The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-13
Eoening Story
For the Summer.
ny RrRY DOucLAS


Joan had been invited to lunch at
the Civic club rooms. She was the
guest of her aunt, and she felt not at
all thrilled at the prospect OF a couple
of hours spent over the lunch table
with a half-dozen women whom she
had never seen before
You may be a bit bored, JOAN" her
aunt remarked, but it won't hurt you
to know a few influential women. You
may even hear of something interest
ing to do to help with next years
college tuition"
Interesting or mott have to find
something, Aunt Nell" Joan replied
She was an attractive looking girl
of the athletic type, and the friends of
her aunt found her a bright luncheon
companion.
II am trying to cut my living ex-
pense in the country this summer, and
I'm torn between letting my mothers
helper or my chauffeur CO." remarked
one of the guests
Its a far cry from one to the other,
isn't it?" asked Joan's Aunt Nell.
Cant you drive-yourself? ?" asked
Joan. Why any one could have car
and not drive it was beyond compre-
hension with Joan, who loved to run
a car.
Yes: but am temperamentally
| unfit for it. I'm always in trouble
with the village policeman or some
Joan suddenly had an inspiration.
why not discharge them both and
try me-for the summer" she asked,
half in jest.
Her Aunt Nell looked at her to see
| If she were in earnest.
Can you driver"
Joan nodded. Anything from Liz
cite to Rolls-Royce," she laughted.
| "And-do you know anything about
| chiidren?"
1 ser 10, Fa,a +boc, h,+bo 49,, 49,
! rect their English, keep them out of
| harm-thats all. And-I love Them"
she added.
The elder woman looked thought
fully at Joan for moment. DO you
really want to do something for the
summer? You're in college, aren't
you?"
| II expect to graduate next year,
but must do something this summer
to help dad out with my expenses. I
love the country. 1 love to drive a
car-and I adore children. Why
couldn't you try me?"
Il could-why not?"
Details were arranged, and inside
| of a fortnight Joan was established at
| the country home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Alfred Jonas as a general companion
to the children and a helper.
1t proved to be a very satisfactory
| arrangement, for not only did Joan
drive Mrs. Jonas wherever she wished
to go, but she took the children with
her and kept them happy and well
while their mother went her own way.
She taught the boy of nine to help her
how to dust out the rugs inside the
car. polish the windows and do many
odd tasks that took time. The boy
put the water in the radiator, meas
ured off the oil, screwed up the grease
cups and learned to be a great help
under the @direction Of Joan.
You're a wonder, JOAN" said Mr..
Jonas when she had met him at the
train one night with three nicely
dressed and bAthed children in the
back seat. Parker had nothing on
you as chauffeur. believe me-
I'm having wonderful time and
getting fat I shall be sorry to go
back to college in September" she
said, s<illfully slipping past one by
one of the cars ahead of them on the
road home.
On several evenings when she had
to wait for the train and had parked
/ the car at the usual stopping place she
observed a good-looking young chauf-
feur who usually placed his car next
to hers. Always this young fellow was
reading during his spare moments.
1.-THE train is late tonight" he re-
marked to Joan one evening as their
eyes met. They were, both looking
| down the track for the overdue ex-
press train"
"Yes-quite." Joan replied.
From that bromide beginning their
lconversation grew into intellectual
| channels and Joan always managed to
be at her parking place a few minutes
ahead of train time in order to talk
with the young fellow in the big for
i eign car.
/ She learned that he had been at the
French front in the ambulance corps