The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-27
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
DETERMINATION FOLLOWS
ENCOURAGEMENT.
CHAPTER SO.


We went directly home. I was
frightened, nervous, utterly miserable
Il fslt sure the most miserable girl
in all the world.
IT don't know what I would have
done IL had been alone and that fell
low had spoken to me-" said to Mary.
She had come into my room-to return
my call, she said.
Amt none of them ginks ever
talked to you before?"
''No-oh, yes, one" I recalled the
man who had followed nae from the
station.
you're lucky! That's all I've got
to say. I'm SO homely they mostly
lets me alone. But sometimes I have
to tell them where they git off. I'm
surprised you amt had trouble. Big
cities like Chicago is chuck full of
smart Aleckc swho amt notin' to do
but loaf and insult decent girls"
But how do they live? Don't they
work."
Not so as you could notice it.
Gamble, mostly, or steal or anything so
long as they can git away with it,"
There it was again. That word
steal" L couldn't forget what had
People wouldn't let me. Right then
1 made up my mind that 1 never
would tell anyone why had left that
department store. No one but Mrs.
Lynch knew I worked there. For
tunately. 1 had not told MOTHER
simply said in my letter that 1 had
work and she wasn't to worry.
| would tell Mrs. Lynch wanted a diff
ferent kind of work. She was paid
for nearly four weeks longer, SO she
was protected. I had a sort of feel
| ing that she wouldn't be too severe
with me-that she rather liked me or
| she wouldn't climb all those long
| flights of stairs to bring me tea and
| toast.
II do wish 1 know shorthand" L
| grumbled, then I could get work at
good wages. But, Mary. where do
| you work.
II work in Rosenstein's sweat shop,
and believe me it's some place"
You mean a-bad place"
They work you to death and pay
you nothin', If that's what you call a
bad place But 1 amt goin' to stay
there always-not on your tth-type-"
What funny expressions you use.
Mary! Where did you learn them?"
| Il guess they just come to me ac-
| count of hearin' them so much in the
shop. You're the real thing, and any
body what can't tell it is stone blind.
But amt never had no chance. But
I'll make good some day, you see if
! don't"
"Of course you will! So will Il" !
declared. Mary's little speech had
given me courage. If She without
education could make good, why SO
could I, even with all handicap of an
education that was useless SO far as
present help was concerned.
| why don't you learn yourself
shorthand ?" she asked after a min
ute. ANY one so smart as you can
learn themselves all them things, can't
they?"
possibly learn to use a typewriter
by myself, but never those queer little
pothooks. I wonder"
What Is it you wonder?"
"Oh. it isn't any use. I wouldn't
darellse the money to hire machine.
ton that's just what will do. know
can teach myself to use type
writer"
Have you any places to look UP
to get a Job?''
Mo- have an old list. I thought
I would go to some of the ones I had
not tried"
"Offices?"
mo, stores. I can't get work in an
office until I can typewrite."
wen. you ought to be big card
in a store. I'll bet all the old ladies
would like you to wait on 'em-"
"Oh, Maryi You ape so ridiculousl
Just as if they cared who waited on
them"
IF 1t wasn't so hard. and so dirty
I'd like you to so in the shop with
me- You have to run machine all
| day. Waists that's Rosenstein's line
But you'd never stand it It's most
killed me. and I'm tough" Then
you'll get a place all right. don't
Hook so downhearted. And when you
get your chance you'll show EN-
| put, Mary" some of the bitterness
I felt crept into my voice, they won
give me a chance"
! CTomorrow-A strange, helpful friend
ship