The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-11-22

good boarding house, but Mr.. Pulver
may ask me when we come back how
l liked the hotel and then he said he
might run down himself over the
weekend, so l guess we'd better go
there"
"Oh, it'll be heavenly" Alice sighed
rapturously, but did you take money
enough along, Jim?"
Drew every cent out of the bank.
One hundred and fifty dollars. Guess
that ought to see us out, eh?'
At the hotel, which lowered above
Alice's most eXtravagant dreams,
'Jim's holiday mood received another
dent when he heard the price of the
room. He might have changed to the
boarding house but Alice firmly re-
fused to move.
The dinner in the vast fairy-lighted
dining hall with soft-footed attentive
walters and dreamy, entreating music
was to Alice an hour of exquisite Joy
well worth waiting eighteen years
for, but Jim grew heavy with concern.
Out on the boardwalk he told her
Eve can't eat there again, Alice.
Eight dollars and twenty cents for
that dinnerp
ooh, Jim," she demonstrated, ut
was worth hundred"
The next day he led her to a cafe
terra on side street where in a din
of noise and a smell of fish they ate
lukewarm dinner in less than fif-
teen minutes. Right there in Alices
breast rose a great protest backed by
a tremendous determination. Moth
ing could move her, she would eat at
her, saved from her allowance. Jim
argued, but he could not convince her.
This was her first vacation in eight
zen years and she was going to en-
joy it to the fullest extent.
SO Alice ate delicious, expensive
meals at the hotel and Jim patronized
dairy lunches and cafeteriaS. Between
meals they were mostly together, both
tactfully not mentioning the subject
of eating, though Alice noticed Jim
was continually munching peanuts or
salt water tatfy. She wondered, lit
tie conscience-stricken, if he were
hungry.
Sunday morning Jim came in with
a telegram. MIR. Pulver wants to see
me Monday morning early-it's i'm
pOrtant-so I'll go down and settle
the bill while you pack. Let me see"
he flshed out his roll of bills
twelve dollars day for this room"
He did a little reckoning-"Il just
have enough for the bill, tips and our
return tickets"
Alice, who was finishing dressing,
grew little pale. But Jim," she
faltered, "the bill will be much more.
You see," nervously, Il just signed
checks for my meals, and the money
l had with me is all gone but So.
bought some linens and dress and"
They began to figure, Alice strain
ing to remember the amount of her
meal checks Jim fishing in all his
pockets for loose change. 1t was all
of no use, they were nearly $50 short.
Its Sunday" Jim was saying in
a hard, flat voice; Il can't telegraph
the office. No use to offer a check,
have no funds at the bank. We don't
know a soul here to borrow from.
Can't stay till tomorrow-got to be
in the office and straighten out that
misunderstanding or the firm'll have
a bad lawsuit" He looked at Alice
in reproachful disapproyal. you
think | enjoyed eating at those mis-
cradle little places? You know how
l love good food! You always think
all my sacrifices are foolshness; per-
haps in the future you'll be more
willing to save. This is the result of
thoughtless extravaganza. Well, I'll
go down and face the music!'
She rushed over to him. Jim, oh,
Jim, what can happen?" She chung
to him, trembling; they couldn't ar
rest u.s." Was Mr.. Pulver right? Did
all vacations end with trouble?"
She insisted upon going down with
him to the office. If only she had
brought her engagement ring with
her they might offer that as security !!
And Jim's watch was just gold filled
She shrank against Jim at the cash
ier's cage when after several unsuc-
cessful efforts her husband asked in a
low voice for their bill. How cordial
ly the cashier smiled. Alice felt like
a criminal.
"The billT the cashier fumbled In
a file. "Oh," he frightened, "there
isn't any. Mr.. Pulver-hes patronized
our hotel for years-wrote US that he
is taking care of that end Of your
visit. l hope you had a pleasant stay
with us, Mrs. Stover?" he 'waxed
very sociable, "and was the shoe ex-
hibition satisfactory from a business
viewpoint, Mr.. Slower? / used to be
in that line myself"
Up in their room the Stovers stood
looking at each other for one brief
second, then Jim, throwing back his
head, burst into great boyish laugh.
"Alice," he gasped wiping his eyes,
"don't ever tell soul, will you, about
my being hungry and all, and honey"
he drew her close, well have a va
cation every year and save a little
less"
Ancient Saying