The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-11-09
Observation-Disclosures RHrnmma

We are not beggars-nut we are
that our allowances, or such part. of
them as YOU see fit to pay. shall be
given to us in the regular manner.
in lump sum monthly
"a month in advance2' said the
efficiency man. eievatinS his eye.
brows why? Do you spend it all
the first day."
"Of course not. But that does not
alter our right to receive it all at
once"
TOO much temptation. said
Hedge. shaking his head. Besides,
it's not economic. Perhaps you do
not know it. but many banks pay
interest on daily balances. This Is
the case with the bank in which
Your father left an account for this
household That account is under
my sole charge. BY paying the three
of you $3.50 a month in advance an
sppreciable amount of interest will
he lost. BY paying you 1872 per day.
the remainder of a considerable sum.
reduced. of course, by daily drafts.
remains at interest That is the
policy that ! shall follow. You will
be paid in checks, each morning"
This said Constance. stonily. lis
the browning outra Se.'
I'm sorry you look at 1t that way.
Miss Brooke. 1t is simply good bust
ness However. I'm willing to put it
this way. if you object to a daily
checl-I will make weekly payments.
at the end. however. rather than the
beginning of the week. If you sc
cept this arrangement. the first pay
ment Will be made a week from to-
Gay"
Constance wavered She had s279
J. it. Perhaps for a week she could
stand it. But Billy and Alice were
TO be thought of. They were desti-
tute. No. the pride of the Brooke
family would have to grovel before
this creature. 1t was the daily wage,
OF bankruptcy
I'VE wish to talk it over" she
said.
Certainly" assented Hedge
Constance led the way across the
hall, through the big reccption-room
and into a far corner of the music
room. where they were safe from
prying ears. 1t was Billy who spoke
first.
You made fine mess of it, Aliee."
he exclaimed.
Alice did bor best" declared Con-
stance defensively. Would you
have done any better2'
We'll. why couldn't she have given
him the idea we earned this money.
or something like that"
Earn it,. jeered Alice "A lot we
Go to earn it. and you know it,"
He talks as if we were panhan-
dlers.'' srowled Billy
Tit was like standing on a
bread line, sroaned Alice.
Come" interrupted Constance.
We've got to decide. It's half. or
nothing
Il won't take half"- stormed her
brother
Do YOU want nothing. them You
know very we'll none of us ever had
bank account We never even
thought of asking for one. when
father was here. Now. listen; you'd
better take this fifty per cent offer.
because if you don't. Billy, you won't
bave a cent to your name.
There was an inarticulate rumbling
in his throat
And you'll be in the same fix,
Alice. all of u.s." continued Con
stance. We can't go around like
beggars: you know it. For my part,
I'm going to take mine
Can't we borrow the rest some
whcre?"
Billy
The proposal shocked Constance,
because it assailed her Brooke pride.
None of us will ever borrow. If I
can help it," she said stoutly. Then.
after a pause: We'll. now that we've
accepted half. shall we take 1t by the
Gay or the week."
Let's go back and fight for it by
the month in advance" said Billy.
Constance shook her head
1T would do no good" she said.
Don't you see how he's got US? He
mas all the money and we've only
eot S2.79 between us-and that's all
mine. And l can see he is not going
to change his mind He hasn't yet.
on anything. For my part, can
stand it by the week. But I'm think
ing of you and Alice"
NEXT CHAPTERs Depreciation
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