The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-15
The Woman
He Married
BY JANE PHELPS
HECTIC DAYS.
CHAPTER 6S


CHAPTER 6S.
After reading the paper the next
morning, Dick was not quite so de-
pressed. 1t seemed it made light of
the slump. and prophesied it was
about over.
II told you it would be all right"
I said, woman-like, sure to say. II
told you sou whenever 1 had the
chance.
Lets hope sol" he replied. then
kissed us goodbye, and left with the
long time.
After he left I sat right down and
read every word there was in the
paper about financial matters. Much
of it 1 did not understand, but it was
optimistic, so I tried to persuade my.
self. Anyway 1 could even call up
and ask what the opening price had
been.
Dick hated me to call the office, but
knew he would appreciate my anX-
iety, so would not be cross.
At ten minutes past 10 I called.
TT opened down, but is up a little
now Dick answered. Then he de-
clared he couldn't talk any longer,
and cut me off.
did not ask for him again. l simply
asked for the quotation on the stock.
1t was UP about noon, then at half
past two when called and it was off
again.
What an awful day." said aloud
as 1 sank in a chair thoroly worn out,
yet I had done nothing. 1t was the
worry over the market, the fear we
had lost our money, that had tired
me.
1 wondered how Dick could stand
it. Before, when things were either
standing still, or favoring us. I had
given it no thought-the nervous,
wearing strain it must be on Dick, and
of course on other men who risked
what they had in the hope of making
more.
At o'clock Dick came in. He
looked tired; showed the strain Of the
day plainly, but he was not SO pale.
been the night before. 1t was a good
omen.
How did it close - I asked, help
ing him with his coat.
Just the same as last night"
Thank goodness. I called up at
half past two and it was off"
Yes, it looked dubious then. Now
i don't know. but perhaps the worst
is over" Then, st am going to bed,
Nan, just as soon as 1 have my din
ner. I'm worn out"
He did as he said. After he closed
the bedroom door, I read the paper.
then I got out a mass of bills and
some dunning letters I had that morn
ing received, and looked them over
I had been so sure we would be
successful in our speculatfons that L
had really kept no track of things.
simply saying Charge it," sure we
would have money to pay when neces-
=
the total frightened me. We hadn't
enough money in the world to pay
them. And I blushed as I noted that
the greater part of the bills were per-
sonal ones-mine.
Gowns, hats, shoes, stockings,
gloves, all of the best quality and ex-
pensive. A few things for Junior,
hardly anything for Dick. and the
household bills, including the furni-
Dick said we had left. and which he
had used to buy T. L. NJ. thinking it
safer than the stock we had been
holding, would just about pay for my
debts. and leave nothing for the
household bills.
1t was awful.
"Dick must make money" I de-
clared over and over as 1 footed up
the chastity amount again to make
sure I had it right. HE must" But
the last two days had made me less
positive that he would, less sure that
his Judgment was good, and that Mr.
Burns tips were ones he should fol-
low.
IT will let Nora go as soon as her
month is up" I said aloud, and
sighed. 1t had been nice to have he-.
She was neat and willing. She had
been with us only two weeks, but
had enjoyed the novelty of being
waited upon. the pleasure of having
some one open the door when my
friends called, the freedom it gave me
to go out She would expect two
weeks notice, so 1 would tell her in
the morning
But when morning came and I
spoke of it to Dick, he told me not to
be silly. That he had had a good
nights rest, and guessed he could
pull the fat out of the fire.
Wait and see what today brings
FORTH he said when he left.
But, Dick. we owe a lot. I'd better
tell her at once "
wait a day or two, anyway. I like
having her here
I said nothing. but when the grocer
came in person to ask for some money
and I had to tell him didn't have IL.
I caught her looking at me IN a sort
Of mistrustful way as il she thought
she might not get her money
/ suppose It was my guilty con-
science that made me notice her look.
(Tomorrow-Unplea happenings.)