leasures of a club, nor many other
things he did afford, had he not been able to add to his purse by
writing occasional bits of fiction and jokes for the lighter
magazines. Some months this additional money amounted to quite a
sum, and when it more than paid his expenses, he would make Laura a
little present, but it was understood that this money was his, and
that it was something quite outside the regular income of the
family, and not to be counted on for household expenses. The result
was that sometimes Mr. Fenelby had quite a sum in his pockets, and
sometimes he had hard work to make his car-fare money last through
the week.

But one thing he never neglected was to bring home to his wife a box
of bon-bons every Saturday evening, and one of the things that Mrs.
Fenelby flaunted before her female friends was the fact that
although she had been married for five years Tom never missed the
box of candy. This was the visible sign that his love had not
declined, and that he still had a lover's thoughtfulness.

On the Friday after the Fenelby Tariff had been adopted, Mr. Fenelby
came home with a box of cigars under his arm. It was his usual box
of twenty-five, and the usual brand, for which he paid ten cents
each, and after he had kissed Laura he gaily deposited twenty-five
cents in Bobberts' bank. This was the first money he had put in the
bank under the new tariff laws, and he took an especial pleasure in
depositing it. Mrs. Fenelby had put many pennies and nickels in the
bank during the week, because she had had to buy a number of things
from the vegetable man, and others.

"How much did you put in, dear?" asked Mrs. Fenelby, as she heard
the coin rattle down among its fellows.

"A quarter," said Mr. Fenelby, gaily. "I tell you, Laura, that boy
will soon have a lot of money if it keeps coming in at that rate. A
quarter here, and a quarter there! It is amazing how it mounts up."

"Yes," she answered. "But shouldn't you put in seventy-five cents,
Tom? Cigars are a luxury, aren't they? And you know you said
luxuries were thirty per cent."

Mr. Fenelby turned quickly.

"Nonsense!" he said. "Any man will tell you that cigars are an
absolute necessity. Just as much so as food or drink or clothing.
Every one knows that, Laura."

[Illustration: Bobberts]

"Why, Tom," said Mrs. Fenelby, "you told me, only last night, when I
merely hinted that you were smoking too much, that you could quit
any minute you chose, and tha