The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-28
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
BUSY DAY-HAPPY DAYS IN
VIEW.
CHAPTER IS.

CHAPTER Is
I was so excited over it all, I could
MT wait for Mary to come home but
went to meet her.
"Oh. Mary, 1 have SO much to tell
you! It's all settled, and everything."
Just get your breath, Zena, and
commence over again. What's all
settled?"
'Oh, Mrs. Fagin is a dearI She went
to real estate man she knows, the
one she rents her house from. and she
has rented a lovely place-it will be
lovely when he gets it all fixed up, it
is awful now-and she is going to let
us take 1t from her. She said that
maybe landlords wouldn't want to
rent to two girls like us. And Mary,
he's going to do every single thing she
asked him to. Paint the floor three
coats. and there's a little room in the
back for a kitchen and"
you'll never live to help run that
tearoom if you don't stop. Your breath
will give out"
Mary was just as excited as I was
even tho she did make fun of me.
After dinner we went over to look at
the place again, and she, like Mrs. Fa-
gin. saw its possibilities at once.
Il never thought we would get such
a dainty place as this" she said. why
Zena, we'll be the happiest girls in
Chicago if it goes"
IT'S got to go! Mrs. Fagin has
back a losing game, Mary"
Did you find out how much you
could get on your jeweIs?" Mary called
them fools"
mo. we had no time today. Mrs.
Fagin is going with me in the morn
ing"
She'll lose her roomers if we don't
get settled pretty quick. Gaddin'
around with you all day"
Isn't she wonderful?''
"She's Irish, amt she?'
I laughed heartily. Mary's admira-
ton of her own race always amused
me In her mind almost everything
and everybody that was worth any
thing came from Ireland.
Then, Mary. I am going to buy the
paint and get to work on those tables
and chairs in the cellar We are going
to have everything pale gray with a
little yellow border. 1t is a very pref
ty combination, gray and yellow
French gray, I mean"
"How's that better than Irish gray2
But go along with you and make the
room any language you want to, so
long as it is pretty enough to catch
trade That's what we will have to
be looking forbade. I heard the
boss talking today, and I listened in
He said that the public must be
pleased that no business could succeed
upon whom they depended for patron
age. I tried to remember 1t just as he
said it. Was that like he would say
it?"
Absolutely. You see. Mary. it isn't
hard to speak correctly If you stop
and think a little"
"a little! I wrote that down, then
learned it between times.
"Oh, Mary! 1 wonder If you dream
how funny you are at times! WouIo
have forgotten how to laugh long ago
il it hadn't been for you"
TITS maxim fun you are."
mo. Mary! But I can't help laugh
ing I wish I could say such quaint
things. I'm jealous"
1.-The dickens you are!" she retorted,
but harmony was restored.
The next morning walked to the
corner with her. When we separated
she said.
IT feellaImost like beggar. Zena. to
have you pawn your things. but L ain
got nothin' they'd give me two cents
on. And I'll make it up to you some
wav soon, I did Thought of it,
mean-mostly because of you 1t just
broke my heart to see you tryln TO
buck the workin' game the way you
vas You wasn't made for that kind
of Twin You hadn't been brought up
that way Now. even If you do have
to work as hard. or harder. you will
be YOUR own boss-when 1 amt boss
in you"
"You can boss me all you like. dear
And remember that we are partners in
everything. People sell good ideas for
money, Mary. Your idea is worth
whatever your half of starting the
business would be-"
you amt stringin' me! Do folks
really PAY for an idea?"
Eyes, Mary, and often very large
sums"
Gee, That makes me feel less like
a beggar, Zena."
(To be continued)