Evening star., 1932-11-15
A PAT II I
CHAPTER %.
THE MONEY FLIES.
Jy Coaias.Jy

THE MONEY FLIES.
~ UT In marriage, as Give was tn
learn, there are no closed chap
teTs; s:r,s,. wives with income.
are naturally secretive. Santa
had formed the habit through living
with Dicky. What the rent Of their
apartment was Give discovered iron: rom
N the janitor. The wages they paid their
maid he could only guess. The cost Of
their housekeeping, if Santa knew the
exact figure, she never told.
her eXtravagance In clothes was ter
rifving. Every day she ratded Fifth
avenue: the result was an avalanche OF
boxes. She flung away dollars where
he would have considered cents. Since
she was spending her own money, he
had no license to curb her.
Tllogically, despite he- INDEPENDENCE,
her pretense was that she was utterly
his possession. Never more so than
when she paraded before him, courtmg
his approval of the latest adlfd1n 20
her wardrobe. once ne attempted
mild protest.
IT'S stunning But there aren't
enough days in the yesr to wear the
frookS you already Gwn."
TN gathering my trousse3u,' she
pulled face at him.
$50 that's the idea But aren't you
setting the pace trifle fast? What
mean is
I'm your slave and you're my sultan.
don't buy them to please myself. 1
dress for you only"
At the end of the first month when
he inquired what he owed, she replied
''Wh atever you choose"
But won't you show me the ac-
counts?"
'They aren't made up. You earn
how much? About four hundred a
month. Give me half of it."
That two hundred wasn't his share,
he was certain. When he wrote out his
check for three hundred she tore 1t up.
The second time she accepted it. but
omitted to cash it.
He took her to task. She placed him
under a crushing obligation.
"As your husband I'm legally reSpon-
sibie for your debts. What a goat I'd
look in a bankruptcy court If I couldn't
state"
she burst out laughing.
II was during these first weeks that
he arrived home to find her reading a
newspaper. The sight was unusual;
intent on its contents that she didn't
hear his approach.
Something interesting?" He perched
on the arm of her chair. Lets squlnt
at H."
The paragraph was marked 1t con-
tanned the news that old Mr.. Oak was
dead and that hi5 only son, Richard,
had fallen heir TO his millions.
'rDicky must hav, sent 1t, Santa
commented "As you see, it's Chicago
paper"
Give rose.
I'm of to doll myself up" He
glanced back from the doorway. If
he really did send it, he had his nerve.
Would he never be rid of that fellow?
While he tubbed and during dinner he
brooded over the incident.
When the maid had departed and
funacy was permissible, Santa leaned
against his knees, squatted on the floor
tailor fashion.
Stretching back, she coaxed him.
whats troubling the old head?"
If you'd been his wife when all this
money blew in, would you have divorced
hin1?'
Tickle my throat" she ordered; be
natural" Then, sensing his serious
ness, who cares about money!"
That night she whispered:
when will you believe that I'd rather
starve with you IN an attic than travel
round the world IN a yacht with
D'~kv?"
Eus her protestations only assured
him while he was alone with her. He
noted. CT thought he noted, that other
people regarded their marriage as
catch as catch csn-anyway, as lack
ing IN dignity.
Slips Of the tongue forced ON his at
tention that he was no more than her
second husband Though her entire
happiness was Tavenous1y bound up
with his, nothing could effaee the i'm.
preston. Friends visiting recognized
cersaiTl objects.
4 gave you that. 50 glad you're still
using IT,"
GIVE didn't require to be hit on the
he'd. He guessed the joyous occasion
of The gifts bestowal.
He became so sensitive he suspected
that many Of her love names were bor-
rowings from her old vocabulary.
Did you ever cali him that?"
Ridiculous old thing, do you expect
me to invent new language for you?"
More than once at dinner parties she
caused him discomfort by referring to
places at which he was never present.
When we visited Havana---"
Even when she had provoked a litter,
she sailed on gay1y with bright glance
ct Give, THAT was before your time "
Tactless OF her! No husband is
pleased to hear his wife mention