“That can not be expressed in round figures. It varies. As I said before, I think our prices average about four per cent. below those of the competitive stores, largely because they must spend money to attract trade which we hold through our membership. The housewife who takes home her goods saves an additional five per cent. The member who attends our Saturday evening sales saves a little more. And, finally, stockholders get back money in these two ways: “First, regular interest on their investment of not more than six per cent.; second, gains or profits which the store has made, redistributed every quarter at the rate of five per cent. on the amount of purchases recorded on duplicate sales slips.” “Then it is a success, your store and your society?” asked Mrs. Norton. “And the women believe in it and support it?” “They certainly do. They have the true cooperative spirit.” “And what of your cooperative kitchen and your housemaids’ school, and----” “Those? Oh, they are another story! The cooperative kitchen is managed by a different society, and the school for housemaids by the Housewives’ League.” “Shall we see them?” inquired Mrs. Moore, as the quartet walked down the sun-bright street. “Yes, let us make a day of it in this remarkable community with its cooperative spirit, even if, as Mr. Dyal says, it is another story.” CHAPTER VI “_High prices do not necessarily mean high living._”--H. C. OF L. PROVERB NO. 6. Mrs. Larry, her chin cupped in her slim competent hand, gazed at the toe of her bronze slipper. A smile played round her lips and brightened her eyes. Mr. Larry, leaning back in his favorite chair, studied her with the satisfaction of a man who has found matrimony a success, and is eager to blazon the fact to all the world. “Well,--and what of to-day’s adventure in thrift?” he asked. “Oh, Larry, it ended in _such_ a mess!” she answered, leaning forward, her hands clasped about her knees. “The day started with a perfectly wonderful trip through the Montclair Cooperative Store. Then, because we did not realize that we had taken in about all the information we could absorb at one time, we went chasing off to see a cooperative kitchen and training school for housemaids--” She stopped abruptly, and resumed her study of the beaded bronze slipper. “And then,” prompted Mr. Larry in exactly the tone which he knew would bring a response. “Oh, Larry, I’m afraid I’m a little silly,” she sighed. “I can’t rise to the heights of cooperation and the good of the greatest number and all that sort of thing. Moreover, if I keep on investigating the attempts of my own sex to solve the high cost of living problem, I shall develop into an out and out anti-suffragist. If we women can not solve the economic problems in our own pantries and kitchens, what right have we to meddle with state and national economics?” Mr. Larry flung back his head and laughed with delight.