The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-07-23
Married Life
Foyrth Year
nv MABEL HERBERT URNER.

have.
"Thon why shouldn't they pay for
that mattress and blanket?
Eyes, II you want to admit you were
such a blooming idiot as to take an
electric light to bed"
Helen flushed. But need they
know
"Now, we'll not try any of your
tricks on the insurance company. They
will get the facts, understand
The blanket and sheets were ruined,
the mattress and pillow damaged, re-
Elected Helen.
How much could we get?" she ven
tured.
Whatever the damage amounts to
somewhere around fifteen or twenty
dollars.
Fifteen or twenty dollars! Helen
considered. After all why should she
hind admitting that to ease her tooth
ache, she had used the electric drop
light as a substitute for a hot water
bottle? The idea was at least inge-
NOUS.
However, it had been a disastrous
experiment, for she had awakened to
find the bed clothes charred and smol-
dering under the electric bulb that she
had thought SO harmless.
well, IL VIC Aohc q SA0AAA y" vS CIV
TO make it now. What's the stuff
WORTH" Having finished his break
fast, Warren drew out a notebook.
1.-TWO sheets-how much?"
Il think paid two dollars piece;
they were hemstitched."
THE CLAIM.
All right; sheets, four dollars. Blan-
kets. how much?"
"Oh, that was one of the pair Aunt
Emma gave us. don't know what she
paid, but know they were expensive"
Then we've had them ever since
we're married"
But they weren't worn at oil" has
tily.
Well, we can't claim as new goods
that we've had three years. Say five
i,r the blankets. Now the pillows"
ignoring Helen's demur that the blan-
llet was north much more.
why, we had those pillows made to
crder with the mattress"
Got the bill?"
I'm afraid not" apologetically; "it's
been so long"
Good heavens! can't ever drum it
!nto you to keep your bills? Keep
them where you can get at 'em, too!
Well, about how much does good pill
low COST"
''About-oh, with that art ticking,
st least five dollars"
And we've had over three years
Use out of it-say four dollars for the
pillow and pillow case. Now the mat
tress? It'll have to have a new top
whatm that COST"
Dear, l haven't the least Ideal"
Say ten. Ought to get it done for
that. Now let's see-that adds up to
twenty-three. I'll put in claim for
twenty-that's about fair. Don't touch
:he stuff-they'll probably send man
up to look at it today"
What must tell him, dear?"
Nothing. He'll ask you what he
wants to know. A small claim like
that they'll allow without much ques-
ton"
Although Warren carried both fire
and burglar insurance. this was the
first accident they had had, and Helen
ooked forward with mingled dread and
excitement to the coming of the in
surance adjuster.
He did not come until late in the
afternoon, A young man, with shrewd
eyes and an abrupt business-like man.
ner. Helen led him into the bedroom,
where she had arranged the burnt
bedding, with the charred spots care
ully displayed to the best advantage.
How did this fire start?" as he
jotted down some notes.
Helen blushed.
SHE TELLS HIM.
tt had the toothache." with a
deprecative laugh. and Id heard some
one say an electric bulb could be used
as hot water bottle"
The adjuster stared at her.
well, that's new one on me-"
Then as he lifted the pink silk shade
from the drop light by the bed, WAS
this the bulb?"
Helen nodded, her color deepening
II should call that a pretty danger
Gus experiment" dryly. 1--WE really
shouldn't have to pay this kind of a
loss, but since it's a small claim I'll
allow It,"
I'm sure Mr.. Curtis wouldn't wish
you to allow It if it's not regular" re-
torted Helen, stiffly, resenting his pa
tronizing tone.
"Oh, that'll be all right; tell your
husband to send around his policy, and
we'll endorse the claim. Only, here
after" with twinkle, "Id recommend
the hot water bottle as safer"
When Helen showed him to the
door, she tried to imply by her frigid
good afternoon" that she disapproved
of his slightly facetious attitude.
Then she started to put away the
burnt bedding. The sheets would do
for the ironing board, she reflected.
They might even be cut down for the
maids bed And the blanket? She
ran sout to Nora S room and found that
therburnt side of both the sheets and
blanket could be cut off and still leave
them wide enough for her bed.
And the mattress-after all, would
it need a new top? She was almost
sure she could get that same ticking
at Warmers, and by matching the
stripes a patch would hardly be no
siced. And the pillow-she could patch
that in the same way.
The joy of getting something for
nothing IL strong in every woman, and
Helen was no exception. And now
the thought that she was getting TWEEN