Smyrna times., 1932-08-31
WEEKLY STORY
AROUND TABLE
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
FOR DINNER"
By Jane Osborn

NA/ KEN BALDWIN felt species
- Of self-consciOusness as he
strode into the boarding house din
ing room that second night of his
residence there. dressed in his tux
edo. He assured himself that there
was nothing ont of the way in his
appearance. No one, of course,
would know that the reason he was
thus formally dressed was because
he had but one business suit at
present in which, after he had re-
turned from the office a quarter Of
an hour ago, he had discovered
ripped seam that made it quite nee
essary TO take it to the tailor.
The ten boarders at Mrs.
Haven's sat at one long table, and
to hide any slight embarrassment
Wren began to talk of the weather.
AS he was talking be noticed
that Miss Ames cast preoccupied
| glances across the table and when
she could politely turn her atten-
tion from him she looked brightly
across and said: ''Goin' out tonight,
Miss Drew"
"Why, no. Miss Ames," said the
girl addressed as Miss Drew. "What
made you ask that?"
Then you are expecting com
pany." announced Miss Ames with
| the familiarity that she seemed to
think living under the same board
Ing house room permitted Wren
Baldwin eating the watery soup be-
fore him felt a surprising twang of
Jealousy. He had noticed this girl
Miss Drew as they called her
that morning in her trim dark bust
ness frock and noticed. too. the
lovely gray eyes.
After dinner the boarders ad-
1ourned to the boarding house par
lor.
Il suppose you're going out" said
the old woman.
"Oh, to be sure" said Wren, re-
membering the suit at the tailor's
and wondering somehow whether
Miss Ames knew of his errand
there II do have to 60 out for
few minutes later on"
Then pleasant man Of sixty
named Brown approached Wren.
IF you weren't going out I'd ask
you to make up a table at bridge"
he said. "There'd be my wife and
and Miss Drew if we could get a
fourth. It's too chilly TO go up yet"
I'll play" said Wren. and then,
only imagine Miss Drew will
have another partner presently"
But apparently Miss Drew had
40 other partner. The table was
opened. Mrs Brown went upstairs
for the cards and the four sat down
with Miss Ames constituting an un-
invited audience with her chair
drawn up between that of Wren
and Miss Drew
So they played. and as they
played and no caller arrived for
Miss Drew, Wren's jealousy ahated.
and as it abated his admiration for
her increased. All at once he looked \
at the clock and saw that the hands 7
pointed to half-past nine. He hap
pened to be playing dummy at the
time, so without much ceremony
about it he rose and made some ex-
cuse about having to 90 out for a
few minutes. Then seizing his coat
IN hn hnI hn
around the corner to the tailor
shop, the terrifying thought that it
might at any minute close for the
night quickening his steps. Back
in the boarding house hall he tucked
his suit under his coat and has
tened to his room, then back to the
card table.
did you get what you went
after?" asked Miss Ames, and Wren
with all the nonchalance he could
command said that he did. Then
when it was eleven and time to go
to bed. Mrs. Brown said that it had
been a very nice party. and very
party. too. she added
Brown took his wife's
arm on one side and Miss Ames
on the other and started for the
stairs. I'VE old folks will go along
and let you youngsters put up the
table," he said, almost dragging the
unwilling Miss Ames with him.
Then over the table Wren felt
that he ought to make an explana-
complete confes-
sion to begin with would be best.
so that's why | had to hurry
out at half-past nine." he finished
his explanation. Il would have
explained then only that little Miss
Ames was so anxious to know"
Miss Drew laughed delightfully."-.
She explained, too. "Fm terribly
poor myself" she said. "but before
we lost everything | did dress for
and my first position was as
4 resident social secretary where !
was expected To dress. Now am
working In an office, but it seemed
50 dingy here and | just made up
my mind that I'd feel a LOT more
,baarf,I If I draeead ne lone nc