The Washington times., 1938-11-09
PROGRESS OF AN AFFAIR
Daily Short Story
Bv DENIS MORRISON

MABLE HODGE though
W1 she was through work fol
the day when Joy tiptoed II
from the back and said:
Customers, mother. In a
big car. Have we anything
left ?"
"sorne filets, think. You start
getting things ready while take
the order, dear
She opened the swinging door
that led to the dining room. Ihe
lights we're dim but Mabel Hodge
could see we'll enough, and what
she saw made her pause. A tall
slender man with a fringe OF gray
at the temples was assisting a
pretty girl with her wrap.
Mabel Hodge heard them talking.
"Charming little place. How lucky
we stumbled by. Hope they can
give us dinner. Never dreamed
there was such a quaint, delight
full inn on this road"
Mrs. Hodge went back to the
kitchen. "You run in and take the
order, dear" she directed her
daughter. I'll look into the ice
box"
It was a hunch that made her
pause. Normally she'd have run
out and exclaimed. "Why, Mr..
Hardy, I'm so glad to see you! Do
please just make yourself at home:
How do you like my new placer
KNEW MABLE WHEN
John Hardy had ample reason
to know Mable Hodge quite well.
He had been her employer. He was
the chief executive of an import
ant corporation. Mabel Hodge had
started with the company as
young girl, risen to the post OF
personnel manager.
One of her last acts had been
to pick Helen Smith to be
Mr.. Hardy's personal aide.
The girl with Mr.. Hardy now
was Helen Smith. And Mabel
Hodge wanted to be sure before
she broke in upon them. She
wanted to be sure John Hardy
would smile and not froWn.
st sold them the filets," JOY,
said when she returned to the
Kitchen. "They seem awfully nice
people. The man is so devoted.
He's certainly not her father
though he's old enough"
Eyes, dear" Mabel Hodge an
swered absently. open can of
those little French peas. And whip
up some cream for the dessert"
That was Sunday night. Mrs.
Hodges Inn of the Seven Wind
mills was situated where the
coast road north from San Fran
cisco forks. The following Sun
day night Mabel Hodge noticed
that Joy was watching the clock.
CAR COMES AGAIN
Mabel and Joy might have
locked up and gone back to their
cottage behind the inn. But they
didn't. They puttered around
and a little aften ten the big car
purTed to the door again.
This time Mabel watched them.
The filets were ready and waiting
to be broiled. On a shopping tour
into the city she had bought sew
eral bottles of a wine which she
knew was John Hardy's favorite.
eNIaN iIAl hn aV01niYOonI hic
delight when Joy suggested it.
You can depend on me to be a
steady customer from now on"
he said.
That's very nice" Joy told
him politely. DO you live near
here?"
Il have a place on the bay. We
get up for week ENDS in the sea-
son. This place must have opened
only recently"
Just this spring"
"He wants you to come out and
talk to him." Joy told her mother
on a Sunday night a month or So
after the first visit. "He wants
to meet you and tell you what a
splendid cook you are"
Not now, child. I'm-Im sorry.
My work dress and all. I'd be
ashamed. Apologize to him for
me, Joy, that's a dear"
She knew now that pretty Helen
Smith was not accompanying
John Hardy on these week-endS
merely for the purpose of taking
notes.
She knew their problems so well.
Helen, she noted, was wearing al
stylishly cut mink jacket. Her
hair was waved and curled in al
modiSh coiffure. Her clothes had
not been bought on the dress bud
get Of even the best paid secretary.
And yet she seemed happy. She