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 "How odd!" said Claire.

"I don't think it's odd," said Mrs. Larry. "I suppose every woman does just what we did this morning—stops to tie loose ends in the home, before starting to market."

"More telephone, I imagine," said Claire.

Mr. Benton nodded his head briskly.

"Right there you have struck one fundamental cause of the high cost of living—service! We employ five men to take orders in your home; one man to answer telephone calls, and a dozen delivery men. I am not criticizing the efforts of this firm to give its customers the best and promptest service. I am merely stating the cold facts when I say that order, telephone and delivery service is added to the cost of everything you buy.

"If the women of America would band together for the purpose of ordering efficiently, and thereby reduce the cost of delivery, they would enable grocers to sell at lower prices. Let me make this clear with an illustration:

"Mrs. A. is busy getting the children off to school when the order boy calls at her door. So she tells him to send her a pound of butter, a