The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-18
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
ANOTHER DINNER WITH FRANK
CLAYTON.
CHAPTER 14S.

The next day told Mr.. Claxton of
my visit to Tom and Mary. and of
Toms desire to consult him about the
chain of restaurants.
'1 shall be glad to see him at any
time, and to do all can for him. 1t
sounds like a good idea, but OF course
there are a great many things to con-
slider when young man without
much capital goes into thing of that
! sort-the character of the men he as
sociates with, and so on
I called Tom and made an appoint
ment for him to see Mr.. Claxton the
next day. That was sthe way he did
things-he never put anything off, but
gave it his immediate attention.
Tom was delighted, and assured
me, as he and Mary SO often had be-
fore, that they couldn't get along
without me.
'.Nonsense!" answered. "You
would do just as well if were away.
It is in you to succeed"
perhaps, Miss zena, but you make
things easier for us--a whole lot"
knew Tom meant it, and 1t gave
me a little happy thrill to think that
1 was of use to these two 1 loved SO
well. I had felt little anxious about
Toms branching out until he had
proposed asking Mr.. Claxton's advice.
Then I dismissed all worry. I knew
he would be steered rightly. e86t.s
Have you written to Kenneth"
mother asked me.
'No--not since received his last
letter. am trying to decide"
And you haven't YETI"
'No-but, mother, 1 don't think I
shall marry him--or any one. feel
today that I would prefer to go on In
business. I am doing well. like the
very much. I would like to go on
with it. Women are doing wonderful
| things in business, mother. I would
+ like to become expert in that line.
There aren't men enough in the world
to go round, anyway. Some of US
must be bachelor girls"
'But, Zena-"
But me no buts" quoted. 'T
know how you feel, mother, and per-
haps you are right. I don't know.
Home may be the place for most girls,
but-well, I shall write Kenneth to-
morrow I may change my mind by
that time and prefer a ranch to office
work"
I spoke lightly, more to hide my
real distress from mother than any
thing else 1 was decidedly unhappy,
terribly upset. I hated to hurt Ken
heth-not the Kenneth who had Wis
| tied us, but the Kenneth of my
thoughts and dreams. Now that he
had been gone so long he had taken
on some of the old fascination for
J.
thought of him than as he was.
1t was in this mood that I accepted
another invitation to dinner with
Frank Claxton-
ST want to tell you all about Tom
and this will be q good opportunity"
to going.
He had brought mother and Aunt
Susan a lovely basket of fruit.
ITO partly make up for taking Miss
Zena away" he had told them.
You are very thoughtful Of two
her blunt way. mot many men think
of old folks nowadays"
mot many elderly people are so
well worth thinking about" he had
replied. making Aunt Susan preen
herself like one of her pet peacocks.
at have advised Tom to go ahead"
| Mr.. Claxton said to me after he had
ordered the dinner. 1t had been a
lovely ride to the inn where we were
! to dine, a new place to me, and a
new road. He had put himself out
to entertain me during the ride, point
| ing out the places of interest.
"Yes-you think the men with
whom he will have to associate him
self all right? ?"
Perfectly! had Belts look them
up. I believe it is a wonderful chance
| for the boy. Then. too, it will allow
Mary to stay at home. He seems to
think a great deal of that, and don't
blame him.
| You are as bad as mother. You
think a woman should stay in the
! home-if she can"
'Decidedly-if she can have
every respect for the woman who
works because she has to. But I
guess am a bit old-fashioned."
| 1t was laughable to hear my up
to-date employer talk of being old
! fashioned. Yet I could mot help a
slight thrill Of delight to hear him
/ speak as he had. a.