Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-31

time, even h@ baI
Esther. III he went ahead and got il
with such a meager balance Esther
would be sure to discover the d.scTep-
dncy.
BILLIE Ayers was a h0OkkeepeF on
commentator that was not munifcent
though better than the average run
of such sala ries And ne was now
preparing to oecone a certified ~. -
accountant. which title he G,-,rcted
would double his earnings.
Billie and EstheT's social obligations
were not large. and they lived com
fortabiy on his salary. There were
things, even modest wants. that they
both ion2ed for. but had to feFe2o.
While Billie pored over the various
items Of their household accounts
Esther rushed int the living room
where he was at work, eager 10 see
how much they bad saved the last
month and to ask IL there was going
to be enough for her to buy one o.
those shining electric waffle irons. AZ
she scuFried up to the table several
slips Of paper 8urried in different d.
rectioDs from the breeze her move
meBt had created.
"Yes--I guess you can. get IL this
menth. That will leave US for this
month just what We planned 70 save
every month";" he said.
Then as he retrieved the slips tina.
had blown away and scrambled them
together she caught a fleeing look
of disappointment On his face tina,
sent a rendtng pang Of sympathy
through her.
IF could help a little" she STAN
mered. Lots of young married
women work. I'll lock through the
ads tomorrow"
You help" Billie exclaimed. You
mean work out and make money? II
| can't make a living for you III 60
| jump IN the ocean You know what
/ thiRk about your working. I'm not
going te have any old boss trying 10
cali you down."
| There was something Esther
| wanted to buy besides the wahle
| iron. something for her own personal
delight, but she decided to- forego IL
! for while when she realized how
his pride was set against her work
ing, vet she could not completely re-
| iinQuish hope for IL. She guessed
| that there was something Billie was
Just as anxious to get for himself
too He covered hts face with his
| hands and puckered his brow as he
turned back to his figures. bur not
before she had eaught In his ex-
pression the wistfulnesz Which abe
had 50 efteR detected
Billie Ayers enjoyed hunting espe-
cially pheasant and duck hpntinK.
and after a few seasons Of saSrfice
he longsd for the sport once more
with an intensity that was diHscuh
to~sun2ress. Heswanted TO hay him
self u sa0tsun. yet he knew that in
reality they could net afferd such q
| luxury.
There were things they needed In
their home; Esther had Pointed cut
these things 10 him; many Of them
he had noted himself; and ahaut
the others he had readily assented 60
her opinions, Although Esther was
always neat and attractive her
clothes were generally made over and
always hand-sswea by herself Nor
was their home gruehy. Esther
combined various Femainders and
oddments In artistic arrangements
till ID gave the rooms an air OF some
furnituFe Either had enamele4 -
make n lock more expensive.
With all this IN mind. Billie. how
ever. gave In to hts ionging, aud %
the day before the hunting season
opened he went into BARKER Bros
big sporting goods store and with
much preliminary reference giving
he finally esught the gun on credit.
taking every prscaution 10 see that
his wife never found cut about H.
and even shariag q lest ahont the
wife pnahlsm with the salesman
II was In an iFrepresSihle state Of
heatituds that he fondlad the gun
once more before he passed IL hack
to the salesman % wrap up for htR-
Ths engraved and embossed walnut
stock alsstsasa. the perfection Of tss
automatic elecior was . marvel TO
Rsl.e. He smiled broadly ana hap
PLY as as looked aovn the aassimS.
shiny barrel
He passed il back 10 the clerk. wac
wrapped it up In the suit eax RilAe
had provided fer The perpeset Bfne
then arranged 70 call fer bis eill in
person the hast Of every naon.A- IN
der No circumstances was the Asn
ever 10 80 Ia his haass-
That Ri0h, Esther nossd On Der
husbands face . guilty Aet happy
exprexsion Instead AZ the aoax Of
wistfuinaSx she had 80 often de-
tecssa. she studied tAis expression
carefully wAiis Rilhs taia his steEy
with what he thought VAS = SeoS
poker face but vita What katAer
thought was the eevta0sness ~ The
aurora AaENStts in khNadSks>
row he said. CASUALLY. and Iva 80
ing out with Jimnats>
~YeS-l zee in the headlines esASA-
msnted Esther,
L Billie pusalea ever that expression
for q naeath AetwFe ne realised us
suhtlsnesS he Thought she naeARS
IL fa< . ,AAe~e5 an stS seNs ~ the
srarA
IL was sse msce - expect the
asers AAvlAx OF a sen pressed -
accomplish much. hat ESsAer DID
some tnwexltsatins sf Aer ewrs
True, there wAs the snas ~ cAatAes
nawN pressed R,lhs had SepS AA
II alioi 10 the uainatN nua. Ike every
other niece ~ deceit there WaS
II tslltala csew. For in all htS caassAA
TO conceal svsSstAins billie had sets
an ail-ssainsA eletA with wasoA ne
had oiled the sun stueed IL tie
pocket Of tia, sals,
Il IAN rlgAt,~ xatd Rather 80 Aers~R,
L i've got S~sns rraShN tea n hen go
/ proud ~ have aAs wsrk, Iva sSe
L proud to have Ain SNlax aToonA
hiding things fs<Aa me ~ u ! ~s<s
texnAasant~
Ana tes a meath nalse SMslea %
/ htmseh. and ESthsP smiled - BAR
| SELF. Then wAea Rtlns ealleA taR AN
| hill N Markes hses ~ the Ass 81
the meAtA the sir, in sAs eases AsseE
eSnxuhiax The at<&> replied, Year
| account Has been raia, rear ~afe
| paid II, she Wishes YEA - tAka
home a package she less downstairs
toe
pewaStairN Nilhe wAs presented
/ with an epaN cAsrtAxs case IN wAteA
I Was fel1s1 a NAAy seal cSAaS
{ ~lua MY wife hAvw tAisS Do
| a,aNde1 Rilas
/ Yes" said the c,Nrk with uaessea
| "$Asx playing tAs eFxAn eNr sAs
ulatiaeeS 81 The Eanpr>@~ TAaAser,