The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-01-09
A PARTY FOR Jim
D. MATTE A. RAMSAY.

\
.. 1850. b. necisss Newspaper sysdtsAts-D
He had been eAuckling to himself all
y. For that morning he had leased
apartment and had 4 big surprise
Dorothy. They had been married
May. upon his return from France.
ID on account Of the house shortage.
ey had been obliged to live In room
ID take their meals out.
He was In the gayest Of spirits. Dor
'hy, who, under the circumstances.
Id retained her position. was home
head Of him. She was combing her
hir. He bent over to kiss her and
emolished her couture. She laughed
I'D kissed his cheek and began comb
hg again.
Then with Q boyish eagerness he
I'D her Of the apartment, how his sis
kr had heard of II. how happy they
ould be. And what a stroke Of wis
om that had been when they had
ought their furniture at the reduced
lmmer rates All day his thoughts
ad evoked such cosy pictures. and
e had spoken with such enthusiasm
hat at first he wasn't conscious OF
Porothy's lack Of spontaneous ap-
rOval.
His cheerinees vanished. He sub
ected her to q sharp scrutiny. 1T
|Ounds NICE" she returned smiling;
and we can talk about It after dinner.
,ome; I'm famished."
Her tone had been a trifle careless
md noncommittal. Still. he told him
jelf that he must not be too exacting.
He admitted that 1t was rather high
handed Of him to have taken the whole
Responsibility. He should have con-
Quilted her. Going back from the res
aurant, he apol"gized. but the atmos-
phere did not clear.
Let's have 1t all straight out, Dor
bthy." he said quietly, once more in
their room.
He fixed his eyes upon her with an
appeal that stirred her. She knew Of
his longing for home; and with what
gusto he talked Of the fine house warm
Ing they would have. II they only had
little fiat. Two years ago, when he
and his brother had gone across, his
home had been broken up.
That she was not as keen about
home as Jim had never dawned upon
Dorothy. But now that she was facing
such a possibility, she was alarmed at
her disinterestedness. Though she was
sorry to disappoint him, she must
speak the truth; though she smiled
as she talked, he was aware of the
sadness that tinged her reply.
She didn't want to give up her posi-.
ton. Today she had raise Of IS
now $35 week. And she didn't have
the strength nor the inclination. after
working all day. to putter around the
house at night. Living was too high
to give up $35. How could they meet
expenses on $40 a weok?
"You silly boy" she said softly, "yor
have no idea what clothes cost today
She opened box and displayed new
suit. "That cost me $780,"
Jim flushed red. Her money: no
his, he thought. And 50 all his beau
tiful dreams collapsed. The reference
to her raise and to his meager salar!
hurt him. She knew nothing of hi
scheming to earn extra and of his fin,
figuring; for he could show in blacl
and white that 1t cost very little NOR
to have little fiat. As the days wen
by, he felt lonely and depressed to al
extent that Dorothy didn't realize.
They never referred to that subjec
again. Jim grew sensitive about NOR
ey. He never told her of his raise.
One day Dorothy renewed her pre-
posal of some time previous, whic
Jim had Indignantly repudiated, tina
she he allowed to pay her share, an
1t was accepted with such alacrity tina
Dorothy was startled. Even Jim wa
surprised at himself.
November came. One evening Do
othy went over to see her friend Jel
ME, who noticed at once a trouble,
wistful look in Dorothy's face. Pc
haps she was beginning to realize tn,
she was losing something worth t.
more than $35.
Tears filed DOrothy's eyes. The
she confessed that she had been hous
hunting and was thoroughly dishear
ened. She wanted to begin where 81
and Jim had started, when they ust
to talk over all the happenings of Il
day. Now they were almost stranger
Jennie had been begged to help al
she did. Through her were locate
four rooms In modern apartments. Do
othy was jubilant With gratitude, 81
assented and acted upon Jennie's SUI
! gestion that she take Jim's mother al
sister into her confidence. for Jenn
was anxious to see that brea
SPAWNED.
Il The next week Dorothy worked ha
and late. Everything was In Its plat
H Jennie thought she had never Sc
M such homelike apartment She low
81 the look Of the rooms, the good tas
and especially the living room. in
soft glow Of that handsome lamp.
1t was three nights later, and il