The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-12-31
CHAPTER VII.
The Great American Dollar.


Jane always had the first chance at
fore the early delivery. He would
have just as readily considered break
ing into letter box as he would
opening anything addressed to her.
So she had no fear on that score. II
Brand chose to send her any COM
munication concerning their business
affairs she could rest doubly assured
that her husband would have no
knowledge OF 1t. But there we're other
letters that 1t was just as well to
keep from Bob. She never let her
self believe that she was deceiving
him. II was merely that she did not
want to worry him with the petty de-
tails Of the household cares. Trades
men were so exacting and insistent
about having the bills paid promptly
and sometimes, In her plan of manage
ment, she found It convenient to let
them wait Jane knew that her hus-
band was opposed to such tactics but
what could a woman with such a
meager income as hers do? II the
financing of the home was to be left
to her-and Bob believed that was a
woman's right-she was the one to
Judge. She was the one to decide
about the economies" and the neces-
sary expediency in meeting debts.
Economy is a word that most wom-
en- define in very liberal sense.
There are some who are more frugal
than others and who have an inher-
ent faculty of making a little money
go long ways. Jane considered her.
self of this class, but in reality her
tastes and instincts we're of the op-
posite order. She was not extrava.
CANT, for that would have been i'm.
possible. but her funds were so linn
tied that saving" from the household
expenses simply meant postponing
the inevitable. Reynolds had just
about enough to make both ends meet
and so. usually when Jane "econo
mized" she robbed Peter to pay Paul
1t was becoming harder and harder
consequently, to make the debit and
the credit sides of her account bal
ance. The hat was the first serious
example OF her failure. That horrid
old butcher had insisted that in ex
change for his chops, steaks and souI
bones he was entitled to the equiva
lent and something more in regular
American money. IL 1t hadn't beer
for his greediness, she told herself
Bob would have been none tho wisel
and she would have come out ali righ
In the end. Just exactly how, she die
not attempt to explain.
Well, the butchers underhandet
tactics hadn't done him any good! II,
had his money. but he had lost Gus
toner and her bill was always bigge
than Mrs. Collins.
II Oh 1t was intolerable, but II wal
nearly over. When she had helped
Bob up to where he belonged sh'
would go around to that pig of a mea
dealer, buy a porterhouse and tende
him fifty-dollar bill. Then. while h
was making change, she would Civ,
the steak to Dick-fox terrier Dick
and inquire II he had better cut, on
fit for her table. She would shoy
these common islanders that sh
D wasn't born or bred to dabble in per
3 nies or be chased by bills.
The Installation OF this gloriou
! revenge relieved her She called DicH
5 took him in her lap and laughingl
+ told him of the prospective feast. Die
had breakfasted on single bate
! cake so, no doubt, he found his mis-
r tress' plan most commendable.
3 The postman's whistle recalle
. Jane to realities. She hurried to tn
door. There we're four letters. Tw
q we're from tradesmen. She recognize
d the handwriting On the third as tina
{ of a girl friend. The fourth was i1
o plain but expensive envelope. Tn
n address was typewriter and the le
a ter bore a special delivery stamp. He
/ heart beat rapidly as she broke tn
= seal She drew out folded sheet {
heavy linen stationery and as sh
?. opened II yellow-back bill droppe
, to the floor. With a glad cry sh
Q stopped and picked 1t up. II was on
I hundred dollars. One hundred rel
1, American dollars all compressed int
l. a little bit OF paper: the first bill ,
8 that denomination she had ever seel
Q and It was all hers!
% There was no writing on the folde
W paper Not even a letterhead.
q seemed to Jane that this was bit
Q delicacy on Brands part. but II f
II had known her thoughts at that m
. ment one might have seen another (