for.
He was so absorbed in his thoughts
that he didn't even notice what was
happening till suddenly he realized
that the Peke had his leash neatly
wound around Meals legs.
The girl apologized and together
thev unWound the leash. She dropped
the baking powder. too; 1t hadn't been
wrapped yet, and somehow the lid
came off, deluging Neal with the white
contents of the can.
"Oh, how dreadful I" The girls love
ly face turned pinker than ever. "How
terrible! Lob, can't I do something
about it? l live just few doors from
here-if you'd come home with me.
I'm sure mother could get it Off"
Meals dark blue trousers were
smeared white; it really seemed the
only thing to do.
Back to her apartment they went, a
charming little place high in a great
apartment building. He met Mrs. Lane,
the pretty girls mother, and he and
Felicia-the pretty girl-looked out of
big window at the roofs of the city
and its curving bridges, while Mrs.
Lane got dinner. He shared it with
them.
After dinner they went to the
movies" Two days later, Sunday,
they picnicked on the Palisades. Neal
swore that he'd never tasted such
good sandwiches served in a scooped.
out cabbage.
Neal no longer thought of New York
as lonely city. Suddenly 1t had be-
come the friendliest city in the world
except San Francisco, Of course.
There were many delightful little meals
at the Lanes apartment, many din.
ners at the big restaurants where
Neal entertained them, lonely places
no longer.
81 was shocked out of my shoes
that day l met you, when you bought
baking powder" Neal told Felicia, one
afternoon. "Pd been watching the
other women who were scrambling
dinner together out of the shelves of
timed goods, and I'd about decided
that there weren't any women in New
York who could cook"
A few days late Felicia appeared
with a bandaged hand. She'd hit il
with hammer, she said, when she
was putting up some pictures. A lit.
| tie later the other hand, showed a
long, red scar. Burned, she explained
shed been using a curling iron, and
it had slipped and burned her.
"But thought your hair was nat.
urally curly" protested Neal.
"It-it isl" stammered Felicia.
She looked unhappy, somehow; her
blue eyes, where saiety usually
| danced, grew sad. Neal wondered
what was the reason. He'd come to
feel that he wanted to protect her
from the world He tried hard to find
out what was the matter but Felicia
put him off. She said the Peke hadn't
been we'll and she was worried about
him.
| Il always thought, till | knew you.
that a woman who likes little dogs
was rather a fool" Neal told her
alphabetically. ut seemed so silly for
| them to waste their time with lap
dogs when they might better be taking
care of children"
"Wang thinks he big dog" she
answered, with spirit. "And you can't
take care of children when you haven't
any to take care of"
"Felicia, will you marry me?" Neal
demanded suddenly. "Tve loved you
ever since that first day, three months
ago. Please, Felicia dear, marry me- .
"No," said Felicia. And there were
tears in her eyes when she said it.
Neal took Ter by the shoulders and
turned her around so that she had to
face him. why not?" he demanded
| Because | can't COOK she an
swered, and the tears overflowed. i've
tried my best, sine you said woman
ought to know how. I've burned my.
self terribly. l don't know u thing
about cooking, AMI l don't believe
ever will"
| "Great Jerusha!" exclaimed Neal
taking her in his arms. "As if little
| thing like that n.atteredw