The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-13
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
HER NEW HOME.
CHAPTER So.


T had decided to leave my trunk at
the station. Mrs. Murphy advised it,
as it would cost me less than the cart
age should I not remain with Mrs.
Lynch. Leave it - hours anyway.
she had said. there is no charge for
that time"
As 1 reached the street Juggling the
heavy suitcase-altho several boys had
rushed up to me proffering their
services, which I refused because I
knew 1 must save wherever possible
I noticed the same man saunter slow
~ after me. He reached me before
had gone far. and said politely:
ALLOW me to AIRY your bag to the
carl judge you have found a room"
Thank you, but 1 prefer to carry
my case myself. Yes. I have found
a room"
One Mrs. Murphy recommended"
You poor child! can imagine
what it is like. You see where there
is split up with her. you can't get
much of place to live unless you
have plenty of money"
1 don't know to this day what
tempted me to answer this man, to
talk to him. But I said:
Mrs Murphy seems kind, and care
full that should get into respecta-
Bile place"
III bet it is dirty. An, I thought SOP.
as he saw my uncomfortable shiver of
disgust.
The car just then came along.
You have the address I gave you? ?"
he asked as he helped me on with my
heavy case
Go there any time. Tell them
sent you. 1t is my card" That was
all; but just as soon as found a seat
1 opened my bag and assured myself
that the card was safe. 1 might find
it unbearabIe at Mrs. Lynch's. and be
glad to use it.
The slatternly maid opened the door.
This time there was a. noticeable diff
ference in her manner. Before had
been "a lady to see Mrs. Lynch
now I was a ballroom roomer.
"Win you help me carry this up
stairs?" I had set the case, on the
floor. The house was two long blocks
from the car. and my arm felt as IL
1t were numbed.
"Indade 1 haven't no time TO play
at bein' porter. 1 has my own work
to do, and plenty OF it: behave me,
and with toss of her head she dis
appeared, and I knew had retired to
the basement as 1 heard the heavy
tread on bare stairs.
lifted the suitcase and dragged
myself, resting every other step, UP
closed and locked the door. Mean as
it was, it was a refuge. AS the word
came into my mind thoughts of dad
came also. Our lovely home had been
mis- refuge" What would he have
said to such a place as this?
I threw myself on the bed and
pressing my hands over my eyes to
hold back the tears. lay shudderinS.
my whole body writhing in rebellion
at the place.
But after half an hour pulled my
self together, got up, bathed my face.
and hands in the bowl-even our SER
wants had their bathroom with rot
and cold water, as I had had when
maid for Mrs. Rush. Now I must get
along with a small pitcher of cold
water, or else go to the kitchen for
warm. If I used more than was put
in the pitcher in the morning by the
maid, I must get it myself from the
second floor. That floor boosted a
ever used it. I certainly never could.
The old zinc tub looked as if 1t had not
been thoroly cleaned in years, and :he
rest of the room was equally discour-
aging.
After I had been with Mrs. Lynch
a while I found she did the best she
could-from her point of view-but
at first condemned her utterly as un-
neat and disgustingly careless.
never had been inside of a room
ing house before.
ing a house servant was not the worst
thing in the world-that they had
many comforts which other working
girls never dreamed of having.
(Tomorrow-Zena tries a cafeteria.)