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

The Great American Dollar.
Jane always had the first chance at
the maii 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
munscation concerning their business
affairs she could rest doubly assured
that her husband would have no
knowledge OF 1t. But there we're other
letters that IL was just as well to-
keep from Bob She never let her.
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
ment. she found It convenient to let
them wait. Jane knew that her has-
band was opposed TO such tactics. but
what could q woman with such q
meager lnccme as hers do? II the
financing of the home was to be lsft
to her--and Bob believed that was
woman's right she was the one to
Judge She was the one to decide
about the economies and the neces-
sary expedienay In meeting debts.
Eccnomy Is q word that most WON
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 little money
so long ways. Jane considered her
SELF Of this class. but In reality her
tastes and instincts were or the OPP
posite order. She was not extraya.
CANT. for that would have been i'm.
possible. but her funds were so linz
! tied that saving" from the household
expenses simply meant postponing
the inevitable. Reynolds had just
about enough to make both ends meet
and 90, usually, when Jane ''econo-
mixed" she robbed Peter to pay Paul
III 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 equiya-
| lent and something more In regular
American money Ii 1t hadn't been
| for his greedlness, she told herself,
| Bob would have been meme the wiser
| and she would have come out all right
In the end. Just exactly how. she did
not attempt 10 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 bin was always bigger
than Mrs. Collins.
on, Il was intolerabie. but II was
nearly over. When she had helped
Bob up to where he belonged she
would 60 around TO that pig OF meal
/ dealer, buy a porterhouse and tender
j him d fifty-dollar bill. Then. while he
was making change, she would give
the steak to Dickfox terrier Dick
4 and inquire II he had a better cut. ont
III Cor her table. she would show
these common islanders that sht
wasn't born or bred TO dabble In pen
Il MES or be chased by bills.
j The INSTALLATION OF this glorious
revenge relieved her. she called Dick
took him la her lap and langhingll
u told him Of the prospective feast picl
] had breakfasted on d single bate
cake so, no doubt, no found his mis-
tress' plan most commendabie
Il The postman's whistle recalle,
Jane to realities. She hurried to Ia,
! door. There we're four letters. Tw'
were from tradesmen, She recognize,
1 the handwriting on the third as tina
! OF girl friend. The fourth was lin
j plain but expensive envelope. Th
address waa typewriter ana the lei
| ter bore special delivery stamp RE
) heart beat rapidly as she hroke III
j seal. she drew out q fcaded sheet o
j heavy linen stationery and az 81
|. opened IL . yellow. hack bill droppe4
10 the fieor. with a glad cry sh
stopped and picked Il UP. II was on
! hundred aellsrs. ons hnaaraa rec