Arizona sun., 1948-12-10

his chair back from the table. Care
fully he 'put on his coat and hat
| and sauntered to the cashiers coun-
ter. He paid his check and casually
selected good cigar from the wide
assortment Of boxes. After pausing
to light it he strolled out OF the
restaurant. Outside, he made his
way quickly to his battered, pre-
war coupe.
On the way home he reflected
about the meal he had just finished.
Emma, his wife, wouldn't approve
of such extravaganza. But it had
been worth it. He hadn't known that
food could be so good, That steak
had been broiled until 1t was medi-
um well done, the way he liked it.
The snowy white mashed potatoes
topped with a delicious, rich gravy
tasted even better than it had
looked. And such serviceI
Business had kept him in town
several hours past his usual quit
ting time. He had phoned Emma
to say that he would be late and
would grab bite to eat on the way
home. He knew how she hated to 60
to any trouble to fix him snack
! whenever he had to work late at
the Office.
He turned his car into the drive
that led to his small unpretentious
home. AS he locked the garage ne
noticed bright light upstairs in the
bedroom. Waiter shrugged his shoul-
ders, disgustedly. She's painting
again." he said, half out loud. ''Why
doesn't she have a good hobby, like
reading detective stories?" He was
an avid reader of such literature
himself. Emma had taken up oil
painting almost a year ago, much
to Walters contempt. She consid-
cred herself quite talented and doz-
ems of hideous pictures were dis
played throughout the house. More
than half of the bedroom had been
converted into her ''studio,' as En-
ma fondly called it. Most of the
time it was cluttered with halt fin
ished paintings, easels. brushes and
cans of paint.
Walter entered the house and went
upstairs. 1t would be best to let her
know Immediately that he was
home.
Emma's harsh, unpleasant voice
greeted him before he was in the
room. Haven't got anything for
you to eat" She was busily daub-
ing away at a canvas, her hair
rumpled and her face smudged.
That's all right, Emma" re-
piled Walter. II stopped in at the
Regal restaurant after work"
What! The Regal restaurant"
cried Emma. walter Button, you
know good and well we can't af-
ford such fancy places!"
''It was very good meal, En-
ma" answered Walter, his voice
meek and low.
II don't doubt it one little bit, "
his wife said with as much sarcasm
in her tone as possible. For the
kind of prices they charge the food
should be fit for king" She turned
back to her work with a grimace.
Walter stepped over little closer
so he could see what she was paint
ing. He studied it intently for sew
eral seconds. Then his face lit up.
That's a picture of rainbow, isn't
it," \
"Rainbow!' Emma shrieked.
THAT just shows how much you
know about art" Walter shifted his
feet uneasily.
"Well, what is it, if it's not a
rainbow" he cautiously inquired.
''It's an abstract painting" said
Emma, though of course you
wouldn't understand that. 1t repre-
sents slice of bacon frying in a
pan." Walter looked at the picture
again and muttered something un-
der his breath. ''What did you say?"
asked Emma, suspiciously.
81 just said I think I'll 60 down.
stairs and read awhile" said Wal
ter.
His wife shifted contemptuously.
'"Those silly detective stories!"
Walter gave no Indication that he
heard her last statement. He went
downstairs and picked out a maga-
zine from the supply on his desk.
With a sigh of contentment he set
tied down in his comfortable, if old,
Morris chair. This is the kind of
recreation a person should have,
he told himself. It was long past
midnight when he finally layed
down his reading and went to bed.
The great idea came to Walter
at breakfast the next morning. He
had come down ravenously hungry.
Gloomily, Walter looked at his
plate. The bacon was only half done.
The eggs, however, were fried so
hard that they were crisp. The
toast, too, was burned and the or
ange Juice had been poured into an
unwashed glass that had contained
milk the night before.
There must be some way to get
Emma to improve her cooking" he
pondered. "And I wish she'd watch
her looks more" Emma often
T. l.