The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-03
JUSTA GIRL
A WAITRESS.
Bu ZANE PHELPS

CHAPTER IS.
A maid opened the door and with
out waiting. Mary stepped inside. I
followed.
Have you any rooms to rent % Mary
asked, to my astonishment; she had
said nothing of desiring to move.
Not just now. We might have
issome soon tho"
Can we see the one you think might
be empty" Mary pinched my arm. 1
realized 1 was to say nothing so, rather
dazed, followed her.
The room was a small one at the
top of the house. the price the same
that Mrs. Lynch charged us. The
room was neither so light nor SO clean,
so couldn't understand Mary's action
in wasting so much time talking about
it.
''KilIin' time till them fellows got
away" she told me when we reached
the street II fooled 'em all right.
didn't 1? Got to hand it to me this
time"
4 should say 1 have! I hadn't the
slightest idea what you were about"
Didn't I know it. and wasn't 1
scairt you'd give it away? I'm afraid
We amt done with that bloke.= He's
stuck on you. Zena.- That Joe called
him 'Mike'-just think of a fellow
named Mike trying to shine up to you
"a girl named Zena."
I couldn't keep from laughing. Ny
odd name seemed to set me apart in
Mary's estimation.
Mike is a very good name" Ire
! turned. But 1 hope you are not
right Mary-they make me very IN
easy"
Don't you worry, I'll look after
them. Big cities has queer folks in
them, zena- When they finds you can
take care Of yourself, they let's you
alone, but they amt takin' nothin' on
trust, and they won't let you be good if
they can help themselves-espec
such swine as them" She jerked h ar
head backward in the direction the
men had taken
was really more alarmed than 1
cared to let Mary know. The fact that
this Mike had tried to talk to me
long before knew Mary, precluded
all idea that he might be attracted to
her, not to me. 1 breathed more freely
when l recalled that she soon would
be working in the same place with me.
and that we could go tc work and re-
turn together.
My first day at the restaurants was
arm breaktng and heart-breaking. Nv
night l was SO tired that 1 doubted
py ability to get home. 1 staggered
as walked. then ran stumblingly
/ TO the car when 1 heard some Young
fellows laugh and hint that / was
''sozzled."
threw myself on the bed address
ed, but my weary body would not al
low me to rest When Mary came
in 1 was 'sobbing quietly utterly
wretched, hopeless that ever should
De able to keep my promise to mother.
, and make her a home. Why, I could
scarcely keep my own body and soul
| together!
What is it honey? Them fellows
amt been botherin' you again, has
mo, Mary. but I never can stand it
to carry those heavy traysi 1 am so
discouraged. Don't give your job up
that restaurant work is killing.
But have! 1 told Rosenstienl to-
day, and golly, didn't he flare upI /
told you was the hull cheese1 1 was
roolin,' but to hear him go on you'd
nard L told him 1 would stay until
| Saturday night"
groaned. For all that I had told
Mary not to give up her work for that
at the restaurant. the thought that I
had to go on alone for three DAYS
longer was almost more than I could
You're sick!" she declared. A.
No Mary, I'm not-Fm just dead
tired. Go get your dinner. / don't
wa2t any tonight"
Not on your-wel1, all right You
lay right there till I come back.
You'll fell better by that time"
my woes, for when Mary came in, her
arms laden with bundles, 1 did not
hear her.
Wake up now, Zena-dinner is
seryed?' she said, shaking me a bit
CTomorrow-Men and marriage)