Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-01-08
CHAPTER viii.

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 a 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 it. 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. 1t 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 1t convenient to let
them wait Jane knew that her hus-
band was opposed to such tactics, but
what could q woman with such q
meager income as hers do? II the
financing of the home was to be left
to her-and Bob believed that was q
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 inner
ent faculty of making a little money
go long ways. Jane considered her
self Of this class, but in reality her
tastes and instincts were 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 soup
bones he was entitled to the eQuiva-
lent and something more In regular
American money. II 1t hadn't been
for his greediness, she told herself,
Bob would have been none tho wiser
and she would have come out ali 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 q Gus
toner and her bill was always bigger
than Mrs. Collins.
Oh. 1t was intolerable, but 1t was
nearly over When she had helped
Bob up to where he belonged she
would go around to that pig of q meat
dealer, buy a porterhouse and tender
him a fifty-dollar bill. Then. while he
was making change. she would give
the steak to Dick-fox terrier Dick
and inquire II he had better cut, one
ft for her table. She would show
these common islanders that she
wasn't born or bred to dabble in PEN
MES 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 breakfasted on q single batter
cake 80, 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
were from tradesmen. She recognized
the handwriting on the third as that
of a girl friend. The fourth was in q
plain but expensive envelope. The
address was typewriter and the let.
ter bore q special delivery stamp. Her
heart beat rapidly as she broke the
seal. She drew out folded sheet of
heavy linen stationery and as she
opened it a yellow-back bill dropped
to the floor. With a glad cry she
stopped and picked it up. 1t was one
hundred dollars. One hundred real
American dollars all compressed into
a little bit Of paper; the first bill of
that denomination she had ever seen.
and 1t was all hersi
There was no writing on the folded
paper. Not even a letterhead. 1t