The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-26
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
a FRIEND IN NEED.
CHAPTER rs.

That night we talked and planned
for hours. Mary was to stay right on
at the restaurant until everythingwa
ready. was to find a room in a busy
locality, get the landlord to do all he
would to make it attrac tive-our idea
was to have 1t very clean looking. first
OF all. then as artistic as we could
make it with what little we dared
spend.
Then I was to paint the chairs and
tables Mrs. Fagin had donated. We
had trailed into the cellar after her.
found three small tables Zone had a
broken leg, which Mary said she could
doctor" all right) fand five chairs.
Then there was an old bureau, the
front of two drawers broken.
May we have this?' 1 asked Mrs.
Fagin.
Sure you can. But what will YOU
do with that? It's all broke uu ?"
I'll paint it white, then get some
gay curtains to hang in front of it and
Wen use it for our dishes. See, can
take the front of all the drawers out
and use it like Shelves
knew you could fix it all right"
Mary said, meaning the tea-room, not
the bureau.
Il know I shall tryi'' I replied as
nosed about to see if any other treas
ures had escaped us. 1 found nothing
more however.
In the morning 1 started out.
would see what a room would cost
even before 1 pawned my things. 1t
might ke so far beyond our means that
the entTe project would have to be
ABANDONED.
Want me to go along?" Mrs. Fagin
asked. Perhaps 1 can talk to them
better than you. Landlords is kinda
skeery of young things like you. If
he thinks it's me who is rentin'the
place. he can't be afeared of the young
fellows maxim talk by runnin' after
"Oh, Mrs. Fagln! What an ideal"
1T amt so silly, Zena, darIin'.
Them landlords has lots of troubles
collectin' their rents sometimes. It
amt always them what is hard-heart-
ed, but they has to live like other
folks, she explained as we walked to
She took me directly to her own
landlord.
Got any place what would make
good tearoom % she asked.
You amt going to start a tearoom
are you, Mrs. Fagin ?"
I'm thinkin about it, So come to,
you first
"Going-to make those famous pam
Icakes?" he queried. laughing.
You guessed it,"
He looked his surprise.
You have one customer, count on
mel" he said, then dropped a big book
on the table before him.
ITS got to be dirt cheap until we
see if it pays, and it has got to be all
painted white or gray. something light
got to be in busy neighborhood, and
a decent one
rs that all you require. Mrs. Fa-
gin p he asked. his eyes twinkling.
ooh, no! That will do for a begin
ming aa Tho" aro rho .oar..... - t,,o
rooms 1 think one of them will-suit
you, $25 rent to you the first year.
They'd be s35 to anyone else, and I
wouldn't let a stranger have them Un-
less I got two months in advance. II
you are suited, come back and tell me
what you want done. Good day, Miss
Stewart, good day, Mrs. Fagin. 1 de-
clare 1 am hungry for some of those
pancakes right now. Going to cali
them pancakes %
"Surei What else would we call
them ?'
"He thinks he is going to rent to
you. Mrs. Fagin.' said. as We hur-
ried along to the addresses he had
given US.
HE thinks right! You amt. no OBJ
knew it would be easy for me to get
something from him. 1 have PAID
him rent for fifteen years, and never
kept him waiting once"
"You are SO good to u.s." squeezed
her arm.
why shouldn't I be? You poor
things trying to get along. and both
of you takin' care of your mothers. II
1 had a girl would want somebody
tn he good to her wouldn't II"
s ''They wouldn't need anyone il they
had you" I returned. marveling at
her. =,
stop your blarneyi Here we are
(Tomorrow-A wonderful woman.)