| Show say it with service by ALICE DUANE 0 nic ciure newspaper syndicate service I 1 1119 lets eat bob linton WELL VV spoke impatiently though his voice was pleasant enough he stood in the door of the untidy little living room and watched mary as she pulled the spreads hurriedly over quickly made beds right im ready wheres my handbag mary leaned over to see her nose in the dressing table mirror as she gave it a last dab of powder swept a crumpled ci urn pled handkerchief into the drawer before she pushed it shut with her knee pulled her hat down over her brown curls without looking at it and went into the living room to get her handbag bob performed his regular morning task of closing au all the windows save for an inch at the bottom and an inch at the top for fear there might be rain it was two rooms bath and kitchenette really but excepting for its tiny refrigerator where a bottle of milk or a bottle of beer might be kept on hand for refreshments the kitchenette heriette did not count in bob and marys life they had agreed six months before when they were married that they try to keep house youre right mary bob had said with business in the dumps of course I 1 cant afford to support you youre right to keep your job P be self selfish ish to ask me to give it up mary had said well save toward a future when I 1 go to an office if you want his radiant smile answered her without words and we wont try to keep house at all well just have all the happiness of marriage with none of the worries oh the same old junk said bob as he and mary a few minutes after leaving their rooms sat down at a drug store counter for breakfast gosh am I 1 tired of this joint mary interrupted him a bit acidly his criticism of the breakfast menu seemed a criticism of her dont know what more you could expect what do you want anyway waya jacks waiting for our order give div me tomato juice toast and coffee ahoi they separated at the subway entrance at the corner mary took a bus because her office was much nearer than bobs they were both a little snappish cherell Wh erell we meet for dinner bobs query was given as if he care whether or not they met well how do I 1 know now call me up later and ill let you know when I 1 can get away marys tone was impatient all right all right but you bite my head off just because I 1 ask a civil question so they separated and five min minutes later each was thinking of the other mary with tears in her eyes bob with regret in his heart its just because we organized this tiling right thought bob the place looks like the devil mary hates untidiness and heaven knows im untidy its because wed be happier if we eat our meals all in in restaurants tau rants mary thought bob hates it when he telephoned her after lunch she said oh bob dear ill be late tonight meet me uptown at the subway corner at half past six six and well have dinner uptown and bob answered 0 K I 1 was just going to suggest the same thing ive got to work late myself at five mary let herself into the apartment with her latchkey after telephoning bob s she h e had pushed hurriedly through the days work so that she might go home early her arms were full of bundles for she had stopped at the butchers and grocers on her way in As she started across the living room to the kitchenette she stopped in fright somebody was in the bedroom making such a noise that her own none too quiet entrance had evidently been unheard she stood still for a moment then pushed open the bedroom door why bob linton whatever are you doing she looked at bob in shirtsleeves shirt sleeves with a scrubbing brush in one hand and a cake of soap in the other bob from his knees grinned up at her cleaning up he said knew kew you like this mess mostly mine too so I 1 dug everything out of this closet and ive got pem cm all sorted now im scrubbing the floor bob you darlinge dar lingl mary let a clutter of parcels drop to the bed as she went down on her knees beside bob to kiss him 1 I do think youre sweet well au all this bob inquiringly picked up a brown paper bag that oh dinner I 1 bought a steak and some vegetables and things and coffee and cream and rolls and stuff for a salad thought wed dine in tonight I 1 knew like it bob jumped to his feet upsetting the pan of water from which he was washing the floor he took mary in his arms still brandishing the soap and brush youre sweeter he said |
