Tina:  I could take a guess at that…. But I won’t. We do have at least a partial answer on that…so, let’s see what Harriett has to say.

Bette:  This is a good breakfast, Sweetie. Thank you.

Tina:  You’ll welcome.  You can prepare breakfast tomorrow. Go and work your fingers to the bone and sweat in that kitchen, just like I did this morning.

Bette: I mean thank you for the suggestion. But I will be glad to provide you with whatever it takes to make sure, you have an equally as nice a breakfast tomorrow.

Tina:  Let’s have another cup of coffee and review those Better Education Foundation files. Let’s see what is in them.

Bette:  Yes, good idea.

They put the dirty dishes on the cart and wheeled it into the hall and then took their coffee to the sitting area and started through the envelope marked Better Education Foundation.

The file was not particularly thick. It contained a file of tax returns and which showed contributions made by some corporation and then the expenses which were salaries, office expenses, and category called Scholarships and Educational Expenses. The tax returns showed an income tax due for the federal government and for the state of Illinois for a period from 1987 through 1999. The expenses for seemed to jump significantly every four years.

Bette: Well, this shows that scholarships were paid every year for twelve consecutive years. Looks like only one employee and not much for overhead expenses. Their biggest bill outside of the educational expenses are taxes. I wonder where the revenue came from? Oh, and it shows a Chicago address for all years.

Tina:  Well, that seems consistent with what Gabriel told us.

Tina read the organization file which show the entity was incorporated in Delaware and then commenced business in Chicago. The minutes say that the entity would not seek a non-profit status. And the entity would hire Robert Beals as the sole employee. He would conduct all business transactions and would conduct his operations out of his home. He would be paid a salary of $60,000 per year. And the tax returns would be prepared by Wescott and Porter.

Tina:  A good salary for only a few transactions per month.