Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-01-18
Robert Finds q
Way
BY JENNIE M'cRAw
o Associated Newspapers.
WNU Service.

Rob, will you just run down 70
the store and get me small sack
of -four? I'm making biscuits, and
haven't enough to roll them out"
Roberts own brow creased now.
Gosh, Myrl, I've had hard day,
and I'm tired. Can't you use some
thing else to finish the biscuits? Bak-
ing powder, or cornstarch, or some
thing? Or let 'em 60 and have
bread?"
Myrls frown smoothed as she
laughed.
mo, Rob, can't use anything
but -four, not even talcum powder.
And you would have to 60 to the
store for bread anyway. was max
ing biscuits because the bread was
all gone. l didn't know the -four
was so nearly gone, too"
Robert turned YEARLY and went
out. He stopped at the corner Of
the house to see if the car was
out, but the garage doors were
closed, and he decided that it would
not take much longer to walk than
to get the car and then put it away
again.
AS he trudged the FIVE long blocks
to the store he was thinking hard.
Every evening that week he had
gone to the store to get something
before he could have his dinner.
Eggs one time, bread another, steak
a third. And two mornings he had
gone after things before breakfast.
On both these mornings he had al
most missed his train to the city.
Thinking back, he could see that
Myrl had been getting more and
more careless about keeping sup
plies in the house. There seemed
to him to be little excuse for it.
She had the telephone and the car
to shop with.
She drove down to the little SUBJ
urban shopping center nearly every
day for other things. but she could
not seem to find time to stock the
larder. She was always meeting
friends with whom to visit over
sundaes at the soda shop, or she
had an engagement for luncheon,
bridge or tea.
Everything else about the smart
little bungalow she managed beau
tifully but the groceries were al
ways running out. Robert reflected
wryiy that it had become easier to
send him to the store than to order
over the telephone or drive to the
grocer's. He had become a glori-
fed errand-boy. whose meals were
delayed until he delivered the gro
ceries.
He made his purchases from Mr..
Smithson himself. and after asking
for the bread that he knew must be
had for breakfast he leaned over the
counter and talked earnestly to Mr..
Smithson for several minutes. That
gentleman looked astonished at first,
but as Robert talked on he chuckled
and nodded sympathetically.
tits a 60. Mr.. Kern. There's n
lot Of 'em do that way"
''Six-thirty. then" Robert said,
rs he turned towards the door.
He whistled cheerfully as he car
ried the -four home, and waited
patiently while the biscuits baked.
Dinner over. they went to the neigh
borhood movie.
AS she turned out the living-room
lights for the night Myrl remarked,
''You bought bread for breakfast,
didn't you? I'd like melon, though.
VIII you run down to the store and
get one in the morning?"
Eyes," promised Robert, with a
grim note in his voice that Myrl
missed.
When the alarm tinlkled at seven
Myrl awoke and saw that Robert
was up and gone. She decided that
he had awakened early and gone
out to the store without disturbing
her. The coffee was just starting
to "perk" when a fiivver truck rat
tied up the drive and stopped before
the kitchen door.
Almost before Myrl had time to
wonder the door opened and Robert
came brislxly in with melon. But
such Robert. He wore big white
apron, and a pencil was stuck
jauntily over one ear. Myrl stared,
dumbfounded.
There's your melon, Mrs. Kern,
and nice one it is. Now II there
is anything else you wish brought
later, I can take the order right
now, or you may telephone, If you
prefer" and he poised an expect
ant pencil over a notebook.
Myrl had recovered her voice, il
not her wits.
Robert Kern, what does this
mean? What are you doing with
that apron and tnat truck?"
WELL" answered Robert, meek
ly, i've got a part-time job with
Mr.. Smithson delivering groceries
mornings and evenings. I've got so
used to being a delivery boy I
thought I might as well make II