The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-04
The Woman
He Married
CLARA TEACHES NAN ONE WA,
OUT.
BY JANE PHELPS

| CLARA TEACHES NAN ONE WAY
/ OUT.
/ CHAPTER VI
Then one day the butcher made me
a visit.
| 81 want my money" he said Grossly,
'I can't wait any longer"
'I'll pay you tomorrow" I replied
trembling with modification and an
ger. But 1 hadn't the slightest idea
| where I should get the money.
! 1T want all you owe me. I'm tired
of being paid in driblets." he said as
he shuffled off down the stairs.
| Trembling all over at my narrow
escape-it was almost time for Dick
to come home-wondering how I ever
was to meet the bill in the morning
as I knew Dick had given me all he
could until his next payday. 1 waited
for him. When he came, in spite OF
all 1 could do, I GREETED him hysteri-
CALYPSO much so that he insisted that
1 lie down while he put the dinner on.
The quiet of the dark room was
very grateful, but I couldn't rest. l
simply lay there wondering how was
to pay the man, where $22. the
amount of his bill, was coming from.
After dinner-I couldn't eat a
mouthful-Dick made me lie down
again while he cleared away.
! How 1 wish could afford a maid
for you, dear" he said as he came
and sat beside me.
! I chung to his hand. wanting to tell
Shim, afraid to. I knew if l told of
this bill. it might lead to questions as
to any others 1 owed. I just could
not tell him that owed everyone in
the neighborhood who would trust me
Never mind the maid, dear" ]
said, "only hate to have you do the
housework after being at the office all
day." He was so tender, so thought
full, that a rush of love for him caused
me to throw my arms about his neck
and to resolve as he kissed me thai
once I got out of this mess I never
would deceive him again. You are
hadl" 1 added.
"And what about you? ,Aren't
you the best wife a man ever had p
Il "No-the very worst I burst into
tears. He soothed me. and made me
go to bed very early. Had he known
that in my bureau drawer were bills
amounting to nearly SITS. he would
not have spoken SO blithely of the $20C
we had in the bank. He had Spoken
of it several times that evening, ha6
congratulated himself that he had ever
that much for the emergency thai
faced us.
1 slept little that night But wher
morning light streamed thru the win
dows, I had made a sort of plan. As
soon as Dick left the house, I hurried.
lly dressed for the street and went tC
see Clara Watson. She didn't think
debt horrible; 1 would feel no en-
barrassment talking to her of my
trouble.
Clara greeted me effusively. Their
j without giving me an opportunity to
speak, she dragged me into the din
ing room and showed me a darling
buffet she had purchased the day be-
fore
"only $50! And isn't it dream p
she enthused.
"But how could you-s50!" If
only had that much, I thought.
"Oh, it won't have to be paid fol
for two or three months. perhaps
longer"
I gasped. She took things SC
calmly. Then I told her-not of all
but of the butcher, and my promise
Then I asked:
what shall I do?"
came promptly.
ct haven't a thing they would give
me money for, only my engagement
| ring''-a 81 all diamond for which
Dick had paid about Scotland
. wouldn't dare let him see me with
out it,
4 "Um-let me think. You say the
man was nasty?"
Terrible! I never felt so insultet
/ in my life
Here, take THIS ana ask them u
give you $40 on it, They've done i
) before-that little shop right at the
corner. 1 guess you can rake Up the
$40. I haven't a cent in the house
} Then. you'll have to take it GU
! when Dick gets paid, or Jim will
| miss it. He likes me to wear it,
She had handed me a small brooch
Indeed, 1 will You shall have i
f back in a few days.
II Then with weakness, started OF
} my unaccustomed errand, my frs
5 visit to a pawshop.
{ Had Dick been like some men
: made me ask for every penny, m,
, conduct would not have been so rep
rehensible. But he gave me ever,
penny of his salary save what h
= needed for car-fare and lunches. H
often said larShingly:
''It is my business to earn tn,
money. yours to sped it and stretcl
: it all it will stand. All women can
: be trusted to handle the family funds
but all women aren't like my Nan
(To be continued)