The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-23
The Woman
He Married
NICK CRAWFORD ADvERTIsEs
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 22.

Dick had spoken several times OF
young man he used to know. He al-
ways talked as if he were sorry for
him. One night when 1 was clearing
away the dishes, and he was reading
his evening paper heard him give a
long, drawn-out whistle.
What is it % l asked, going to the
door of the living room.
You have heard me speak of Nick
Crawford, haven't your
Several times. He's the man you
are always plying because he mar
ried as he did, isn't hep"
YES poor fellow"
What is it now?'
Just read that" He held the pa
per toward me.
'No-you read it to me-" He read;
/ To all whom it may concern: the
undersigned will hereafter pay no bills
except those of his own centracting.'
1t is signed Nicholas Crawford. That
is terrible!" he added in a Mortified
tone.
ST don't think quite know what II
is all about, Dick. Tell me what it
means. and why it is SO terrible?"
Don't you understand, Nan? 1t is
meant for his wife. 1t means that she
can have no credit anywhere, not buy
a single thing unless she pays cash for
it. The shopkeepers won't trust her
after this he pointed to the adver-
tisement. because they know they
can't collect. That's what comes of
having charge accounts. She has
bought more than he can afford
poor fellow!"
Poor fellow? I say poor wife! I
think it is a mean, horrid thing to in
suit his own wife like that"
''She must have been very extrav-
agant. I don't know fellow who
hates notoriety as Crawford does; he's
very retiring by nature"
II don't care. He shouldn't have
done that if she had been extravagant.
Is he a rich MANI"
Goodness, mo- He earns about
5000 a month. 1 imagine"
she couldn't be wildly extrava-
gent on that. Not in New York. I
should know, as it is not much more
| than we have to live on"
''No-perhaps not. Yet they should
be able to live comfortably. One of
the men in the office-he gets that
amount each month--told me the 9TH
err day that ever since he had been
getting that, about two years, his wife
had put $50 in the bank every month.
They run no bills. and she shops
around until she gets the best value
for her money"
81 think life is too short to spend it
running after the butcher and baker
to save five cents" 1 snapped. 1 al
ways felt annoyed when the conversa-
ton took this turn. And If 1 were
that Crawford's wife, I'd leave him.
An insult like that. so public, is
ground for divorce"
/ Nonsense, Nan! If a woman won't
help heF husband by saving, and if
she does hurt him by running him into
debt. he has to stop her someway. I
think Crawford was perfectly justi-
fed"
do you mean to tell me, Dick Will
liams that you would think it all right
to put thing like that in the paper ?"
felt suddenly frightened. Yet Dick
would never do such a thing. I felt
sure.
.'Why. Nan. I don't know. Yes, If
had asked you not to run bills, and
you persisted, and got me in a hole
yes-I think would do just as Craw-
ford has done. But why ask such a
question? You'll never be that kind
of wife"
I almost groaned aloud, and re-
treated into the kitchen to take a long
breath, I was again heavily in debt
heavily for us-and besides, I had
charged many things on Clara's bills
1 at different places.
But was too interested to stop talk
ing about it.
mo matter what woman has done.
no husband has the right to belittle
her to the public!" 1 said. returning to
the living room.
''That isn't the idea, Nan. No man
can get along unless his credit is good.
ruins his credit is justified in taking
whatever steps he has to. 1 expect it
hurt Crawford more than 1t did her.
He is sensitive, and, as 1 said. hates
notoriety. Poor fellowi"
st don't believe Mrs. Crawford in
tended to do anything wrong" 1 re-
piled.
Probably not. But as far as he is
concerned, the result is the same as if
she had deliberately wronged him
well, we can't help them so we might
as well stop discussing the matter.
But it is very sad"
1 couldn't sleep a wink that night.
laid wide-eyed, staring up at the cell
i ing. and thinking of that poor wife of
Nick Crawford's advertised like that
in the papers. I should surely die If
Dick ever did a thing like that. Die
or leave him,
| (Tomorrow-Dick declares money is
not everything.)