The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-12-19
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
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Scott looked at Dana and took in all the details-tumbled hair, eyes in which tears were lurking, tremulous mouth.
 "You poor kid" he said, drawing her into his arms. After a comfort ing interval, he took inventory. It appeared that, in the process of cooking dinner Dana had pulled out every pot and pan in the place. Moreover she had not been far wrong when she had said "every- thing" was ruined.
 ''I don't know what happened to the chicken!" Dana walled. T tol- lowed directions, just as I've al- ways done, but it tastes like leather. No one could possibly eat it"
 After a brief examination of the chicken, Scott answered in pro- fessional tone, "It just happens that YOU have cooked the grandfather of that last chicken we had"
 "Oh!" said Dana, enlightened Tor the first time that there could be a great and vital difference in fowl meat.
 And through long habitation of the barnyard the old bird developed a very tough resistance to knives and forks" Scott added.
 "Oh, Scott, don't be funny at a time like this!"
 "Well, what. else is there in the house? could dash out some where for baked ham,"
 "Theres nothing else" Dana an- swered somberly. "You see, Scott, while was worrying about the chicken, the sweet potatoes Scorch- cd. And then I was so upset, forgot to put the aspic salad in the ice box until a little while ago. And look at it!"
 The aspic salad, 8 dejected look ing mess, met Scott's eye.
 ''Maybe 1t will jell by dinner time" Scott looked hopefully at his watch. "Ye gods, Dana, they'll be here in half an hour"
 Dana said nothing, but sheer tragedy was in the look she gave him.
 sT,et's scrap the whole mess, ' Scott suggested. T know a place where they fix up a swell fried chicken loaf. We'll have them send out salad, too, and I'll order brick ice cream"
 "Our desserts all right" Dana said, brightening. 'The cream did whip"
 Make pot of coffee, and every thing will be jake"
 Dana followed directions. Some how, with Scott's help, order was magically restored out of chaos Pots and pans disappeared into their proper places with amazing celerity. Coffee was bubbling mer- rily in the pot when the delivery boy arrived with scott's readymade dinner.
 On pretty platter, the oblong bread loaf, in which golden brown chicken was concealed, looked de- licious and tempting. Especially with a fresh green garnish about it. The salad was a ravishing mix ture, topped gaily with pimento No fault could be found with Dana's coffee and the dessert.
 Scott opened a bottle of cham pagne which one of his friends had given him to use for some special celebration. And what better to celebrate than pulling you out of a hole?" Scott said.
 Everyone had eaten with appar- ent zest. Paula had said, Dana you clever darling to think of such e delicious and informal dinner. could tear my hair in sheer envy"
 The champagne had given the evening a real dash of brilliance Finally they had all piled into paula's car and gone places.
 In the smaller hours Dana and Scott came home, tired but vic- tOrious.
 "A swell party, Mrs. Stanley"
 '@Thank you so much, Dr. Stan ley," Dana answered impudently. adding. Every day bow before professional proficiency"
 Forget it." Scott yawned. When he was asleep-or rather when Dana thought he was asleep-she was busy with wide-away thoughts. Scott had been simply an angel about the whole thing. But what must he have thought of the way she had mismanaged their first att tempt at entertaining? Everyone |