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Show tt 1 111!, 11 1 1 1 1 1 Htl M I CHICKEN A LA KING :; v ;; . ; By PAYNE MORRI8. Mr. Feck didn't realize, that it was Monday until be was upon his own pavement When tho fact crashed up-' on him with stunning force, he began nervously to unbutton his coal By tho time he was in the living room both coat and waistcoat wcro off and ho was hurriedly turning back his cuffs. Ho know thcro would be a checked apron behind the kitchen door and a note concerning dinner on a nail above tho sink. It was club day; and ho know that that meant that when Mrs. Peck returned at 6:30 she would expect dinnor to bo ready to serve. Mr. Peck found tho apron and read tho note. "Great days!" ho exploded. "Chicken a la king, page 76 In the cook book, potatoes au gratln, page 104, bannna fritters yon know how tho dessert's made (on ice), cucumber and tomato salad, French dressing. Put down tho lace mats and yellow candles and an extra place.- 1'm-hav lng company." A staccato knock, Bounded upon the kitchen door, and Mr. Peck opened it. A young woman Blood there a very pretty young woman. Even in Mr. Peck's perturbed state of mind.-ho had enough gallantry to fling tho door qulto wide and say pleasantly: "Good ovoning. Won't you, come in 7," Sho nodded appreciatively and stepped into tho kitchen. "I am Mri. Harmon from next door. I came In to boo If Mr8.-Peck could, "lond ,mo a Jcmon." "It you'll Just Bit down, I'll go look in the pantry. Mrs. Peck la out and I'm getting dinner." "Oh, how cute I Imaging my Harry getting his own dinner! I can Just see him In an apron!" She threw back her head and laughed merrily. The lough was very contagious and Mr. Peck smiled. He wanted to hoar her laugh some moro. "Bosldes," he added proudly, "I'm not only gottlng my own dinner, but that of my wife and and company," Mr. Pock procured tho lemon and was holding tho door open for her when a happy thought struck him. "Do you know how to make chicken a la king?" ho asked. "Heavonsl Do you have to make that?" "Yes, and wait, I'll read you tho note." "You poor man!" when ho had finished. fin-ished. "You never can do that in tho world. It's almost six now." Mr. Peck looked at his watch anxiously. anx-iously. "So it 1st Why, I'd no idea it wub so late." 'Dont you want mo to stay and help? I'd lovo to, if if you don't toll." Mr. Pock promised with suspicious promptness. So Mr. Pock nnd his pretty nolghbor dissected chicken, niado cream dressing, dress-ing, grated cheeso, mado batter and altogether wore bo busy for tho noxt halt hour that neithor had tlnio to talk. , Mr, Peck sot tho table while tho fritters woro frying. Ho know whoro to find things laco mats and all. "Well, Mr. Pock, I guoss it's timo I was going. Tho wholo dinner's ready to sorvo." Sho laughed amiably, Mr. Pock turned tho knob of the kitchen door when ho had thanked his nolghbor for her heaven-sent help. Tho door stuck. He turned tho knob the othor way. Still it stuck. Ho rattled rat-tled the knob and kicked tho door. No usol Ho lookod anxiously at his watch. Six-thirty! "It's time for Tillle, Mrs. Harmon, and tho door doesn't soem to open. Wilt you try tho front way?" "I'll havo to, I guess. Wouldn't It bo dreadful If I'd moot Mrs. Pock!" "You'ro Just right, It would I" snapped a woman's voice from the shadow of tho front hall. "You didn't hear mo come In, eh, John? Well, hero I am! And tho gentleman I've brought with mo will bo Just as interested as I am, I guess." Mrs. Pock reached for tho switch In the living room and turned on the light. "Harry!" gasped Mrs. Harmon. "You didn't toll mo you were coming here tonight. I didn't expect to see you." "No, I guess you didn't!" said Mrs. Peck. "This Is a pretty how do you do!" ''Mrs. Harmon looked nervously from ope to tho other Then &he made the speech ot her life. ', "Don't you dare to apeak to me until un-til I'm through, Mrs. Peck; 'nor you either, Harry Harmon. You are both so busy with clubs and lectures you forget you have homes both, of you. I'came In here to borrow a lemon for my solitary supper., thought to be accustomed ac-customed to them, but I'm not. This poor man hero was panic-stricken for fear ho couldn't cook the 'meal he'd been ordered to get So I offered to help and I did, What's more, you've no more business being out with my huaband than I have trying to kill myself my-self for yours. Sotherel" She rushed for the door sobbing. Harry caught her In his arms, saying say-ing remorsefully: "Walt a minute. Toots I See bore! I have been a Botflsh old cad, but I promise to reform this minuto. You'ro a little peach, that's what you aro. Thero that's hotter, dry your wyes, doarle." Mrs. Pock survoyod her husband with contrition. "John Pock, take off that apron and don't you ever put on another as long as you live or go into flat kitchen either. Mrs. Harmon, havo you any.appetlto for your own cooking T." (Copyright, 191S. by McClure Newspaper |