The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-01-07
CHAPTER vIII-contInued.

She thought OF Bob. too. 1t seemed
to Jane that he had worn that faded
tan suit ever since she could remem-
Der. Poor Bob! She wished she
could hurry over to New York, tell
him about their good fortune and d.
vide the hundred with him. or course,
that was out OF the question, but he
would come into his own in the end
and. in the meantime. he should share
her new found wealth to some extent.
She would buy him something: hand
kerchiefs. hose and some neckwear.
Christmas and birthdays were the
only time he boasted such luxuries
for he never bought them for himself.
Before she had finished with her
list Jane found she had far exceeded
the equivalent OF her yellowback. She
had thought It would be hard TO plan
the expenditure OF so much money at
ore time but now, without even step
ping inside of store. she had thought
OF a score OF purchases and she found
II necessary to prune and strike OF
half the articles she wanted.
She longed to go over and break
the news OF her good fortune to Mrs.
Collins, but then she thought that
would be unwise. Mrs. Collins was
so plebeian and narrow-minded that
she misconstrued everything. includ-
ing Brands attentions gnd intentions.
Il guess you won't be needing me as
. chaperon much longer" she had
ssid few days ago and Jane was SO
enraged at the remark that she felt
as II she could chastise her. But Mrs.
Collins would bave been fully able to
avert such catastrophe. No one had
ever found such a thought father to the
deed with her; not even dear James.
No, Jaae was powerless. She had
to have a chaperon and her neighbor
was the only one she could trust De-
spite Mrs. Collins proclivities for gos-
sip, she felt that she could trust her,
for In such little intrigues as this the
good woman was exactly in her own
element. SO James expression of re-
sentiment had been confined to harsh
words that brought tears and apollo
giles and a reconciliation.
She dressed hurriedly now in the ir-
repressible blue serge and started for
New York alone. On her way to the
car she stopped suddenly In front OF
her grocer's. The monthly account
there remained unsettled. An idea oc.
Cured to her. Perhaps her plan for
revenging herself on the butcher
hadn't been so visionary after all. Why
not awe the grocer by revealing the
prosperous state Of her finances and
forestall another scene with Bob She
was sure the man could find no way
OF telling her husband that she had
presented hundred dollar bill. Be-
sides, Bob seldom went into the place.
| She entered with cheerful Good
morning." to which the merchant
responded with salutation not quite
SO cordial. He was thinking OF $17.43
and Of the fact that II was seven days
past the first OF the month. But her
next words brought such n metamor-
phosis of manner thst Jane smiled in
spite Of herself.
Il want to pay the bill. Mr. Nolte, "
she informed him. Il neglected to
bring It with me. Would you mind
looking 1t upf"
| He wouldn't mind at all and al.
though the figures were quite vividiy
impressed on his mind he went
through the pretense Of examining his
books and presently told her the
amount. She held out the yellow back
at which Mr.. Nolte's best store smile
broadened, then waned and finally van
lshed into q blank stare of hopeless
disappointment He didn't have the
change. II WAS SO early In the day
he told her. but II she didn't mind
waiting for minute or SO he would
have Fritz mind the store while ht
tried to break the bill at Mr. Hoffen
bach's across the way. But she die
mind. She was In an awful hurry. She
had an appointment In the city ant
was late now. or course, tomorrow
would do. he reluctantly admitted and
he proceeded with much alacrity and
renewed amiability to take a substan
tial order that she found time TO give.
Jane left the store In high spirits
Money was indeed power. She opened
her purse and looked ut the bill agai.
while she waited for the car. The stsn
Of Il thrilled her. Oh. why was ther,
any such thing ~ povertyf Here Il