The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-31

money, lover?"
Using your allowance for
money!" It was the first time Sue
had heard him speak sharply to
his wife. I'VE settled all that at
the time we were married. If you
really haven't bought anything
since then, you should have plenty
in the bank-even for all this"
Patsy laughed. You're funny,
Allen! This is my whole spring
outfit, don't you understand? I
couldn't possibly pay for it with
what I've saved. Besides" she
went on easily. Il haven't saved
to any conspicuous extent.
There've been things l needed
p erfume and powder and
things"
81 should think you could buy
a good deal of powder and per-
fume on siXty-five dollars
month, Pats! That's your dress
allowance. Do understand you've
charged all this?"
why, yes! / have to have some
thing to wear. I'm your wife, Al
len; ! have to do you credit"
He was collecting the carbon
expense slips from the waste
basket, from where they had
fallen on the floor.
"Great guns! Here's one for
hundred and forty-seven dollars
and twenty-eight cents-at one
fell swoop! And this-Pats! this
must be a mistake: seven hats at
one place, the total being sixty
five dollars! Will you tell me what
you need of seven hats at one and
the same timer"
Sue, her cheeks burning, slipped
from the room, closing the door
silently behind her. She had known
that Patsy was on a spending
spree; that she had lost her head,
was buying right and left without
regard to her needs or Aliens in
come. She had demonstrated in
vain. Pats had simply gone off
without her and continued her
mad career.
Actually QuarreIling'
a ND there was far more to it
"A then Allen knew. Certain
boxes had been delivered to her
sisters; suits, hats, absurdly sheer
stockings, jeWelry and scent even.
"f Allen can buy his sister a
car, guess I can get mine few
things!''
She repeated this to her hus-
band a few days later when the
monthly bills arrived, and he
questioned her in establishment.
"Oh, that was a spring coat ]
got for Marie" she said COM
posedly. "And, Lefty, poor child,
was almost barefooted. I QUILTED
her with shoes"
"Your sisters have positions;
they earn salaries of their own!"
(which is more than yours
does, Allen darling!"
"Pats, I'm sorry to seem un-
generous, but you must never do
this again. It will take me all
summer to clean up these bills.
AS matter of fact, I'll have to
forego our vacation this year.
Sorry, dear. l know you'd counted
on that trip. But no travelling for
us now!"
She cried out protestingly. "Al-
len Davenport! Not to go to Cam
ada as we planned! But it was to
be our wedding trip. We never
even stayed away over night
when we were married. You said
you'd make it up to me this sum-
mer. You asked me whether I'd
rather have a used car or a month
in Canada. and l said Canada.
You can't 60 back on your word
like this!"
"But darling, figure it out for
yourself! / have just so much
money-you knew that. If it has
to be used to pay for outfits for
you and your sisters, it's 4 dead
sure thing it can't be used to take
us to Canada. You've been a BUSH
ness woman. You know that a
dollar can't be spent twice"
Her Redeemed mouth closed
with soft viciousness.
"Your dollars can't! But there's
Sues. I think it's time we had a
showdown on Sue, Allen. Are we
to support her the rest of her life
since she seems determined not
to get married? She's twenty-five,
and she's never earned a cent
that's been spent on her. I'm your
wife and have a right"
Allen was very pale. "Just a
minute, Pats! Sues earned her
way, even if she never contrib
uted part of her own income
which she has. For years she kept
my house, ran the kitchen on a
budget, left me free to concen-
trate on my work without giving a
thought to domestic problems"
which is more than | do?
Well, / never pretended to be do
nestle, Allen. ! warned you Of
that when we were married"
why did you take the house.
keeping out of Sues hands then?
Our grocery bills are frightful;
and at that. we don't seem to have
very good meals" He pulled him.
self up abruptly. Pats dear. we're
actually quarrelling! I'm sorry.
Kiss your husband, and tell him
you'll stay within your allowance
after this"
She kissed him amiably enough
but she made no promise; and the
next month brought a fresh
shower of bills. This time Allen
reproached her in no uncertain
| terms,