Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-01-28
CHAPTER VIiI.

The Great American Dollar.
Jane always had the first chance at
the mail In their home. Bob left be.
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 Il. But there were 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
Inent, she found it convenient to let
them. wait. Jane knew that her has
band was opposed to such tactics, but
what could woman with such a
meager income as hers do? If 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 "sconomies" and the neces-
sary expedienay in meeting debts.
Economy is . word that most wom-
on define In q very liberal sense.
There are some who are more frugal
than others and who have an inner.
emit faculty of making a little money
go q long ways. Jane considered her
self OF this class. but In reality her
tastes and instincts were of the OPP
posite order. She was not extrava-
CANT, for that would have been Inn
possible, but her funds were SO lin
tied that saving" from the household
expenses simply meant postponing
the inevitable. Reynolds had just
about enough TO make both ends meet
and 80. usually, when Jane "econo-
mixed" 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 soup
bones he was entitled to the equiva.
lent and something more in regular
American money. II Ii hadn't been
Fnvsa t*fr aFtsaaAtAn1~ AL
Bob would have been none the wiser
and she would have come out all right
in the end. Just exactly how, she did
not attempt to explain.
Well, the butchers underhanded
tactics hadn't done him any good. He
had his money, but he had lost Gus
toner and her bill was always bigger
than Mrs. Collins.
On, 1t was intolerahie, but It was
nearly over. When she had helped
Bob up to where he belonged she
would go around to that pig of meat
dealer. buy a porterhonse and tender
him tifty-dcllar bill. Then, while he
was making change. she would give
the steak to Dick--fox terrier Dick,
and inquire IL he had better cut, one
fit for her table. She would show
these common islanders that she
wasn't born or bred to dabble In pen
mics or be chased by bills.
The INSTALLATION of this glorious
revenge relieved her. she called Dick.
took him in her lap and laughingly
told him of the prospective feast. Dick
had hreakfasted on a single batter
cake so. no doubt, he found his mis-
tress' plan most commendable.
The postman's whistle recalled
Jane to realities. She hurried to the
door. There were four letters. Two
we're from tradesmen. She recognized
tbs handwriting on the third an that
OF girl friend. The fourth was I'm a
plain but expensive envelope. TIE
address was typewriter and the let
ter bore o special delivery stamp. Her
heart beat rapidly as she broke the
seal. She drew out a folded sheet of
heavy linen stationery ana an she
opened II yellew-hack bill dropped
to the fisor. With q glad cry she
stopped and picked 1t up. II was one
hundred aeilArs- One hnaaraa raal