The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-17
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
A VISIT TO THE MOVIES.
CHAPTER eb.

please come to the movies with US
tonight, zena, promised Tom would
ask you"
Just then Thomas Clancy came after
her. and she turned to him:
II just gave your message to Zena.
Tom"
night. I must get more Speed" I
broke in.
NO girl, especially one who has
been sick, Miss Zena, can work all day
and all the evening. too, without
breaking down." Thomas said in his
hearty way. Better put on your hat
and come to the movies with us. It
will do you good"
''Zena thinks we want to make love
and she will be in the way!" Mary
declared.
Miss zena knows love you. Mary.
and that you care for me, and that
We are going to get married. / amt
ashamed to let her see me kiss you
good might"
I admired his honesty and told him
so. Thomas was really fine in his way
"a real gentleman, even tho he was
OF lowly parentage and had little edu-
cation. He was smart and clever, too.
He used fairly good language, better
than Mary did. Probably he had had
the opportunity of meeting people who
influenced his speech, while until the
last year Mary had been with those
who made careless speaking a habit
/ finally consented to go to the NOV
les. That We were to have an .experi-
ence more thrilling than any that APP
peaFed on the screen, ! wouldn't have
believed; nor would I have gone had
1 suspected any such thing.
The picture was very good. When
the comics were being shown, closed
ny ave nd ~A1o tfUa- =.
Mary and Thomas laugh SO heartily at
the antics of Mutt and Jeff.
When we were nearly out of the
theater, Mary pulled my sleeve.
There's them two toughs!"
Sure enough. Mike and Joe" were
gotten their existence SO long had It
been since we had seen them.
"Oh, 1 hope they won't see us:" I
said just as Mike turned and spied us.
He told Joe, and they both bowed and
grinned unpieasantiy.
We pretended not To see them.
'Them's the two guys I told you
about, Tom. The two what bothered
US so we had to move"
ST see theml"
His tone was an assurance that va
would be taken care of. 1t flashed
across me that 1t was in no such bell
ligerent tone that Harold Moore had
spoken when he was with me. But
Harold was a pacifist, and Thomas
Clancy was not.
We reached the sidewalk.
GOOD evening. girls: It's a long
Mike who spoke. while Joe came leer-
ing behind.
These young ladies are with me-"
Thomas said quietly.
They is now, but they is goin' with
me and Joe. Amt you, sweetie ?" I'M
4aJ1r al To- ~ arlS
was addressed to Mary. The result
might have been the same had they
spoken to me, but someway I have
doubted il revenge would have been
so swift.
"cut thatl" Thomas said. and his
arm shot out. His fist landed some
where on Mikes chin. and Mike went
down.
Come on. girls!" Thomas said. TAX
ing an arm OF each of US.
"Offieeri That fellow knocked my
pal down, arrest HIM" Joe howled
just as an officer came up.
whats all this? Did you knock
him DOWN." The officer. who had a
kindly face and twinkling Irish eyes.
fasked Thomas.
'sure I did And so would you.
He was trying to insult these ladies /
have with me-hin and his pal"
as that right" The officer looked
directly at me.
anxious to get away from the fast
gathering crowd 1T isn't the first
time they have annoyed US. but II IS
the first time we have been fortunate
enough to be with an Irishman to de-
fend US"
"Ain't any Irish in you maybe?" the
officer asked with a broad grin.
Sounds like you might have kissed
the blaFney stone yourself. Run
along, I'll see them two don't bother
you again"
I told Mary when Thomas had gone
that 1 respected him because OF the
way he had handled the situation.
Hes got blood in his veins. Tom
has" she answered. and once more I
thought of Harold Moore-and not to
his credit.
Tomorrow-Zena gives her confidence
ryYG" TNF u