The Coolidge examiner., 1932-07-15
Emergency
Jim
By II. LOUIS RAYBOLD

| Oh hhSiI duNSuluTOuS eApeOlIlOu 10
the big city. armed with two ex-
quisitely engraved diplomas of the
local business college and unlimit-
ed expectations.
Jim was gloomy and took no
pains to conceal the fact. Dutifully
he kissed his sister, then seized
Madge's little gloved hand. RE
member" he said hoarsely, when
the Fifth avenue high hats are chas-
ing you, I'm still thinking about you
back here holding down my little
old job in Perkins hardware. If
you want me in an emergency
well, I'll be waiting"
This was merely an attempt to
convey to her as well as a man
could in the presence of his sister
that he was hers to the death.
And now they had been here six
months, rOOming together in a tiny
apartment.
Through employment agencies,
each had landed a small position
and-a fact which seemed more i'm
portant to each than the job-both
had acquired an esquire of sorts.
This had come about through
former acquaintance of Constance's
at the business college, one George
Perkins, who, hearing from the
folks back home that Constance
was in New York, had got her ad-
dress through them and hunted her
up.
The second time he came he
brought with him friend, smart
ly dressed, personable boy who
looked. Constance said afterward,
Just like his name, which was Nor
timer Peyster. Madge was smitten
at once, and by the third meeting
was convinced not only that she
was In love with him but that, prop
erly encouraged, he would return
her sentiments.
But first there was that little mat
ter of proper encouragement" for.
as the days passed, the young man
in question, although friendly and
always willing to make a fourth at
their good times, failed to hint at
any desire for an engagement, much
less a wedding.
Yet it was Mortimer himself who
let fall the word which might have
| proved Madge's undOing.
II sure miss good home cooking"
he remarked one night. These
sandwiches are the berries"
The next time he came Madge
had made not only more sand
wiches but chocolate cake, one of
those luscious three-decker affairs
with a generous topping of frosting.
Mortimer sampled 1t freely. while
Madge watched him gleefully.
When he had gone she made a
brave proposal to Constance. Lets
invite the boys to Sunday dinner"
she suggested eagerly. "I'm willing
to do every bit of the cooking"
So 1t was settled and the two
young men were duly invited over
the telephone.
Now it is no small matter to get
up a large-sized meal in small
sized apartment out of a very slen-
der food budget. In fact, it was
only by considerable planning,
scrimping and self-denial that the
thing was managed at all and, by
the time the Sunday selected for
the affair had arrived, Madge was
beginning to wonder If even win
ming the handsome Mortimer was
worth the effort expended.
The meal, as a meal, was a tre-
mendous success from start to fin
ish. The steak was done to turn
and not a shade beyond; the vege-
tables were tender and decoratively
fiuted; the dessert, made earlier in
the day, was coldly delicious. If
Mortimer was less lively than
usual, Madge was too concerned
with her serving to notice.
Her moment was to come when.
replete with the good things she
had given him, Mortimer should ex-
pand and perhaps suggest that she
cook for him, the rest of his days.
For Madge imagined that that was
what she desired above all else.
Came the moment, Constance, In
sisting that Madge had done her
share of labor, was sociably doing
the dishes in the kitchen with
George. Madge and Mort had the
tiny sitting room to themselves.
i've got something to tell you."
said Mortimer suddenly.
"Yes?" encouraged Madge, her
heart skipping a beat or two.
"I'm going back home to my IA
thers Office" he said. "All this
he signified his surroundings with
wave of his hand-"and your
dandy meals and all have made
newell, sort of banker for a
place of my own. There's little
girl upstate there l used to know
that you remind me of. I'm going
back to her ,and l wanted you to
be the first to know"