Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1910-01-13
Settling Up
Hazel and Mabel Were Strengthening
Out Their Monthly Accounts.

night, Hazel?" asked the young wo-
man artist as her chum opened the
door Of her four-room apartment for
her.
NO." she said. Who's coming to
see your"
Nobody, thank goodness! We can
make out our accounts tonight. Hon.
ostly, am so mixed up that l don't
know whether l owe you q lot Of mon.
sy or you owe me lot"
Dinner over, the two opened the
desk, drew up the only two comfort
able chairs in the artistic apartment,
loosened their collars and pulled UP
their sleeves.
Il paid the meat BILL" began Hazel.
~It was 1857 for two weeks, SO you
eve me SO and-what's a half Of 81
cents?"
Goodness! Wait till put 1t down."
said Mabel. "It's-it's 23h cents"
All right. Then you owe me S3.23M.
Let's get that down. Say. Mibs,
think you're cheating me, because two
1S cents makes 30 centS, and this is
more than 80 cents"
That's all right. I'll work It in
nay head. A half Of SO cents is rs
cents and a half Of 7 cents is az
cents. Say, it's good there's a mathe-
matician present. did that just as
easy!"
Honestly, Mabel, I have 20 marvel
At you. Now, couldn't any more
have done that simple little problem
than anything"
"Well, owe you sS.29M. Call It 80
cents. Now, let's go on"
"All right, I'm glad that's done.
Now, paid the milkman, too"
Say, Hazel, two 80 cents make 60
cents. There's something wrong there.
I'm getting cheated this time, and you
never notice it at all, but just hurry
right over it as If you"
well, If anybody gets cheated in
this crowd I'm Of the opinion that 1
generally do"
Let's not fight about It or we'll new
er finish"
I'm glad you won't fight. Honest
ly, feel so cross and wicked when
we make out our accounts"
"Hazel, have an idea. used to be
awfully good in algebra. hated arith.
metic, but after / had taken algebra
the second time l really knew some.
thing about it. Now, we'll let X equal
what you owe and what 1 owe"
But we both owe the same"
THAT isn't the way do 1t. Oh, yes
Well, x equals what you owe, too
Then Ok equals $6.57. Just tell me
that l don't know something about al
zebra. Now, if 2X equals-oh, say
we've got to divide 81 by again"
This is too much!" said Hazel
burying her hands in her hair. "Mibs
shall die before the meat bill is fin
ished. And think of all the others!"
I'm thir ing. Don't bother me
Now / have it. owe you 2Sh cents
and that's right Pm dead sure of il
because I worked 1t backward"
I'm ready to take your word fol
anything. I never could do fractions
anyway. Oh, but don't forget tha
there's SO to be added to the front O
that"
Have you got that down? Half al
hour for the meat bill! Well b.
through by 6 a. m"
Now the milk bill That Is exactl.
g."
Then owe you 81. Say, did tina
like lightning! Let's get It down
quick"
I'm going to get up early to-mor
row and embrace the milkman for ma
king 1t an even number"
Hazel, paid the grocery bill, an,
that was more than you paid. 1t wa
let me see-$17S1. So guess yo
owe me more"
But l paid the rent and the ga
bill. They come in this time"
"Oh, dear! But you owe me 8
cents for those channels gloves and
owe you cents on the lunch thi
noon"
And you owe me the 1925 that lie
you take"
when did you let me take $1.25
What did 1 buy?"
Il don't remember, but lent It I
you"
I'll bet paid II back"
an bet you didn't. l know. It wa
for a pair OF silk stockings"
"Oh, yes. and they were a poor bar
gain, too. They're all worn out.
just feel as If i were giving you tha
all I-Ag a