The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-12
JUST A GIRL
By LANE PHELPS
zENA FINDS A ROOM.

AS boarded the car, the man
raised his hat with a smirk on his
pasty face and a look that said plainly
as words, "Yord better try the ad-
dress gave you," stood watching me
until the car started on
While there had seemingly been
nothing in the incident to grouse my
fears-R decent looking man speaking
to me. offering to help me, in broad
daylight-yet I shivered when 1 took
my seat. II he were an honest man,
meant kindness to me, why had he
not spoken to the matron in my be-
half when he saw me talking to her :?
But I soon dismissed him from my
mind. Matters of more Importance
engaged me. III
I rode for many blocks before I
came to the street where the matron
had advised me to try to get a room.
When I saw the dingy houses, the
dirty children playing on the sidewalk,
my heart almost failed me- But 4
place to sleep I must have, so taking
my courage in both hands I rang the
bell of No. ga house kept by Mrs.
Lynch, as a reference to the card told
me.
A slatternly maid answered the
doro. and as she stood lokiQg curious
ly at me, I asked for Mrs. Lynch.
set down here" she pointed to q
chair standing beside the old-fashion-
ed, dusty hat-rack. She gave the
chair a quick flick with her apron.
"In tell her"
She ran down bare stairs as could
| tell by the sounds. calling as she went:
Mrs. Lynch. A lady to see you!"
After few moments waiting, q
stout, untidy Irish woman came puff
fling up the stairs, and greeted me:
What can 1 do fer you, miss ,"
She wiped her brow on her not over
clean apron.
Mrs Murphy at the station sent
me to you. Have you a room for a
few days for me-
''why-yiseif Murphy sent you--I
guess I kin fix you up" I could
i she added: You don't look like them
she most always sends" te--
"I would like to look at the room"
I said.
scome with me-" She led the way
up two long flights of stairs, carpeted,
kut shabby. and needing brushing,
especially in the corners.
She opened the door OF tiny hall
bedroom. the very sight of which
made me feel nauseated. small
white iron bed. an old-fashioned yell
! low pine bureau, an oak wash-stand
upon which stood wash-bowI and
pitcher. one chair, a small piece of
dirty shabby carpet before the bed,
completed the furnishings. But
worse than all the rest. was the win
dow shade full of cracks running
straight sidewise and criss-cross.
That shade. just hanging together,
made me SILVER with loneliness. 1t
had a sinister look, as IL something
evil might Turk behind 1t.
How much is the room ?"
Two dollars and a half a week,
miss. It's dirt cheap at that. But
amt got the heart to ask the prices
some do. There's that Mrs. Fagin
right around the corner gifts double,
and no better"
1T will take 1t for a week" I
counted out the money and gave it to
for my luggage"
As took the car back I felt sick.
I seemed not to care whether the
place was. clean or dirty, comfortable
or uncomfortable. 1t was necessa ry
that I should have some sort of a
roof over my head-that was all.
How did you succeed" Mrs,
Murphy asked kindly when I asked
for my checks.
Mrs. Lynch had a room. I took ii
for a week"
st am glad she could accommodate
you. Her house isn't very clean. She $
rough, but northumberland you'll
be safe" ] didn't think of it then
but afterWaFd that you'll be safe" oc-
CURED to me many times.
To my establishment, as I presented
my check for my suit case, ! saw the
same pasty-looking man lowering in
the offing. Had he really tried to be-
friend me? Was he, like Mrs. MUIR
to help caption Female Help Want
ed"
(Tomerrow-Her new home.)