The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-23
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
A DISAGREEABLR DAY.
CHAPTER 100.

A DISAGREEABLK DAY.
CHAPTER 100.
= Il see you aren't at all particular
about accepting Invitations to the
movies, Miss Stewart. Perhaps YOU
win allow me to be your escort some
night? ?" Mr.. Belts came into-the Of
flee during Mr. Claxton's absence,
j made no reply.
Too bad 1 am not good enough to
lunch with That fellow you had with
lyoo last night surely wasn't SO many
4 He is q gentleman"
y "Oh, is hep He don't look the
part"
4 The open sneer. made me lose nv
temper. Had 1 been older, more &C
/ customed to men of his type, perhaps
4 L might have been more tactful. 1
might even have taken the trouble to
iexpiain who my friends were. But I
just blurted out:
I is far more gentIemanly than
you are proving yourself
My voice trembled, and was 'shak-
ing all over. But no sooner had the
words left my lips than 1 realized how
terribly foolish I had been. Mr.. Clax>
1 ton left the hiring and discharging of
the help entirely to Mr.. Belts. OF
course now he would discharge me.
Thoughts of the home 1 had planned
for mother came to me. and tears
/
my temper? 1 could see that Mr..
Belts was so amazed at my daring he
4 could scarcely speak. I was really
frightened by the ugly look in his face
when l glanced at him. Finally he
said, his voice trembling and husky
with anger:
You are discharged, Miss Stewart.
Your services will not be required in
this office any longer. You can go at
once. I VIII have your envelope ready
! Immediately"
WHAT'S all this? What are you
dischargsng Miss Stewart for?" Mr..
| Claxton had come in so quietly that
neither, of US had heard him.
IT am discharging her because she
was both impudent and insulting.
have in mind a young woman who is
an expert who VIII come to you at
once, so you will not be inconven-
fenced" Mr. Belts had spoken will
ing1y enough, altho 1 noticed he had
turned white when Mr.. Claxton spoke.
II am the best judge of Miss stew
arts ability, as sac does only my
work AS to the other charges you
make against her, 1 shall have to hear
her version as we'll as yours. But un-
derstand, Mr. Belts, 1 will both hire
and discharge my private stcnog-
raphers hereafter. I will talk with
Miss Stewart and then see you .3.1.s
Mr.. Bets went out, leaving. me alone
ashamed, unworthy OF his Kindness
and faith in me. 1 had allowed my.
self to lose my temper. make him
trouble, simply because had felt IN
suited for Mary and Tom. might
easily have placated Mr.. Belts by
few tactful wofds OF explanation. in
stead of making trouble.
Now, Miss Stewart. please tell me
what it is ali about?" Mr.. Claxton's
tone was so kind that it increased my
feeling Of shame
81 am much to blame, lost my tenn
so I perceived" He smiled a little.
May 1 know what about7"
"Certainly-altho I am ashamed of
myself. I have q, girl friend, the only
person my own age 1 know IN Chicago
She is uneducated, but fine. I love
her dearly She was my partner in
the shop told you Of"
You mean the Irish girl at the
pancake shop. the one who served me
the other day?"
Il didn't know you had been there
but Mary is very pretty. tall with
dark hair and gray eyes"
That's the one. I liked her inn
mensely. She was SO businesslike, so
anxious to please
ayes, Mary is always like that. She
is going to be married soon to a young
man. a good, honest fellow. but only a
clerk IN a TEA ana COI1ce mouse. Be-
cause you gave me this position, and I
was so happy. they insisted upon
taking me to a movie to celebrate. 1
consented rather than hurt their feel
ings. altho I cared nothing about
going. But the picture was good. I
go out very little. and was enjoying 1t
as much as either OF them. Then
some one leaned over my shoulder and
make remark-it was Mr.. Belts
To-day he had asked me to lunch
with him"-there was no need to tell
of anything that happened previously
- refused. So today he commented
on my willingness to goIto movies. and
then he shrred Thomas, and lost nv
temper and told him that Tom was
more OF a gentleman than he was. II
am very sorry. Mr.. Claxton. I don't
know men very well. but I will try and
be more tactful IL may stay?" 1t
was only thoughts of mother that
helped me say that last-that gave me
courage to ask to semain.
Thank you, Miss Stewart. OIL
course you will stay"
thanked him, then went about my
work. 1 supposed the incident ended.
1t showed how little 1 knew my en-
ployer.
tTomorrow-Mary and Tom gain a
friendly