The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-24
0HegEHH0B@@5 j. 80: 80: :: :
b. LAURA Lou
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lunched and departed. The long
room with its innumerable little
tables, all with cleaning tile tops,
was not even half filled
Janet ordered a satisfying lunch
two vegetables, a salad, a glass Of
milk and for desert delicious
looking fruit tart. She carried her
tray to a table near the side of the
wall and sat down. 1t was quiet
there. Blessedly quiet.
Suddenly Janet realized that she
was hungry. The hot food seemed
delicious and for several minutes
she devoted herself to it, thinking
only how pleasant it was to eat an
appetizing meal in peaceful sur
roundings.
Then she took slip Of paper
from her curse and began checking
over the times listed. Hayslips' first
for the pen and pencil set. In par
entheSis Janet had set down So" 1t
seemed a lot; enough even for the
handsome pen and pencil she had
visualized as Rolls gift.
The dime store was on the list
for candles and a glass top to re-
place the broken one on the coffee
percolator. The cut-rate flower
shop next for a half dozen pink
roses-little ones that wouldn't last
long, but would be just right in a
low bowl on the table.
The roses would cost only so cents.
Then there was the meat market
and the grocery and all the things
that must be bought to prepare the
birthday dinner.
Janet went over the list. No.
there was nothing she had forgot
ten. Two-ffteen now. She must
hurry
TOUR hours later Janet Hill stood
L before the two burner gas stove
stirring cream sauce, trying at the
same tine to keep an eye on the
steak broiling in the skillet that
sat none too securely over the other
blaze.
The asparagus, cooked, was
propped as near as possible to the
heat to keep it from chilling. A
steaming coffee pot posed perilous-
ly at the corner of the tiny shelf,
serving both as kitchen table and
support for the gas stove.
Dishes, tea towels, paper sack,
knives and spoons Uttered the i'm
provised kitchen.
For a moment Janet stopped STIR
ring to push a strand Of hair back
from her face. She was warm and
her nose vas shining.
The last minute, with everything
to be done at once, was always
confusing.
Rolf would come any time. There
he was noW-the buzzer on The bell
downstairs pressed three times in
rapid succession! Janet's apart
ment' was on the second floor and
Rolf could make that single flight
in record time.
A sharp rap at the door-Janet
leaving the stove, risking ruin of the
dinner to answer-a slim, tall figure
and booming voice in the shadows.
"H1o, honey"
ooh Rolf"
1t was a brief greeting. Janet
hurried back to retrieve the cream
sauce and the steak. The young
man tossed aside his hat and top
coat indolently.
Yes, it was a gray topcoat and a
felt hat exactly the same shade as
the young man who entered the
Brewster Coffee Shop had worn.
Janet was too busy to notice that.
She had disappeared behind the
screen that shut off the Kitchen"
from the rest of the room. The
young man, left to himself, dropped
into an arm chair.
He produced cigarets, lighted a
match, applied it to cigaret and
leaned back comfortably, watching
the curling smoke drift ceilingward.
Busy today?" Janet called.
"So-so." Suddenly Carlyle no.
ticed the table with its bowl of roses
and its tall candlesticks. Say,
what's the idea? Looks like a
party"