The Washington times., 1935-03-09

in the storm for food, he investi
gated the refrigerator. He found
some eggs, but his interest in eat
ing died when he SurV eyed the
kitchen. Every dish in the place
had been used. Stacks of them
Ashes sticking to them. Cold
grease in the skillet. Old coffee
grounds in the percolator.
He shuddered, and then hear
ing q rap at the front door,
went to answer it.
"Sharlene!" he exclaimed, pull,
ing her in quickly out of the
doWnpour. What on earth
brings you here? Is anything
wrong?"
Tete a Tete
"I Just came to dinner" she
announced.
"Here? Oh. We'll have to go
out somewhere"
"Not in this storm. Hollywood
is moving right down off her
hills to the sea. Rivers of mud
Come on, there must be some
thing In the kitchen" She
started across the floor.
She caught up the bag she had
with her and rummaged in It,
Recipe, thermometer, apron
my tools! Now you just watch
me, Stuart, and you'll see mir
acles!"
She went into the kitchen,
tying on the apron in a business
like way, which amused Stuart
inordinately as he followed her
"You can't cook!"
"Can't I? Don't bet on 1t
I've been taking cooking lessons
with one of my little bride
friends. It's fascinating"
A Bargain
Cooking lessons? What for?"
"A woman in my position
needs to know" She was looking
into the cupboard. II see you've
lots Of eggs. And here's corn
meal. Good! I learned to make
corn bread today. I can make
an omelet, too. And Scrumr
coffee. How'S that?"
"Look here, if you're really
bent on doing this, I'll do the
kitchen police while you stir uI
the Gavin pone.'
That's an idea! Now don't
speak while I'm measuring things
or I might make a mistake"
They worked together silently
for q while. Stuart was think
ing how ridiculous it was to have
Sharlene there in such a gulse
CHAPTER XII
He said nothing until they
were sitting across from each
other in the studio at the table
drawn up before the fire. Shar
lene's cheeks were flaming and
he thought he had never seer
her so beautiful.
She watched him anxiously un
til he had had his first mouthfu,
of the delicate crumbly corr
bread.
"Perfect!" he shouted. why
sharlene, who would have be
neved it!"
She put her chin on hel
crossed hands and looked at him
uuizzically. Stuart, did I remind
you of anyone when you opened
the door on me in the rain?"
"Why, no"
"Not Of a title starved kitter
or anything?"
"Oh. You don't mean Julie?'
eyes"
''No, you never remind me oi
Juliet" he grinned sardonically
"Oh, dear!" she sighed. "
didn't get the effect. might
just as well have come in dry
weather"
She saw his bewilderment
"You see, Julie took my place
away from me-and I want te
take her old place which sh'
left behind"
whats the joke?"
tim not being funny. I NEAR
it. I want to take jules place
with you. Model for you, keeI
house, cook, mend, do everything
she did"
He stared at her in amazement
but he came to realize that sh'
meant it. Then he began to ex
postulate: 'Now, Sharlene. yol
can't do that! It's impossible! =
"Do you mean-you can't en-
dure-having me around?"
''No-though you proba bl!
would be a nuisance" He grinne'
at her again.
Listen, stuart. First, II
promise not to be a nuisance
Second, this isn't drudgery t,
me. I like it. Mother had al
the fun Of doing it when sh
was young. And then-you'r
the only person I could bear II
ask to take care Of me. In
broke!"
"I Just can't believe 1t. !
seemed such a permanent tol
tune"
II guess money isn't one Of tn
permanent things. after all. {.
I'll have to go over everythin
with Kent-it's complicated wit
Joint ownership. But I actuall
haven't a penny to my name
till he gets back"
"Of course you'll wireless him?
IT can't. Don't you Se'
Stuart? I'd rather starve! Whe