The wageworker., 1910-04-01
TWAS HIS
FAULT

Il shall never set foot in Banking
toms store again. declared Mrs.
sWedderburn in such a tone of fierce
determination that Wedderburn looked
up from his evening paper in sur
prise.
Il was actually insulted there,
Harry" she went on. Il had intend
ed to ask you to, start an account at
Blankington's. but after the treatment
/ received there to-day l shall certain
ly not patronize that firm any more"
II don't believe we need any more
charge accounts" said Wedderburn.
easily. But I'm surprised that you
should have met with any discourtesy
at Blankington's. What happened, any
way?"
We'll, when l went down town this
morning l thought I'd just take five-
dollar bill with me. knew that
would be plenty for the few little pur-
chases 1 intended making and for Beu-
lah Russells and my luncheon. l tele-
phoned Beulah to meet me at Blank
ington's and lunch with me and, do
you know, she simply insisted on pay
ing the bill She said it was her turn.
and all that sort Of things. SO. of
course. had to let her pay.
II was kind of glad afterward, for
saw n splendid sale of lingerie blouses
for only two dollars apiece, and it was
nice to know l had plenty of money
in my pocket to buy one and the other
things wanted, too.
r
knew you'd be awfully pleased with it,
because it buttoned in front, Harry. I
told the saleswoman to send it and
then we looked around at all the other
waists and didn't see any liked bet
ter than mine, and, after quite awhile,
l went to the girl who had waited on
me and asked her II my change hadn't
come yet.
"'Change!' she repeated. There
isn't any change. You gave me the
right amounts two-dollar bill'
"I couldn't have done that said.
for didn't have twodollar bill with
me. had just one five-dollar BILL
She called the manager of the de-
partment and We both told him of the
error. ! was careful not to say any
thing critical about the saleswoman's
carelessness, for know everybody is
liable to make mistakes. The manager
went down to the cashier and, after I
had waited until l was getting tired,
he came back and said there had been
no five-dollar bill paid into that de-
partment for some time before had
bought my waist.
"SThen you doubt my word?' said.
No, madam he replied, but it is
possible that you paid two-dollar bill
without noticing it,
"'How could L. I asked, when had
only a five-doliar bill with me?'
Are you quite sure that you had
no two-dollar bill?' he returned.
Don't you think. Harry. it was i'm.
pertinent of him to question me in
that way? Beulah was incensed at his
rudeness. can tell you.
"T certainly am positive l replied,
for l remember thinking this morn
ing that I'd take a five-dollar bill for
my days expenses. and as had but
one bill in my purse, that must have
been 1t. for haven't even seen a two
dollar bill for long time. And.'
went on. very firmly, I wish you would
refund my three dollars at once
That's just what we can't do,
madam he declared, but If our cash
balance tonight should show that we
owe you three dollars we'll send it to
YOU tomorrow
Tomorrow! l repeated, scorn-
fully. In the meantime am left with,
out cent Of money in my purse and
am practically accused of trying to
cheat Blankington's out of three dol
lars. when the shoe is really on the
other foot
Then l demanded back the money
l had spent on the blouse, for l knew
after all that fuss should never take
any pleasure in 1t. AS l told you at
first. Harry. I've decided never to go
into that store again."
Have you looked for the five-dollar
bill since you came homer" Wedder-
burn asked. stretching an arm toward
his wife's desk.
NO; why should I, when know 1
took it with me this morning?"
Wedderburn did not argue the ques-
tion. but quietly pulled out the little
drawer of the desk. There lay a
crisp, green bill.
why, ! couldn't have taken it out,
after ALL" exclaimed Mrs. Wedder-
burn. But where did ever get that
two-dollar bill? I can't understand
1t at ALL"
This morning l took a look into
your purse, my dear, and. as it was
empty. l put in the two-dollar bill,
which was all happened to have with
me-"
"Oh, Harry, why didn't you tell me !?
Just see all the trouble you have
made for me! And that was such a
beautiful blouse for the money at
Blankingtons! And now l shall be
a,ho,na1 IN u<, thoro apd = ~ "a ,a a.,