The Topeka state journal., 1922-03-07
Helen Hunters
Husband
A DAY IN BED RESTORES HELEN
BY JANE PHELPS

|
! Helen's parting remark remained
with Jack all day.
Was he an old stogy, as she had
said? Would she be happier if he
was like-Barnes? She seemed to like
I him, his fattery, his money. If only
| he could earn more. But how?
The emoluments of the insurance
! business are certainly great if man
! is successful. but as certainly they are
not to the mediocre agent. Then there
is the uncertainty attached to the in
| come. One month successHul-the
next perhaps no business at all. If he
could save in the good times, he would
be able to tide over the lean weeks,
but how was it possible to save with
Helen?
He was more discouraged than he
realized at first over her determine
tion to punish him for Withholding
from her the fact he had made that
big commission He had been so
pleased when he banked it: had
thought it the first step in an upward
swing that would make him feel safe
for future-his future and Helen's.
She had warned him not to attempt
to put anything by again without her
knowledge. He wished he had not
asked Dunn to dinner. But if he
hadn't she would have found it out.
Fate was against him.
Not very good frame of mind in
which to impress people with the idea
that they wanted something they
didn't want-an insurance agents re-
quisite.
He worked doggediy all day. Saw
more prospects perhaps than on any
one day since he had been married,
yet with not one single success. At 6
o'clock he went home.
Hated and gloved. Helen was wait
Isn't there anything in the house,
Helen? I'd rather have a cold snack
than go out. I'm all int"
'If that isn't just like a mani Here
have been sick all day, not eaten a,
thing, and now when I'm as hungry as
a bear you talk about cold snacks I
expect you had big luncheon in some
of those swell restaurants down town,
and that's the reason you aren't hun
gry.''
Suddenly Jack remembered he had
eaten no luncheon. He had used even
the noon hour interviewing prospects.
But he said nothing, simply shrugged
his shoulders. What was the use!
Very well, come on" he said. sI
want to get back and in bed"
Nonsense! There's an awfully
good picture on and it's only, a step
from the restaurant. 1 want to see it,"
Hot, angry words rose to Jacks lips
and died there. She had called him
an "old stogy." 1t was not the first
time either. She was young, of course
she liked entertainment. Perhaps if
he refused to go with her someone
his place-Barnes.
What time did you get up?" he
asked moving toward the door. his
shoulders sagging, his step listless.
About five! Ny but was sick all
the morning."
Don't you think you would feel |
better to get home and have a good |
nights Sleep"
Goodness no, I slept the whole af-
ternoon. 1 never felt better in my |
life than do now. And I like to see |
things other people see. I feel such |
an idiot when they talk of the pic |
lures and the theaters. There's some |
excuse when we don't go to the the |
ater much because we are so far up
town. But when such a nice movie |
house is right around the corner there |
is no excuse for not seeing all the new |
pictures
Jack said no more. He thought that |
perhaps he should be thankful she /
didn't insist upon the theaters, altho /
he took her oftener than they could |
afford. The dinner made him feel a
bit better. He found he was hungry.
too. But Helen was dissatisfied. She
grumbIed:
''such a cheap place. Regular
boarding house dinneri People never
will give you big business when you
act like cheap skate. eating in COM
mon places You have to act and look
successful If you want to get on"
"Quoting Barnes?'
what if am, He's smart
business man, isn't he? And doesn't
he always look smart. and doesn't he
patronize smart places where he can
see big business men, Howard Dunn
doesn't eat in such places either. You
might learn something from him. He
Is in the same business"
Damn the businessi Excuse me,
Helen, but things have been rotten to-
day. hoped to get rested SO I might
do something tomorrow. Won't you
give up the show tonight?"
mo. I WON'T If you didn't get
business Il is your own fault You
have proved you cant she returned
taking his arm as they left the res
Eaurant, and turning toward the pic
lure house.
Tomorrow-Helen asks Jack for
money!