The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-22
Eoenir,gSt
Joan's Job.
BY RUBY DOUGLAS.

/ LSOb OOOG1AAO
| Joan Truax had one more year in
which to finish her work in the
academy before she felt that she could
reasonably expect to consider herself
a mural decorator.
| art for Arts sake" she had had
dinned into her artistic ears ever since
she began to know the hungry-looking
students who freQuented the academy
| and whom she found, after all, the
| most companfonable souls in the
world But" said wise little Joan to
herself, 81 must do something this
sumner or there will be no art at all for
me in the autumn. must earn some
money
/ Joan went so far as to make this
remark in the presence OF an old
friend of her late father. a man of
considerable Importance in the bust
ness world.
Can you paint signs. Joan?" he
asked her.
| Joan's artistic soul Quaked for a
moment and then she spoke up brave
lily. 'I think / could paint sign
very well, Mr.. Butler" she replied.
1--WE have difficulty finding really
intelligent artists whom we can trust
| to send up into the country to do our
| advertising painting-rubber tires,
| you now"
| Jean did know. Who. did not know
that well known sign for the Wonder
Tires of the Butler Rubber Company?
| We've never employed woman,
but now that you've got the vote" he
| laughed. IT see no reason why you
shouldn't have all sorts Of Jobs
| at know I could do the work, Mr..
Butler, and I might enjoy the variety
of environment" Joan remarked.
| "Ita'n be some variety up there in
! the hills of New Hampshire, believe
me, girl" John Butler told her. But
| come around to my office tomorrow
morning and Well make the arrange
| mentS."
By evening of the following day
Joan was engaged by the Butler Rub
Der company to paint signs in certain
territory in New Hampshire overlook
ing motor routes. She was to have
little car in which to travel from place
! to place and a very liberal expense
account. The car was to be fitted out
| with D portable folding ladder, a paint
box necessary for-the work and every
convenience, Joan was so enthusiastic
| that she fairly walked upon air all
| during the week that she>was getting
| together her few clothes to work in
and the necessary luggage.
Among other things, JOAN" Mr..
Butler said when he shook hands with
her on her departure, you'll learn TO
| eat pie for breakfast"
| s"That'n be easy, Mr.. Butler. I hope
everything else will be as pleasant to
accomplish" Joan was little nervous
| map fastened on the windshield before
| her which she should have known by
| heart, so often had she studied 1t.
The first night found her without
| accident or important incident. in the
heart of the Berkshire Mountains in
an inn recommended by Mr.. Butler.
She was tired of body. but. she ate the
| homely supper and drank a glass of
milk, sought her bed and slept like a
baby.
Early the following morning she was
up and in the dining room for the
hearty breakfast of blueberries, cereal
| toast bacon and pie with coffee. she
! went to the garaG~ and got out her,
little car and set out for the town n
New Hampshire, seventy-odd miles
| beyond, in which she was to find the
/ place for her first sign.
| She enjoyed the second days driving
and the mountain air was already be-
ginning to buoy up her. dropping
spirits.
The first thing that met her eye
when she arrived in the town she
sought was a big, implanted barn.
why not q sign on that?' said
Joan to herself.
1t was not long before she had nego-
tiated with the farmers wife to paint
the side OF the barn with q beautiful
picture advertising the Wonder Tires.
Not only that, she had negotiated for
board and lodging and garage room
IN the Darn slno tiIiS IL WouiO
take her to paint the sign.
Bright and early the following
morning she was out of doors looking
over the field. She had put on her
working uniform of brown wash goods
IA neat knickerbocker suit with a
tailored shirt, red tie and short sleeves.
She was a pretty picture on her step
ladder, giving the old barn its first
coat of paint.
"Dearie," called the farmers wife
about noon of that day.
Joan skipped down the ladder and
ran to the house. What is it, Mrs.
Miller? ?" asked Joan, feeling at home
in the motherly presence of the farm
er's wife.
"Somethin' strange has happened.
and 1 want to ask you what I had
best do. low you know more about
business etiquette than I do"
Joan laughed. How little she really
did know.
"A young man just came here to
ask il he could paint the other side
of the barn to advertise some kind of
sparkin' plugs or somethin. What do
you know about 'em %
Spark plugs, guess he means,
Mrs. Miller. They're harder to paint
than tires Joan laughed. I'D let
him do it. 1t won't hurt you: it will
be money in your rocket and" Joan
added with bit of a blush, ''it will
add to the variety of things here
iabouts."
In spite of her seeming lack Of un-
lderstanding, Mrs. Miller had a merry
twinkle in her eye as Joan returned
Ito her barn painting. 81 know Fate
when see it handed out to folks she
.said.
:, Joan was as busy as the proverbial
backyard ant when the young man ar
rived with his painting outfit, dressed
NEATLY in overalls.
Mrs. Miller gave them a proper in
production and then retired to the
kitchen to make some extra dough-
nuts, since she had invited the young
man to eat his meals at the, farm
ihouse.
i Before dinner time Jack Wharf on
had walked around to Joans side of
the barn. He stood squirting crit