The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-06
THE EVENING STORY
collector cupid.
-lBy Esther Harndln.l

(By Esther Harndin.l
Peggy HaIlen sat among her shat
tered household idols and wept.
The particular idol which she had
elected to moisten with bitter tears
was q small desk OF mission wood.
round which had centered her hap
py household interests. How she had
kept her accounts, calculating with in
finite pains the steadily reduced liv-
ing expenses. And she had written, to
the little town in New England, letters
which fairly brimmed with III con-
tentment she had found in her lie IN
the busting city which would have
terrifed most girls from her native
village.
For she had been content, nay
had been happy. She had
done her best. too, to make things
Q smoothly, but
No, she would not say that h hat
ed Kit and Lucy, but she did think
they were playing q very small part
Then she dried her eyes, pulled out
her bank book and a sheet of blank
paper and began to figure. At the end
OF I'VE minutes down went her head
again, and this time a sheet of paper
sprinkled all owe with relentless ng-
ures received the flood of tears.
Perhaps at this time Kit and Lucy.
who worked In the suit department of
Keith & Blanks store, felt a bit UNI
happy, too. 1t was a rainy, depressing
day and customers were few. The floor
walker went down stairs to consult
with the head of the advertising de-
partment so Kit n Lucy stood
shoulder to shoulder in the big square
window overlooking the ~rain-swept
street.
Il never dreamed she'd take it so
hard remarked Kit, with slight as
perity in her voice.
why. she just acted as II we were
cheating or doing something dis
honest" assented Lucy in aggr1eved
accents. I'm sure we haven't hurt
the furniture, and the company has
had more than rent on it. They'll
polish it up and sell it for new"
Il don't think it was the furniture
exactly" said Kit. Peggy is just
crazy about keeping house, but for my
part I don think girls in business
have any right to do homework. 1 got
50 I just hated to think Of going home
and waiting on myself"
Mrs Hopkins says We car have our
old room back at the same figure. n
knew we'd get sick of light house
keeping. She says the head book
keeper at Ainsley's has the second
story back and he plays h piano
splendidiy. Maybe we can get up
some Friday night dances"
ven. dlXnOW, L III E1dQ We IC xiv
ing up the apartment. Peggy makes
lovely salad dressing and fudge. out I
can't make a bed decently. so house
keeping was a mistake Sc far as I am
concerned
Talking in this strain, each imagin-
ed that h was convincing herself, il
not her companion, that they had
treated Peggy in g perfectly fair way
and were altogether justified in their
position. Down in their hearts they
did not feel quite comfortable and
neither could forget the pathetic figure
they had left in their small living
room.
Peggy, Kit and Lucy had met at a
MONDAY lunch room in the days when
Peggy was working in a fashion syn
dictate office for ten dollars a week. A
kindred spirit OF inconsistencies had
brought them together, and when
Peggy had pushed her way to the
point where she could afford a tiny
studio OF her own and command reg
ular orders, she had fed the offices
of the fashion syndicate and LAT ask
ed the girls to start up a small estab-
lishment with her. They had selected
an apartment with a northern expos
ure for Peggy's work, furnished it on
the instalment plan, and for a time all
went well.
Peggy. being most domestic in her
instincts, picked up the burden OF
household management, and, in time,
the other two girls not only depended
upon her for managing the little es-
adjustment. but failed to do their
share Of the work. In her first enthu-
siasm Peggy bore this meekly. but
very soon she found that the house
work interfered with her work at the
easel. She ran behind on her orders,
and then, automatically and kindly.
she took up the question with her
housemates. Kit and Lucy promptly
announced that they we're disappoint-
ed in the housekeeping scheme, and
they would be only too glad to return
to boarding, where working girls be-
IN the furniture and keep the fiat
open for herself. they would not be-
grudge what they had spent.
And that was just what Peggy found
niture payments. She sat up, wiped her
eyes, and figured some more. The girls
we're leaving Saturday, the rent was paid
for two weeks longer and the collection
day for the furniture IDS was ten
days distant. She would enjoy it while
she might. Perhaps within the fortnight
she shook her head. Tt was 40 use to
she felt somehow that the furniture
company would get the best Of the bar
her word for the first time in her brief
business history and his hurt.
Henry Brightwel1. with a clipping from
the want ad" columns of a morning
paper, stepped into the collection office
OF the Jones & Grab Furniture company.
II don't know what your Job is he
said easily, as the chief collector mo-
toned him to p chair and looked him
over shrewedly, sbut I'm sober. indus
trious and strong. and I want work, any
kind to get q start"
you look as II you might do replied
the collector dryly. "But iooks don't
count much in this business. It's your
ability to get the money or the goods.
We sell furniture on the installment plan.
A lot OF people forget the last few in
staiiments. That's where our profits
come in. You get the last payments or
the furniture. We don't care which.
Want to try it,
When do you want me to begin2"
Right now"
And after 2 brief discussion OF terms,
hours, etc. BrightweH sailed forth, arm
ed with the book Of nredesessor.