Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-04-09
IheHeadof
The House
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

Susie" said Tom Atherton in a Sc
nous tone of voice, I've been doing a
Job of thinking on our future"
"Why, Tom, what have you been
thinking about?'
We'll, when we're married there's
got to be head to our partnership.
There's always head to every bust
ness firm"
do tellr'
"Now, what's marriage but a CO.
partnership? There'll be you and /,
and some day
You'll be manager, of course"
What a sensible girl you are! Do
you know what first attracted me to
you: 1t was your good sense. You
catch on 10 anything so quick. Well
be just as happy as two doves, won't
weT
And he drew her to him and gave
her couple Of dozen prematrimonial
kisses. He is content with one now,
and sometimes when he's thinking ON
other matters even that is perfume
tory.
Toms salary was not large, and the
couple had no income except what lie
earned. The husband had not been an
expert on economy. but the wife was
a good manager. I'll just turn over
to you" he said, my salary check
each week, and you do all the plan
ming. | shall need very little for my
personal expenses, and ] can take that
as | want it. That's the way they do
in business. One man attends to get
ting the business, another to doing it..
while third looks out for the
finances"
"The finance man Of the company,
isn't heT'
We'll, yes. usually"
'In our case you make the income
on which we live, and ] attend to its
expenditure. In other words, you are
head Of the firm, and I'm the junior
partner"
81 suppose that's the way to look at
it,"
So Tom turned over the checks each
Saturday night TO his wife. and. since
she was a splendid manager, all went
very well. There were no Outstand-
ing bills, nothing absolutely needful
that was not forthcoming, while a per.
centage Of each weeks salary was put
away regularly for emergencies, such
as doctors bills, and another amount
for nest egg.
my dear" said the happy husband
when l run a big business I'll want
you for my financial manager. | could
make money in any enterprise with
you to handle the cash.
And isn't it nice" replied the wife
that you can feel that you're the heaC
Of the house,"
"I'll admit" said Tom thoughtfully
that it is. No man likes to feel thai
he must be obedient to woman"
II was a few days after this remark
that Tom needed a pair of gloves
Susie told him TO 90 to her box, where
she kept the household moneys, ant
get what he needed. There was moth
ing smaller than a FIVE dollar bill. HI
took it. expecting TO return the change
Unfortunately, during the day an ole
chum that he hadn't seen for year,
came in to see him. Tom took him Out
10 lunch and when he went home re
turned So 10 the cash box instead OF
81. The result was that when Ton
gave his wife the martha! kiss she
smelled beer. She said nothing, but
after he had deposited the balance Of
the cash she went to the drawer and
found it dollar short.
'"Tom," she said, how much did you
take from the box this morning.
a fiver. There was nothing small
err"
How much did your gloves cost?"
"A dollar"
THAT leaves 81 to go back. Have
you put it all inf"
"All, except dollar"
"What became of that?'
well. you see, Pete Hathaway came
to town today. and l took him out to
lunch with me-"
The look on Mrs. Atherton's face
was lowering, but she said nothing
There was a silent dinner between
them. after which Tom said:
Susie, wish you'd get that look
Off your face. It's all because spent
dollar tOday-a miserable, single dol
lar-and that entertaining an old friend
| haven't seen for several years"
"Who authorized you to spend a
dollar for such a purpose!'
"Who authorized me? Am | account
able to you for the money | spend?"
~ thought was to be the financial
member OF our firm"
$50 you are. so you are. but am
not the head Of the concernT
"Of course you are! But that dol,
lar yors pent today | intended for an
other purpose."
"What purposeI"
II had just enough with It to buy
our Sunday provisions Now well
have to eat canned salmon for Sunday