Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-01-28
CHAPTER VII.
The Great American Dollar.

The Great American Dollar.
Jane always had the first chance at
the mail La their home. Bob left be-
fore the early delivery. He would
have just as readily considered break.
Ing into a letter box as he would
opening anything addressed to her.
So she had no fear on that score. IL
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 were other
letters that 1t was just a. well to
keep from Bob. She never let her
self believe that she was decetving
him. II was merely that she did not
want to worry him with the petty de-
tails Of the household cares. Trades
men we're so exacting and insistent
about having the bills paid promptly
and sometimes, In her plan of manage.
ment, she found 1t 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? II the
financing of the home was to be left
to heE-and Bob believed that was q
woman's right-shs was the one to
Judge. She was the one to decide
about the economies" and the neces-
sary expediensy in meeting debts.
Economy Is word that most wom-
en- define In q very liberal sense
There are some who are more frugal
than others and who have an inner
ent faculty of making a little money
SO long ways. Jane considered her
self Of this class, but In reality her
tastes and instincts we're OF the OPP
posite order. She was not extrava-
CANT, for that would have been i'm
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 SO, usually, when Jane "econo-
mixed" she robbed Peter TO pay Paul.
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 aud soup
bones he was entitled to the equiya-
lent and something more In regular
American money. II II hadn't been
for bis greediness, she told herself,
Bob would have been meme tho wiser
and she would have come out all right
In the end. Just exactly how, she did
not attempt to explain.
Well, the butchers undetermined
tactics hadn't done him any good! He
had his money, but he had lost q Gus.
toner and her bill was always bigger
than Mrs. Collins.
Oh. 1t was intolerable, but It was
nearly over. When she had helped
Rob up to where he belonged she
would go around to that pig of meat
dealer, buy porterhouse and tender
him fifty-dollar bill Then, while he
was making change, she would give
the steak to Diok--fox terrier Dick,
and inquire IL he had a 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 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
deer. There we're four isttera. Two
were from tradesmen. She recognized
| the handwriting on the third as that
| OF n girl friend. The fourth was Ia q
plain bat expensive envelope. The
address was typewriter and the let.
| ter bare a special delivery stamp. Her
heart beat rapidly n she broke the
seal. She drew out folded sheet OF
heavy linen stationery and as she
opened II a yeIlow-hack bill dropped
TO the aeor, With glad cry she
stopped and picked II up. IL was one
| hundred anllars. One hnnarsa raai