The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-21
THE EVENING STORY
That Forty Dollars.

NJ
Kitty Clarkson had come to the city
for the same reasons that had brought
hundreds of other girls from towns
and hamlets, and would continue to
bring them. She must become a
bread-winner. They never see the
other side of the case. It's all plain
sailing to them. If it were not their
friends would soon make it so.
When kitty's father died it became
plain that she must help out. She
was young and in good health, and she
was anxious to take hold. But al
what?
Good old DR.. Watkins dropped in
and hummed and hawed and finally
slapped his leg and exclaimed:
Dear me, but how absent minded
city, of course, and there you will earn
not les than SIS per week. Of course,
you will; of course
But what at?'' was asked
But what at? Hum! Hum! I can't
exactly say this minute, but I'll think
it over and let you know later on.
There are thousands of situations in
the city waiting to be filled. Don't
worry, dear. You'll come out all
right
The good Mrs. johnson dropped in
to say:
''Of course you'll go to the city.
You may have to begin on something
at $12 week, but it won't be long
before your salary will be- doubled.
You'll get one of the easiest places
and the most pay, because you are a
Sunday school teacher, and because
the minister will give you letter as
a recommend. He can vouch that you
are honest, and are not in the habit
of running out nights. You have
never attended a circus, have you?"
Never
We'll have him put that in the let
ter. 1t will show that you are not
frivolous girl. Have you ever
danced ?"
Mo-
1.-The minister orter make the most
of that in his letter. In the city they
want to know that a gal they hire
amt talkin' love and marriage every
Let's see-you don't use paint nor
powder nor bleach your hair?'
"Oh, no.
"I'll have the minister put that in.
The folks down there don't want girls
that primp up. Kitty GARRISON. you
can take the minister's letter and go
to the city and earn thirty or forty
dollars week right from the day you
get there. There may be half doz-
en- bushes men to meet you at the de-
hundred dollars a week nobody will
be envious.'
But I don't know what I can get
to do" said the girl.
y,
this and that, and you can take your
pick
Then the good spinster Martin came
in to say:
Yes, Kitty. it's going to be a great
thing for you. You won't have the
least trouble finding a place, but it
would be great thing for you to learn
typewriting. You may strike a place
with some banker who'll want letter
written. Come over to the house and
I'll teach YOU
In the course of a fortnight Miss
Kitty departed for the city. She had
with her the minister's letter as a GER
of her dexterity on the typewriter that
read:
THE sun Is up, and The sun Is Down.
Can Also write the Lords Prayer.
There was no one at the depot to
meet the girl There was no one to
help her find a boarding house. The
next mornings dailies did not chronicle
her arrival.
Even when she had found a board
ing place and paid a week in advance
On hall bedroom she had heard the
say to a boarder:
There's another fool girl come to
Town instead of going to some idiot
asylum"
The girl shed a few tears and went |
% bed and to sleep, and next morning |
she started out with a brave heart to |
secure a place. She was just too late |
she called. That meant |
hat there had been scores of girls |
head of her. Sometimes, notwith- |
standing the Impotence to get rid of |
Ter, she fingered to say:
But 1 have a letter from my min
ster.''
You might as well have one from a
field
But I don't bleach my hair nor paint
Tor powder"
But you'll soon get the hang of it."
At one or two other places they sat
Ter down at a typewriter to test her
work. After five minutes she was
bowed out.
1t took Miss Kitty Clarkson less than
wo weeks to learn that what the doc
or. the old maid, Mrs. Johnson and she
Ierself knew about the big city could be
Ield in very small thimble. She
walked about the streets for days and
ays She called at offices and stores
nd factories The only place offered
o her after she had been turned away
hundred times was situation in !
ok factory at "a per week. She took
t. but in another month would have
zen penniless but for a streak of luck.
)ne evening in coming from the fac
DRY she found forty dollars in the
utter. Yes, there were four ten-dollar
ills. and they We're wet and stained.
Miss Kitty did not advertise for an
wner. One in a thousand might have
one so, but she was not that one. At
he noon hour next day she placed the