The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-12-04
ehapter %
The s5-A-Day Business

The @5-A-Day Business
a FTER a while, Nina looked
4 back on that istless, standstill
period, as one of extreme happi-
ness :. not as happy as the earlier
part Of the spring and summer,
when She had discovered she could
get along without Richard T. but
happy, just the same. The next
step was a step downward.
Things like this happened: David
developed an irnpacted wisdom
tooth, and ran up a large dentist
bill. Whenever he made more than
500 q week, that went toward the
doctor; so did the absurd "emer-
gency" money; and whatever they
could exc out Of the days stipend.
Three nights funhlng David tele-
phoned, that he,had to demonstrate
cars, and wouldn't be home I. !.
after she had prepared the dinner.
Twicein one week, Oracle turned
S1EE unexpectedly Withmhin. I'm
hanging round the Office, to see if
can't get my old job back !"
and Nina found herself wondering
about those night demonstrations.
-. The party at Coney Island had
been one long series of Gracie's
grabbing David and going on the
Red Mill with him, the roller
coaster. the merry go-round :.
Nina had never lost a beau, whom
she hadn't meant to, deliberately;
but she knew, for certainty, that
II she had, she never, 9eUer would
have run after him the way Oracle
was running after David now.
Perhaps the girl really did love
him, poor soul; and very probably
she did think she could make him
a better wife than Nina s. but
this pursuing businessl 1t was quite
beyond her ken.
II was in only her most miserable
moments that she was annoyed
with David !. she knew that he
wasn't encouraging the girl: but
she was getting pretty fed up with
Gracie-her apparent friendliness,
and her underhand methods.
David's Accusation
ONE evening, in the first part of
~ September, David came home,
and after greeting Nina with his
custt nary, dear enthusiasm !.
and Button, too he went over
to the strong box.
He took up two 81 bills that still
lay in the days compartment.
He looked at them and then at
Nina. After a minute. he put them
back and closed the box.
He said. nina, | haven't been
spying on you, but tely, with this
dentist bin hanging over me, I've
, been watching the budget pretty
closely He looked away from
her, out through the window. He
said: Nina, you've been using
your own money for household
expenses"
He said itlquietly enough, but as
though he had just discovered she
was murderess. and Nina felt
quite as guilty.
"Just--ever SO little, David i
Just to help out"
''IIave you been doing 1t right
along?" You. have. haven't you.
from the firstgn
well. / don't remember exactly
how il started, darling Really, |
truly, II hasn't amounted to q
thing. !"
e lie said, gravely, 1T amounts
70 the fact that you've gone back |
On our agreement. Nina. That's
butte lot, the way figure things.
He was right, OF course. but Nina
began to get angry. just the same.
I'm sorry. David.e She couldn't
seem to say any more.
lie appeared 10 be waiting. Then.
How much has It been? I'll pay
you back ). How much. FIVE, ten
dollars q wcek3"
'.Oh. Ddvidl I haven't kept track |
Don't be don't be stupid about
this thing, darling. YOU said could |
spend ms money on clothes and
personal things, well. | haven't
needed anything at all, practically
-. So what's the difference If l |
spend few cents Of it for a melon.
now and then !. or the movies in /
the evening"
He smiled ct that !. but not bis /
usual gay smile.
Il dare say you have reasoned |
out what seems 10 you perfectly
good excuse. dear: but the thing /
Is. | happen to feel very strongly /
on the subject. and we agreed
about il az the beginning You /
-. You'll stop, now thai / ask you.
won't you, Nina?"
"Yes."
That was all she could seem 70
bring herself TO say. And David
had .tnlshed, too. apparently.
They had their dinner. and went
for a walk, and came home and
read for a while hefors e. =