Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-12-12

basket. The third night salne took
/ two inventories Of the Ice box and
I larder, one before and one after the
maids departure. Half a leg Of lamb,
I four eggs, q loaf Of bread q half pound
I Of butter, and one cooked sausage
Weighing about two pounds had dis
/ appeared.
! The mistress was furious. She had
+ thought the bills for provisions excess
Siye. but had put the fact down TO high
suburban prices. Now she knew that
the maid was supporting q household
elsewhere in addition TO receiving $50
a month. board and room for her
self.
Next day Sallie did little quiet de-
tectiVe work. She found out that Celia
jackson had an able-bodied husband
on relief That capped the climax. Sal
lie lost all fears. She came home boil
ing angry and discharged Celia on the
spot. threatening 70 have her arrested
and her husband taken off relief II
she was not off the place in 80 min
utes.
and II a nickel's worth Of anything
goes with you, you can expect to spend
the next month in jail" finished Sal
lie, stamping her foot.
Celia glared murderously, but she put
down the carving knife. Ten minutes
later she slammed the front door be-
hind her.
That afternoon Sallie worked in the
kitchen. She had dinner on the table
when Kings car, bringing him from
the 7:16 train, crunched the gravel Of
the bluestone drive. The lyonnaise po-
tatoes were soggy. the lamb chops had
dried out TO the consistency Of oak
tanned leather and the salad dressing
was watery.
Only one thing was any good. des-
sert. Sallie had ice cream and ginger
bread. The gingerbread was mix from
a can, the sort you add water TO and
bake. Sallie had dared that much, do ,
ing her first cooking since girlhood I
in Bradford, Vt. And she thought the
gingerbread looked really edible.
Him, where's Celia?' asked King /
after his first bite Of lamb chop
'She had to ego away for few I.
days" said Sallie, almost choking over /
the fib, but then raising her head /
proudly. This was part Of her act and /
she would put 1t across or die in the +
attemptI
King talked at random then about /
things in town. until he came to the 4
dessert.
why Salliel" he exclaimed, gen.
timely surprised This Is the most de-
licious gingerbread ever tasted I
never dreamed you could cook
Isn't it in character" she dimpled.
vastly relieved. There was a guilty
feeling, though. This had come out OF
a can and she had let him think it her
own concoction.
The meals of the next three days
were fair, no better than that. Sallie
found that cleaning and cooking and
took all her time. She
had to market by phone. She meant to
get another maid. but somehow put It
Off It was q sort of confirmation OF
herself, doing this when she had to.
simple dinner in hand, she decided on
real" gingerbread-he own mix, in
other words Cook book in hand, she
went through with it. And the result
looked excellent.
When King took the first bite. how
ever, a strange expression came to his
eyes. He looked down instantly, and
went ahead to finish his section, but
Sallie knew. She taSted-and the gin
gerbread was soggy in the center. It
tasted like sOapl
She put the serviette to her face,
then rose from the table. She came
toward him and he got up. not under
standing. She was not crying. but the
roses had mounted to her cheeks and
ner eyes were suspiciOusly bright
II made the other out Of a can,
King" she said in stifled voice. This
this was my own. I guess III need
,ome rehearsals."
Never mind, Sallie," he said and
waited. Something else was In the air.
lie felt the electricity OF It.
king" she said slowly, you know
now Mary Marriott always has 10 take
he same kind of part each year-the
lind you assigned her first2"
why, yes, It's too bad, because"
And William Hodge could never play
snything except a part like The Man
rom Home'?"
"Ye-es. but you aren't old enough
o have seen him"
Never mind. You told me. Well,
King, III like my sticky partl VIII
'ou give me another chance to learn
/? III mean the part right herel"
Incredulity flashed into his eyes, then
fope. In a second he had lifted her
rom her feet, tight in his arms
you mean you want to stay, Sallie?"
le asked
Eyes" And she relaxed for a mo-
nent, closing her eyes. I'm need
Ong session OF rehearsals before I'm
NY good, though"
He had sense enough to kiss her