The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-07
Helen Hunters
Husband
JACK TURNS IN TWO LARGE
POLICIES.
BY JANE PHELPS
Chapter IA.


Fortunately for Jack his prospect
passed a good examination and in a
day or two he had money for Helen. /
In the meantime she had run in debt
for the first time. Jack had positively
prohibited it when they were first
married, but even he could not see
how it was to be avoided now.
He also found extra work within a
week, night work with a firm who
wished accounting done hurriedly.
Helen was jubilant when he told her:
Now we can perhaps have a cent
to spend having good times" she glee-
fully interrupted. 1--WE are only young
once, you know
But I'm afraid I shant have any
time to go out. This work will have
TO be done evenings. But perhaps you
can go occasionally" He had seen
her face drop.
Very weni I don't mean to settle
down like an old woman if you dol"
Mean old woman!'
You know what 1 meant; if you
are contented to be an old man.
TN do my best to stay young with
you, Helen he answered yet he al
ready felt old, and discouraged.
But he was happier now that he
mad more money to give Helen, aItho
he often worked far into the night to
earn it. Several times he had been
obliged to let the janitress come up
ana help after dinner so that he might
devote the entire evening to the long
rows of figures on his desk.
Helen had been as enthusiastic as
ever about her bridge, but with vary
ing luck. She had run the household
bills, and Jack often felt a heart sink
ing when they came in, but as far as
possible he avoided saying anything
about them. They must, of course. be
paid but unless she were too wfIIfully
eXtrayagant he would say nothing
Why worry her about them?
Jack always listened to HeIen's
chatter on club days, trying to act in
terested in all she told him. Yet he
could detect an envious strain thru
all her talk.
II hate riding in street cars!" she
SAID one night at dinner. She had
been telling of the afternoon. the
lovely gowns the women~wore and so
cars"
I'm sorry, old dear, but the street
cars will be our only motor for a
good many years I'm afraid" Then:
You could take the stage if it went
conveniently near.''
1T hardly ever does, oh. how I
hate being poor!- If didn't love you
TO death I'd get desperate"
1t was such remarks as these that
kept Jack from forbidding Helen
many things they could not afford
He was burning the candle at both
Better take it a bit easy, old man."
Howard Dunn said upon meeting him
one day at the office, you look
pretty seedy. Hall tells me you are
doing night work. Cut it out. You'll
break down.
NO, I won't and 1 can't make
enough without it"
Dunn said no more, but he did a
lot of thinking:
''Pn bet he has a hard time salts
flying that pretty wife OF his. she
struck me as being rather spoiled" he
really grown fond of Jack Hunter. he
gave him several good leads that
brought results.
Wen do famously this month
Jack said to Helen. 81 wrote two
$4,000 policies today"
"Qh, isn't that lovely" she kissed
him rapturously. 'I can have a new
dress. need one dreadfully. This
wearing the same old buds all the time
is awfuI1y mortifying.''
''Ill pay UP all the bills first, then
wen see what is left
gu mean can't lgave any to buy
clothes until all the bills are paid I
think you ae awfuiIy bad to me-"
That's just what I mean. Helen"
Perhaps Jack had spoken more severe
" than he knew or intended. for Helen
burst into u perfect flood of tears,
unusual to her.
You should have married a woman
who didn't care how she looked, one
of the frumps you see around. I sup
pose you would be happy if let my
self get like them. but 1 won't! So
you needn't expect it."
There. Helen, think there viii be
enough for the bills and some new
clothes for you also" He said nothing
of the suit he had intended TO buy 10
fireplace the shabby one he was wear
ing That would have 10 wait.
1TJmorrow-A new suit.l