Omaha daily bee., 1921-12-28
Jack and Jill

"Jask-boy, why didn't you tell mo
that you hadn't paid your bill at the
elub" asked jill suddenly,
"How did you know thatG Did
thar impudent secretary call up the
house" thundered Jack,
"Now, calm yourself, dear. IL,
never telephoned. | merely found u
On the ehiiionier among old papers
you LETT when you changed suits this
morning, You've a lot oi bills that
you've been negleetingT
Jack sat back, stlii.neeked.
lie stirred his coffee angrily, al.
though he couldn't be angry with
Jill-girl for the life Of him.
Its all the fault OF those miSef.
able people. Ii they stopped send-
ing so many bills and threats Id pay
sooner,"
Then he remembered the maseulina
prerogatiye.
But. Jill dear. il isn't strictly lair
to read my letters. have no secrets
from. YOU But there are many things
| don't tell you about because they
would only worry yon. Hereafter,
please don't read my mail, and don's
worry about my bills"
jill looked demurely at the table,
cloth, and promised TO "be good
In the next two or three days Jaee
Lestirred himself and settled every
bill. With a feeling OF triumph he
went home early Saturday afternoon.
Carrying his quota OF receipts wilL
him.
II wonder where Jill is," he mu.-
tered, as he entered the house and
received no reply TO his call.
A little note was on the table by
the front door.
"Darling-wil be back in half All
hour" it said. "llave gone 10 one
Of the shops in the village"
Jack fumed about, forlornly. Sud-
denly he espied an open sheet OF pa-
per on Jill's escritoirc. He strug-
sled with his eyes and his conscience
rot TO read it.
But his gallantry was too weak
for the temptation.
His quick first glance had caught
the telltalc ruled lines and printed
headline of a bill, and in bold writ
ten figures was inscribed: $4,000
Please remit"
He could stand it no longer, and
read the statement. To his dire
Mrs. Jack was charged
this tremendous, sum for three hats
bv the local millincr,
Jack could scarcely believe his
eyes, but promptly went TO the tele-
phone to call up for an explanation,
As he gave his name the person who
responded stopped talking and he
heard Jill's voice.
"T'll be right back, DEAR" said she.
Then she disconnected and Jack
fumed for another 20 minutes, trying
to balance his bank book to see Il
$240 i'll cash remained untouched.
The door opened without his hear
ing it. Jill's soft hands were placed
over his eyes, and the most familiar
and most beloved voice in the world
"Who is it? Give you
three guesses."
Darling. what about this miliner's
bill for $240?" asked Jack, by way
1f answer.
"Ah, sir-you have no respect for
the privacy OF my. bills, do you,
dear? How dared you read it?
But, Jill, we must pay it at
,nce"
81 had an idea that what was
,auce from goose was not at all
mpudence from gander," replied
ill with triumphant laugh. You're
ust as nosey as ] am, dearling. But
Il this case the bill isn't unpaid
"Why :"
Because the milliner's bookkeepcr
made a mistake. 1t should have
gone to the Jones family, three
houses away. That's why | went
lown there to find out. Now, are
here any more letters you'd like to
ead?"
Jack contented himself with an
lpologetic, but none the less ardent
,iss.
Copyright, 1921, Thompson Feature
Seryice)