The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-17

"This afternoonI" Adelaide said
without hesitation. 81 could send
a wire to Lucy to say Pm coming.
Grenadine could press my blue
print and I could pack a couple of
bags - Brenda!"
WHAT" she asked, startled.
II must be out of my mind to
think of going away. Who would
run this house? Grenadine has
simply no sense at all. Oh, me! It
was nice while It lasted-our
plan"
'T'll tell you who'll run the
house" the girl informed her.
"Lsobel. Did you know she has do
nestle inclination in a big way?
Yearns to plan meals, shop, that
sort of thing?"
well, yes, | did know it,
think. At least, she's always ask
ing me how to tell the grades of
table linen and why do have rice
and macaroni at the same meal:
but she's only a girl, Brenda. She's
had no actual experience. ! don't
believe -"
Brenda cut her short. 81 do. I
think she'd make a grand house
keeper-at least for a week or so.
Let's ask her this evening, shall
we? If she wants to do it, you'll
promise to go to Springfield"
YES. indeed ] WILL" said AIDE
laide enthusiastically.
ISobel was lured up into Bren-
da's room soon after the evening
meal and the idea presented to
her artfully. Brenda dwelt on the
fatigue from which their landlady
was suffering; Adelaide meekIy
pointed out how forgetful she was
growing because of overwork.
Isobel said briskly:
Put it off until next week, AIDE
laide, and I'll do it with all the
pleasure in life. I'll have no les
sons to give next week; they're
redecorating the studio. That
leaves me only the radio work.
and can have the housekeeping
all attended to hours before it's
time to drive down for that"
Conscience Hurt
GO 1T was settled. Brenda was
- sorry the experiment had to be
postponed. She feared her inge-
nuity might give out if it had to
be exercised much longer. Worse
than that, she feared discovery,
either by Adelaide or ISobel. But
Adelaide was far too excited by
her forthcoming visit, and Isobel
was too deep in cookbooks and
texts on domestic science to notice
the various small iniquities which
were being practised beneath
their noses. And on Sunday the
rightful landlady of the old Burn.
ham house departed, and a youth
full substitute was installed in her
place.
Isobel drove Adelaide to the sta.
ton in her little car. Brenda en-
ployed the time while she awaited
the other girls return, in ardent
self-reproach.
Here l am, trying to arrange
other peoples lives for them
againi Little Miss Fixit, always on
the job How do / know whether
Isobel can run this house or not?
Just because she wants a home Of
her own, just because she's inter-
eSted in domestic science, doesn't
guarantee her ability to look after
those two men and keep 'em
satisfied. How'll l feel if Adelaide
comes home and finds Mac and
Eric both gone-and Isobel prob
ably going too. If she makes mess
of the housekeeping"
The more she thought about il,
the less she could understand her
own raShneSS. Isobel herself had
said she had only a theoretical
knowledge of housekeeping; and
weren't the comics always full of
jokes about women who had only
theories and no experience in run
Ling a house?
Eric and Mac were healthy men
with good appetites. They lunched
lightly, and they liked-and had
a right to eXpectl-a good dinner.
What if Isobel offered them cup
full of soup with a dab Of whipped
cream in 1t. a slender chop es-
tnetlcally arrayed IN a fancy frill.
a fancy salad out of a magazine?
Her writer's passion for detail
made the picture a vivid one:
beautifully set table with a low
bowl of flowers IN the middle,
Grenadine drilled to unaccus-
toned perfection Of service. Isobel
neat and attractive in a pretty
gown, and - teaShop rations for
two hungry menl
Brenda was pacing worriedly
back and forth across her room
when a tap came at her door. Be
fore she could open it, Mac stuck
his head in.
Il knew it was all right" he ex.
planned. because I've been listen
ing to that sentry-go Of yours for
twenty minutes. Conscience hurt
your"
''Wh-what do YOU mean, Mac?"
He grinned. I'm on to you,
young womanl Adelaide and
Grenadine in their time have done
some mighty queer things, but
never even to them did il occur to
put my typewriter in the broom
closet! I knew whom I had to
thank for that fancy touch. What's
the big idea, Brenda?"
Her hands went UP to her burn
ing cheeks. So Mac had known all
this time! He had realized that she
had tiptoed into his room and
hidden his pencils, had given an
all too realistic imitation Of
mischievous child of four.
IL had a reason" she faltered.
Il know you did, he assured
her warmly