still , hal had some liking for beulah , who once in a while would read him a lurid tale from one of her confession or true-detective magazines ( `` death came for the voluptuous red-head , '' beulah would intone ominously in the dozy daytime silence of the living room , and pop another reese 's peanut butter cup into her mouth while hal solemnly studied the grainy tabloid pictures and drank milk from his wish-cup ) .