| Show 1 x l Y V I T Pr HE sun shone bright through the half-frosted half windows of the Perkins Perkins' Perkins Perkins' Per Per- kins' kins hotel room On his chair in inthe inthe inthe the corner Ralph alph squirmed uneasily and avoided looking at Sheila I Sheila and Ralph were troupers On the stage they were billed as Seabee and Perkins but in private life they were Mr and Mrs Ralph Perkins I Sheila watched her husband thoughtfully for a few moments Then she edged over and planted herself hersell on his disengaged knee I dont don't know whether to laugh or cry she whispered running her fingers fin fin- fingers fin I gers fiers through his curly locks Friday Friday Friday Fri day we start Ten solid weeks of straight booking How much money have we dear Ralph removed Sheila from his knee and stood up three Thirty dollars he announced solemnly after after after aft aft- er a careful inventory of his pockets I And thirty of that goes for the 1 hotel bill when we check out Friday Fri Fri- day I cant can't ask for an advance until weve we've played at least one perform- perform i r yah I r 4 I li I Ir I M 1 d j I Ir i I o I IThe i The check Ralph said casually I Ill pay it now ance ante That leaves us three dollars to live on for three days t I Before Ralph could question her I or ask what she was going to do she j had popped one of the dollars into her purse and disappeared into the hall I In In a half haH hour she was back laden j with supplies cs There she said ex- ex Liver sausage bread brend butter butter butter but but- ter and pie Enough for lunch and dinner I Ralph stared and then suddenly I began to laugh hysterically I His wife was indignant the joke she demanded tartly I Ralph finally got his breath and I gave her a hug Darling I couldn't help it I was just laughing at nt the irony of the thing How are we going going going go go- ing to eat ent all nIl this stuff We haven't havert a knife a fork a n spoon a plate or ora ora orn a n tablecloth As a matter of fact we haven't even a table Sheila gave one weak little moan monn and threw herself on the bed Ralph watched her stupidly for a n moment and then suddenly his face began to light up slowly like a beacon Ive got it he roared Sheila how much did you spend for all this His wife looked bewildered through her tears Seventy cents she fal fal- fal Fine Ralph beamed Coffee is fifteen cents in the dining room downstairs No matter what you order order order or or- der they send up a t table ble with all the trimmings Well We'll just lust ring up room service ce order two cups and for thirty thirty thirty thir thir- ty cents we can have our feast I Sheila caught on right away awny Carefully Carefully Care Care- fully she concealed the food under I Ithe Ithe the bed and and Ralph phoned down for room service I In a few minutes the waiter appeared appeared appeared ap ap- ap- ap and laid the cloth When he had hed finished he presented the menu Just two cups of coffee Ralph gave the order carelessly The man nodded mechanically and disappeared into the hall In a short while he was back buck with a fragrant fragrant fragrant fra fra- fra- fra grant steaming pot of coffee He poured it into the two cups and re re- re- re tired Ralph and Sheila held their breath until his footsteps faded away down the hall then they locked the door and dove under the bed after their supplies Finally when they had disposed dispose of all the pie and sandwiches they could hold and after they had carefully carefully carefully care care- fully boxed the remainder to keep until supper time Ralph phoned for the waiter He knocked softly at nt the door entered entered entered en en- and began to stack up the plates and remove the table The check Ralph said casually Ill pay it now The uThe check The waiter looked bewildered Yes the check said Ralph nervously you bring it Why there n are re no checks today said the waiter This is New Years Year's day Everything is on the house And do you know he added in a sudden burst of confidence youre the only people in the hotel that didn't order the whole menu He shouldered the portable table and started down the hall Happy New Year he called Sheila and Ralph stood huddled to together together together to- to gether in the doorway Happy New Year they murmured faintly 1 McClure Syndicate Service |
