The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-21
CHAPTER /.

.
a girl. with the advertisement sheet
Of the Daily Mail laid upon the table
before her. One finger passed rapidly
down the columns.
II wish were cook, Neville. Here
are cooks required Of every size and
shape. no limit to either age or sex,
apparently. l could get dozen stu
ations tomorrow il I could roast
{ joint properly, and I could earn for
tune If could do made dishes"
The brother that Janetta Howard
addressed was good-looking lad
about 10 years old, with dark appeal
ing eyes, and closely-cropped curly
hair. The face was spoiled by the
purposeless weak mouth and the char
acterless chin. He reclined in an easy
chair, and was smoking pipe, with
his hands thrust deep into his .trouser
pockets.
What nonsense, Jennie! AS If
should ever consent to your going out
as common servant! Besides, don't
believe you could do a red herring
properly"
"Given a good fire and toasting
fork, would evolve the way to do the
herring" retorted Janetta merrily.
But that dare not draw out our last
penny of capital would go in for
series Of cooking lessons, come out at
the top of the tree, and take a place
as cook in high family, tell you.
1 would not adopt the title of lady
help I'd be cook, and rule my kitchen
with rod of iron" And she clenched
her hand, as if she really gripped the
rod of which she spoke.
"And, failing this, what do you pro-
pose to do?" asked Neville lazily.
Anything that OFFERS" replied Jan
eta quickly, resuming her search
through the paper. ct is quite clear
that, if you are to accept this chance
of stool in an accountants Office,
must supplement your salary in some
way; you can't live on it"
~ need not accept it; l can wait for
something better"
wait until we come to our last
penny, in fact!" cried Jaretta impa-
tiently. "No, Neville; you must take
this clerkship, and 1 must get some
thing and help you all I can. You
know I'm ready enough to do it; but"
with little break in her voice
you'll keep steady, dear. when I'm
gomez"
Her tone implied that the boys past
had not been altogether blameless, and
he started to his feet, as If Stung by
her words.
Il know I've been a beast, Jennie.
I've wasted a lot of money; but if l
hadn't had such bad luck I should have
won 1t back on the last Derby"
"That's just it--you'd no right to
risk It," replied Janetta despairingly;
but you'll leave it alone now-you
must promise me to try and keep
straight. think it would break my
heart If you turned into drinking,
betting man like father!"
The last words were brought out
sadly and reluctantly, briefly telling
the tale of the present low ebb in their
fortunes.
'.Hes dead; you need not bring up
his sins against him." said Neville,
rather sulkily.
"And would not, except that love
you so dearly that must give you one
word of warning. You've nobody else,
you see," said Janetta, with smile
that was almost caress.
LET me see, where was I? Bent
upon finding that wonderful situation
that is to make both your fortune and
mine," she continued, with an effort to
regain her usual light-heartedness.
What do you say to this?"
Wanted Immediately, young
lady as companion, good-looking and
good-tempered. Photo must accom-
pany every application. References re-
CURED"
"Humbus!" calculated Neville, from
the depths of his easy chair.
Come and look for yourself, If you
don't believe me-" said Janetta, with
laughter in her eyes.
He rose and peeped over his sisters
shoulder. why, yes! it's there safe
enough. It's hoax, of course You
won't be green enough to answer it?"
This very night" said Janetta
brightly-"at least, if you honestly
can assure me that I fulfill the re-
quirements. I'm not old at two-and-
twenty, am I?
I'm averagely good-tempered, and
could attain perfect self-control if an
occasional outburst meant a loss of
situation. And"-as she spoke she
glanced at the common little mirror
above the mantel shelf-"don't mind
my feelings, tell me truly; am good
looking enough?"
ooh, as to that, you'll do" replied
Neville, with the bluntness of a
brother.
The face that the mirror reflected
was framed in a cloudy mass of hair,
set like an aureole round the daintily-
poised head. Hazel eyes, halt yelled
by the long lashes, looked wistfully
from under level. clearly-defined eye
brows: creamy complexion; and a
smiling mouth, whose half -opened red
lips disclosed the wilderness of the
small. even teeth, completed the pic
ture.
- Beauty was the one possession left
to Janetta, and tonight she priced it
more than she had ever done before
as possible means to an end. What
II the simple fact that she was pretty
should win for her the situation she
go longed to obtain?
Il shall send her my prettiest photo.