Omaha daily bee., 1921-05-29
The Married Life of
Helen and Warren

Twenty for the two strands--te
= piece. OF course Merwin turne
them over at cost"
"Tenp with scornfui emphasi.
well, Helen, that's an easy way +
make $5-but / wouldn't think eve
you'd have the nerve to"
II didn't want you to take them,
Aared Helen, her face afame. "Bu
you insisted--you made me"
whats this about making S.?
demanded Warren sternly.
| "She charged me $l5l And you JUS
said"
Il didn't dream she'd want them
she had a string! | never ask th
price of her things-why must sh
always ask me?' dehed Helen tu
multously. "If she does-I don
intend to tell her the truth"
so that's your excuse for making
money out of your family sneeree
Carrie,
81 told you not to take them
wanted them for Mrs. Stevens"
Eyes, you'd probably have made
more out of her." derisivcly.
"You know that's not true" quiv
ering with Indignation.
Then darting into her bedroom
she flew back with Carries money
There" flinging the bills at her
"Never again ask me what anything
costs-for I'll never tell you the
truth"
Don't worry" with a hateful
laugh. IF it's anything | want to
buy--l'll get the price from War.
ren-l,ot from you," coolly taking
the S. bill and leaving $40 on the
table.
We'll have to hurry to make that
train. You two can settle this some
other time" interrupted Lawrence
with an embarrassed laugh. I'll &c
on down and flag taxi" glad of an
excuse to escape.
Warren, who had been ominous1y
silent, now turned to his sister with
an explosive:
You're dead right, Carrie. I'm
thoroughly ashamed of Helen, and !
think she's ashamed of herself"
"1'm not" goaded to a reckless
revolt. "She's no right to be always
quizzing me about what / pay for
things. And as for that $5-she
owes it to us many times over!'
"Just how do you make that out?
Carries voice was acid.
"How about that Dutch treat din
ner we paid for-and the tickets for
"The Lurid Trail?" And that time
we went to the Follies-it's always
Warren who pays. You never keep
up your end. Lawrence would-but
you won't let him|
That's about enough from you, "
Warren stepped menacingly forward.
Then to Carrie, who was livid,
Don't listen to her-she doesn't
mean it,
Il mean every word of i'll" in fam
ing defiance. "And more, tool"
Then, her courage suddenly desert
ing her, Helen dropped on the couch,
her scorching face in the pillows.
She heard Warren's muttered apoi-
ogy as he followed his sister to the
door.
An excruciating silence. Then his
returning footsteps-heavy. wrathful.
Nearer and nearer they came to the
couch.
THAT was fine deal you tried to
pull off | should think you'd feel
pretty cheap"
Helen could have screamed with
helpless rage and modification.
II told you how it happened" con-
fronting him. "She forced me into
it didn't want her to have them!
Every word l said about her is true
she's always sponging on you"
What's that got to do with it?
How the devil does that excuse
I'm not trying to excuse any
thing" Historically. Every time
she comes here-you both manage
to put me in the wrongl You al
ways"
Put you in the wrong? he snort
ed. "You balled things up for your
self trying to put over crooked
deal--now you set up whine be-
cause you get caught"
Then. with savage contempt as he
strobe from the room:
Next time you need any money
ask me for it. Don't try to make
it off the family or your friends!"
(Copyricht hy Va hel uerbert HnrnerN