The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-14
JUST A GIRL
Blu JANE PHELPS
JENA TRIES A CAFETERIA.
CHAPTER SO.

CHAPTER SO.
I realized that I had no time
rather no money. to waste. So I put
on my hat again and went out for
papers. leaving my unpacking until I
should come in. 1 stopped at Mrs.
Lynch's room on the second floor and
asked some questions as to where I
could find cheap restaurant I'm the
locality. and so forth.
BE careful how you talk to any
men folks" she warned kindly after
answering my questions. Mostly they
amt no good. And some of them
hangs around just to make trouble for
young girls. Don't have nothin' to
say to none of EN-"
I found "a small cafeteria near the
house-also a first venture. 1 had
heard of such places. where one armed
themselves with tray, knife and fork
and waited upon themselves. but 1
never had been in one. 1 was nat
urally awkward. and also backward
about taking what I wanted. There
were no prices on the viands That
troubled me; 1 was afraid 1 would
spend too much. So 1 took only cof-
fee and toast. The checker gave me
a slip, and when 1 saw how moderate
it was. 1 asked the privilege of going
back III the line and getting more.
was young. healthy, and the odor of
the food had made me realize that, L
was also hungry. l had eaten moth
ing but a cold bite out of my lunch
box all day.
The checker kindly told me it would
be all right. and l went back and this
time selected a chop and a baked
potato. When I carried the tray back
to her desk again, she smiled kindly at
me and said:
That is BETTER
The few kindly words and the smile.
made lump come in my throat. l
thought the world wasn't all unkind.
She had seen thru my need for
economy. yet had not made me one
bit uncomfortable. She was about so
years old. with snow white hair. and
a nice, trustworthy face. L made up
/ my mind to come there often. | little
knew that even their moderate prices
would soon be far beyond me-
oought two papers. Then I re-
turned TO my room. 1 would unpack.
then spend the evening choosing places
to visit on Monday. The next day
| being Sunday I could do nothing I
would find a church near. attend serv-
ices, then get the Sunday papers also.
| Surely with all of them, and all dav
10 decide upon whom to call. I would
have no trouble getting position.
/
! 1 had asked myself this question
over and over on the train. was
still asking it. l had proved that /
could not hope to get a place as
private secretary unless 1 knew tipping
| and stenography. A dim resolution,
hazy and Uniformed, lurked in the back
OF my mind, that some day 1 would
add those two necessary items to my
education. But just now 1 must think
only OF something that would bring in
enough to live on, and the prospect OF
more SO l could help mother when
what she had was gone. It would not
| last her very long. 1 knew.
| When l had unpacked-but first
washed the bureau drawers, and as
pest could with the facilities at hand
cleaned the closet unpacked my
suitcase. L used the part of the paper
containing no Advertisements to line
the drawers, and hung a skirt over the
| other dress l had brought in the suit
case. his done, I sat down with nv
| manicure scissors and a pencil to look
aor something encouraging under the
caption Female Help Wanted"
There were columns of such adyer-
tlsements It seemed as If every bust
ness man III Chicago, every housekeep-
er, every shop, wanted Female help. u
1 took a paper and divided it by a
line. On one side 1 put offices I would
VISIT still chung to the idea that ]
might find some one who would have
! a place for me, even tho 1 was not a
! typlst-on the other 1 put department
stores and shops. Then. worn out.
went to led, but not before I had
asked God to help me, and to keep
me from being made horrid and COM
mon because of my surroundings.
feIt there was danger of just that
so keenly had I already been affected
by them.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS