The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-02
The Woman
He Married
DICK PUTS HIS FOOT DOWN ON
ACCOUNTS.
A D1UaD
by JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 4.


From things Dick had told me,
knew he was a favorite with both
members of the firm for whom he
worked. I was constantly thinking
how / could turn this liking to ac-
count.
1T seems to me they have been
awfully slow about giving you that
raise you talk about 1 said to Dick
about six months after we were mar
ried. 'How much do you think It will
be when you get it?''
THE Lord only knows" Dick re-
piled. II hope at least $25 month.
That isn't much of a raise, They
should give you $50 anyway" 1 had
no slightest idea of Dicks value to
them; 1 knew absolutely nothing of
this, or of any, business. Girls brought
up as 1 was, are singularly ignorant
of business affairs or methods.
They won't do that, dear, SO don't
think about it,
Then why don't you work. for
someone who can appreciate yod?''
So it went. And had it not been for
Dicks good disposition we would have
Quarreled. But it takes two, as we all
know, to- quarrel at all successfully,
and he simply would not get cross.
l don't think he thought 1 meant
half I said when 1 grumbled about not
having things. But 1 did, every single
word of it, And because he wouldn't
get cross, but only laughed at me and
petted me. 1 probably thought more
about it, especially when alone, than
IL he had become angry and sco1ded
me.
As soon as I uHpacked I went to call
on Clara Watson. Her apartment was
lovely. At least, I thought so, and ex-
pressed such envy that she said:
There is just one other vacant in
the building. Why don't you make
Dick take it?''
Clara's rooms were all outside, tive
of them on the street She had some-
bottles to look at, told Dick when ]
described them to him.
you know it's. dreadfulyl common
here, Dick I had added. And now
/ that the Watsons have moved, we are
the only one of the crowd who don't
| live in an elevator apartment OF some
Sort
1 forgot entirely that I had said
many times when we were first mar
ried that I would rather have our sun
ny room and climb the stairs than to
have the dark rooms some of the girls
had in cheap elevator apartments. But
Dick never reminded me of this.
Clara had spent a good deal fixing
1up her apartment. 1 noticed at once
that she had new draperies and several
new pieces of furniture. sli a7Tis asai
When one. moves things never fiji
| she explained when I spoke Of hel
| draperies. Windows never are tins
same size"
| "But how cans you do SO much
Clara" 1 asked. knew Jim Wat.
son earned very little, if any, more
than Dick.
ooh, have charge accounts. Their
I pay what 1 can and let the rest lar
over onto the next month" !.
This was a new idea. OF course,
knew that peop1eszeharged things a
| the stores, but only knew it in gen.
eral way. Mother always paid cash fol
everything. She had a horror of debt
But New York wasn't Holden. would
1 tell Dick we must open some accounts
at once. Then I could get what
wanted, and pay as I found it conven'
lent.
| To my surprise. he kindly but firml,
refused to have any charge accounts.
| I'VE never would know how w,
stood, nor have anything If we did
Puss. 1t is awfully easy to say charge
| it and not SO easy to pay cash fol
things-especia1ly if you haven't it"
| But would only get what
needed" urged.
| you would think you needed 1t a
| the time; but what we can't pay fol
we can go without until we can. No
Nan. we will run no billsl I wish we
could save little. We haven't added
/ one penny to that $500 we have in the
bank since. we were married. Sup.
pose we :. start trying to saving SO !
| "Save-on your salary! Well, yot
do the saving then, can't"
| / had answered impatiently. I wa.
terribly disappointed that Dick woult
not allow me to open accounts Xix,
Clara had. I really had no idea hi
would assert himself so.
Come. dear, give mo kiss, ant
then let's eat. I'm ravenous," was al
he said
| (Tomorrow-The first shadow Of
| debt.)