The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-07
lust A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
MISS RUSH SCENTS A MYSTERY.
CHAPTER SO.

Cook had been right. Mrs. Rush
was hard woman to work for.
had kept busy all day excepting while
was eating my luncheon, but when
she returned at o'clock she found
yet other things for me to do. Then
she was going to the theater, and I
help her dress. She left everything
for me to put away, also instructions
about getting the beds turned down,
the thermos bottles filled tic. 1t was
after o'clock when 1 finished NV
first day as a maid, and 1 crept into
bed, conscious only of one thought
Thankfulness that no one shared it
with me.
The next morning I was called at 6.
| Cook Weakened me.
You'll learn to wake up after a bit
whin it's time to git up sh told me
when 1 said I would have oversight
had it not been for her.
1 was stiff and lame in every part of
| my body. But 1 had no time to repine.
was expected to take Mrs. Rush her
coffee and her letters. to attend to
airing the parlor floor, and a dozen
other things before o'clock.
Miss Ailine was expected about IL
o'clock. And in spite of my aches and
pains, found myself looking forward
to her appearance with certain ex-
element.
She was just my age, not quite 90,
so the cook told me. How would
she act toward me? I forgot that she
she would any. other servant. But
she had been at home only a few
moments when found it out.
Whats your name?" she asked.
Her mother had told me to help her.
"Zena."
'zena-what a funny namei I guess
your mother must have been a novel
reader and found it in some book.
Here, unlace my boots. My feet ache
so I can't hardly endure it," She
raised her foot.
At first I was inclined to refuse to
do so mental thing for a girl no
older than myself. Then 1 remem-
bered, and meekly unlaced her boots,
and at her demand brought ner some
old soft slippers.
1t appeared she had no maid, the
upstairs girl performing such serv
! fees a she required. AS there was no
| upstairs maid, this also fell to me.
| My position was bidding fair to be
rather complicated one. I had hired
| as parlor maid. / must do upstairs
work until a maid for that work could
be found, also act as personal maid
to Mrs. Rush, and now to the daugh
ter. 1 wondered grimly if the cook
should leave, if would also be eX-
! pected to do her work.
/ 1 made no complaints, however, and
| did the best I could. overheard Mrs.
Rush scold Ailine for asking me to do
things for her:
Shell leave too if she has too
much to do! And the Lord knows
/ where wen get anyone else, I'm sure
DON'T
/ "Where'd you get her? Have you
! looked at her hands? That girl never
worked anywhere before. I'm going
/ her things over. There's some mystery
| about her."
NONSENSE Don't get on that sub
| ject again. The girls all right if she's
honest. Keep your things locked up
for a while. She had no references,
! but I was desperate"
81 told you she hadn't worked any
wherel"
learned afterward that Ailine was
a great reader of mystery stories, and
ing something mysterious in the sim
! plest occurrences.
! 1t was far from pleasant to hear
myself discussed, but that was some
thing I had to expect. I determined
that Ailine would have no chance to
out on my day" I also kept every
thing but my working clothes in my
trunk. which 1 carefully locked.
The days passed and no other help
came I worked early and late. yet
I could not satisfy my mistress
rather, my nistresses. for Ailine really
required more of me than did her
mother. I was so tired I could scarce
I ly stand. But altho several maids ap
piled. none suited: so my work was
constant When Mrs. Rush found that
I did not care to go out on the after
noon she had designated as mine, she
said:S
IF you are going to be at home.
you might as well clean all the toilet
silver" So all the long afternoon I
polished silver. I had not thought of
pretending, but had frankly said did
not wish to go out. L would know
| better next time.
| (Tomorrow-An embarrassing occur
rence.)