The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-15
HANDLING THE Cash
By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.
lCopyright. 1915, by the Mcclure Ne"sp'
49, SypdieafpO

They had been married SIX monlue
George Curtiss and Kitty Cline. All
had gone well, when one afternoon
Kitty's Aunt Prue came visiting. She
hadn't seen the young wife since ner
marriage and, after drawing a long
breath and getting a good TOE noiu'
she said: And now l want to ASK
about George: ,.,
rs he a kind and loving husband!
"Why. Aunt Prue, George is just
the best man in this world was the
enthusiastic reply.
How much salary does he get"
twenty-five per week"
And how much do you save per
week."
Save? Why, We haven't saved
anything as yet"
Then it's wuss than thought far
far wuss. Who handles the money
why, George does. of course.
That's it-that's it! He handles
the money and does what he pleases
with it. It is no wonder"
But doesn't the husband always
save the money!
HE does where the wife is an
idiot. Lord alive, child, any wife is
FIVE times as capable of handling the
house money as the husband. We
never should have been worth a hun
dred dollars IL hadn't taken the
money matter into my own hands.
When the subject was changed the
wife found herself thinking it would
be very nice to handle the money,
but was almost sure the husband
would not consent, but he came home
with surprise for her. 1t happened
he had heard that Aunt Prue was at
the house that afternoon, and know.
ing her ideas on finance he suspected.
kitty, I've been thinking things
over today"
What things?"
Don't you think you could make my
salary 60 further than l do?'
"Yes, I do, but"
Then I'll turn it over to you for
the next three months"
you are so good, George
you can run the house and every.
thing"
"Why, I surely thought you would
object"
But you see I don't. l have saved
$50 In the last six months. though l
was keeping 1t secret guess. how
ever, you can bea: my record and not
try very hard"
Il shall surprise you dearest"
She surprised hin al re-. As
there were only two of them, he had
been buying porterhouse steak For
dinner they now had round, and
seeing that she was tende foot the
butcher had charged her ito same
price. The grocer weighed her sugar
and butter short. and there was a
skimping of potatoes. In two weeks,
however. the wife had manae ID to
save sli. and then Aunt Prue came
again.
You don't want to put your money
in the bank" said the old lady. You
send for ore of those secondhand
sewing machines that are advertised
as good as new. You can surely save
thirty-ive dollars"
Il will
"A man called at the house yes
terday with stock in silver mine to
sell. 1t is a stock to be sold only to
ministers and widows, but after some
coaxing, and after promising never to
tell. he let me have fifty dollars
worth Of stock for sl5. It will pay
dividends &C so per cent.
"But I'll buy the stock fcr ou now.
and in two weeks you Ger Wy me for
1t. Never mss good thing if you
can help it. | would not saw any.
thing to George about it if we're
you"
During the last month of the three
the husband looked SC starved and
anxious that the wife expected IN
hear him say any day that he must
turn to barks and roots To get enough
to fill up on. but he carried the thing
through like patriot.
We'll. the twelve weeks are m"
said the husband one evening.
And l think can show you that
i am a bit Of a financier," was the
proud reply.
The sewing machine had been
brought over that afternoon. and the
husband was led into its presence.
How much?"
Only fifteen dollars"
i know Of three secondhand ma.
chimes here in town that YOU can buv
Mt five dollars each, but never mind
that" 'iu
Here is some silver stock that Ann,
Prue bought for me-"
Then she ought to give Won vor-
money back. for that swindle was ev.
posed years ago"
On, George. have been swindled %,
Most surely. but what elsee"
i bought two seashore lots"
I heard you had and looked them
up They are on the edge of a big
New Jersey swamp"
"And-and-"
Did you buy half of Lake Eric for
melon patch?"
Not quite. l only bought soma
stock in Peruvian gold mine
Il see. Now we will e.,
what you have saved in your tws,rp
weeks"
Don't, George-dont." she sohho,
But, you see"
III you won't. YOU may call Ann,
Prue an idiot"
As | was going to say"
AND you may handle the houss
money to the last day of your life,.
ana George grinned and kissed her
house since eue