The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-29

not an employment agency. These
two facts had made no lasting impress
sion on Mrs. Pelton, as is shown by
her action in promptly and forthwith
getting the Santa Fe general office
building on the line and demanding
bookkeepers job for the girl The eff
fort was crowned with success So
ends unusual service number one of
the "steno" at the Chamber of Com
merce.
Helped Old Lady.
Hardly had the Girl from Texas"
gotten out of the office before the
rush and scramble of the Red Cross
workers commenced; and there were
only about 500 such at the Saturday
celebration. Right in the midst of this
what should come slowly and haltinS-
ly up the stairs but an old, old lady
wrinkled with toll and care and fresh
from a three-year term in a New Mex
leo prison. She didn't belong to the
Red Cross workers nor was she IN
v:ted to attend the lunch con. On the
contrary she timidly stepped Just m
side IN door of the secretary's office
and gazed bewilderingly around the
room. AS if uncertain of he- welcome
she started to withdraw when Mrs.
Pelton spied her. Was she asked to
leave? Oh, no! In spite of the hurly
burly and rush of business this eff
cient little lady found time to get the
old lady's wraps off and get her COM
fortably seated in one of the little
rooms belonging to the Press club. m
this place the old lady poured out the
story of her needs and wants and ex-
pectations. 1t seems THAT she had
come up from New Mexico to mee-
her son. who is to open a new business
in Topeka in a short time
The Chamber of Commerce knew
nothing of the son or of the pros
pective new enterprise coming to To-
nv O
be found, and according to a telegram
in the possession of the old lady there
was no immediate prospect of his ap-
pearance in the city for a few days at
least. Now comes the next unex-
pected situation. The old lady didn t
know just what to do nor where to
stay. so Mrs. Pelton, 1.-The mother of
broken joys" proceeded to find the old
lady nice room in one OF the resi-
dences of the city where she could
, await news of her son in security and
comfort. THE woman from New
Mexico event" finished for the time.
Kept a Baby, Too.
! The Red Cross dinner progressed
| and the old lady comfortably settled,
Mrs. PeIton started to breath a sigh
| of relief. It was cut short. In breezed
| a smartly dressed Topeka woman with
a baby in her arms She looked like
she wanted something and knew just
what it was, so Mrs. Pelton did not
ask any questions, but just ''set and
awaited developments" They came
and in a rush. Right up to the busy
| desk of Mrs. Pelton paraded the '1ady
| of fashion and affairs: held out the
baby for Mrs. Pelton to take; re-
| quested that the "steno'' mind the
baby while she went on a Christmas
! shopping tour; obtained the service
and as promptly left the building.
About three hours later the woman
| came back laden with upwards of $40
worth of presents purchased in Topeka
stores, collected the baby with thanks,
and departed happily on her way. So
ends event No. and the score for
the day.
Now comes a letter from a young
business man to the Chamber of Com
merce asking that the Chamber find
! a location for a certain business that
will employ about rs or 80 men and
! women. The question before the house
| is has the bread cast upon the waters
by Mrs. Pelton returned a thousand
| fold in the shape of a new and big
| business enterprise for the capital
| city?" The Chamber of Commerce
! thinks so, and Mrs. Pelton has al
ready proved her fitness for the place
by her handling of work she is not
| paid for nor expected to do.