The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-04
GOT MONEY FOR MKINLEY.
IA TUREoEk GAZE mrs DAU6H-
TER $500 TO LEND TO HIN.


rer unanInary Calls on Mrs. NaekinisS-
vvsst Ter waisorr Haucheons and n Ficyci".
BY deceptions which would hardly have
duped q child OF her own age, 1a.year-old
Gertrude Turecek, has systematically worked
her parents for their entire bank account OF
q1,l00 in the last six months. This money,
20 the Tureceks say, she has spent ON candy,
flowers, dress, and the theatre. There is some
reason for suspicion, however, that the scheme
whereby the money was obtained 10 the work OF
some older brain than Gertrude's, but IL this IL
70, the little girl steadily refuses to admit 1t. She
confesses having lied TO get the money, and
says that the remarkable romances wherein she
figures rs the chosen friend, companion. and
financial benefactress Of President and Mr.
McKinlay. arc the products OF her own unaided
Imagination.
The Turecoks live in very comfortable apart
ments at 232 East Thirtieth street. Ferdi-
nand, the father, IL n tailor who for the last
ave or six years has made a very good living
for himself and family, and laid up u little
more than Sl,4OO. His wife, like himself, 10 a
Bohemian, and both are persons Of such seeming
intelligence that IL Is difficult to understand
how they could have believed their daughters
stories. Perhaps 1t Is because Gertrude 10 the
pride Of their life, and they firmly believe her
10 ben great genius, particularly as n musician.
She takes piano lessons OF an expensive teacher
and 10 said to have considerable talent. Re-
earding her as they do, the Tureoeks found It
easy to believe that the President of the United
states had taken a strong and perfectly nat
urai fancy TO their daughter. and that finding
tho honor OF borrowing money from her.
Once in her life has Gertrude seen President
last April. Around him hor. facile imseina.
mont In making believe that che was on init
,natA toftna with tho nNnnnnnf NJ thu yuktNn
House. Ono day last May she carried this
make believe 30 far as to try It on her mother.
Mamma" she said. Il want a new dress. A
said her mother. What do you want Of n new
80 go and call on the President"
.Heavens aboyel What is the child talking
NJ Mckinley. He is staying over at the
Windsor, Hotel and he wants me to come and
"W6ere did he ever see you, child"
Zone day I went in there coming back from
school, and a man in the big parIor said to me,
tSsa | ss zSqTF Ia TABS ike 10 n'i pia g'F on the 'S Sig h plano sn ID
The corner, % he opened II and old me to play;
shall !. ask fort. and he said, President MeKin-
Mrs, Presidenti' and he said, She's very well,
thank s1SnId You Da., How %s.k are y ss,d. f .f% % must come osn
dress Then 1 came away, becaus. the Mayor
and the Governor and a lot of gentlemen were
Oyercome with pride, Mrs. T4recek told her
husband how the President had heard Gertie
p play re and ar sS%i5sa her , Playing E,b ana all Ma. the ss Tssi
cidcd that Gerty must have the new dress. That
little surprised at the unexpected success Of her
scheme. suggested that she ought to go in a car.
Everybody does who calls on Mr.. and:Mrs.
the money I'll get the carriage"
Mrs. Turecek handed her $40 so that she
took two OF her school friends TO lunch
she foresaw all sorts OF good times in prospect
that AZ flrst she must go slow. Brilliant was
her reception by the President and his wife, and
minute was her description of Mrs. McKinley's
wonders that she, was not more surprised at
learning that the first lady in the land received
,S,nrssd clad %ftb in ia q ,ow v ssa b q purple silk
hat with black and yellow feathers.
EVERYDAY but me brought flowers for Mrs.
time ! go I think ought 70 take some. I'm in.
yitedl, to go out driving with them next wednes.
How much do flowers eostf' asked Mrs.
"A dollar." repeated the girl scornfully. 'Ten
'o "hes e !n hav veff IT.. 's1 said the father. ITS a
great thing to stand in with, the President.
going to make a big man OF me. They tell
me I'm likely to get a big place in Washington
This put anothe= idea into Gertrude's busy
brain. From time to time sho threw out hints
OF what her friend the President might do for
Papa TureGek. Meantime, her reports Of re.
regular, and equally regular were her demands
for money: Upon this money she was treat.
dinners. She had found ont e& Mhe4see the W Saa
dorf was and her bills there amounted to a
ways took an older person with her, generally
the Tureceks. Mrs. Carey, had heard. as had
great friend OF the McKinley's, so the amount
Of money the, child had didn't strike her as
S Sss1S.d s4 fSDs sSn m, In the the 3 summer IN the girl
ing that a request to that effect would not
meet with acaniescence. she went to her father
What for. nowl" her father asked. you've
cost sy me more sGs thHn Il ! can 4 a afford aIreeedy:"
adently: You mustn't tell. but Us for the
President. he wants to borrow it."
~ thought he was a rich man" gasped Ture.
'of course he is. but his checks haven't come,
Consultation with his wife led TureeceS TO- iibbe
conclusion that 1t would be good policy to adj.
vance t the money. The next day = fancy bicy.
II told him where the money came FROM. the
Ouiiu EOpOIlCo W q lHtHtT, ana ne WAS 80
grateful. He says he'll remember you"
So pleased was Turecek at having been of as
distance to the Administration that he cheer.
fully paid out small sums of ten, fifteen,
twenty, and twenty-five dollars for weeks
thereafter, requested on various p~rotexts. In
October, however, when his laughter said that
Mt. MCKINLEY would like to borrow 800 more,
Papa Turecek objected.
isn't doing anything for me. Why don't
he pay the other money. backl 1t doesn't say
In the papers that he's here in town, ANYWAY.
Maybe no goes back to Washington and for.
gets.
Tho papers don't know he's here" said
$ertie, and you mustn't tell anybody. No
We'll, ~ gee about the money" said her
father. wait a few days"
Two days later she returned from a confden.
tial. chat with the President, which she thus re.
ported at home:
Gsrtiei, He's q tailor l said. and he's q
That's fright, Gertie.'' put in her fa.hcr.
You keep telling him that and he'll make me
something big at Washington"
On he's going to IN a little WHILE" Ger
President and l want u keep you. with us, SO
Il your father Is smart IN mako him a part OF
the Government AT Washington said: lie
has q very good business here. Maybe he