The Topeka state journal., 1922-07-07
four DANCING FEET
MRS. CUMMINGS AND JENNIE
SEE GERTIE DANCE
BY JANE PHELPS
Chapter "A.


The talk with her mother did Gertie
good. She ceased talking of her in
feriority and. as is usually the case
when one fails to speak OF a thing, she
ceased to think so much of it. Also
she stopped worrying about their need
of her. She would find ways to help
them from time to time. Tom had
once said he thought every wife
should have her own allowance no
matter how small to do just as she
wished with. If he gave her one she
would go without things and give to
Ma. But she said nothing of this,
knowing her mothers independent
spirit.
prised when her mother said:
Jennie and me are going to the
Olympic tonight. We amt never
been to see you dance, and 1 promised
her we'd go before you was married.
You'll have tell us how to act SOS
you won't be ashamed of u.s."
You go right along with me, and
I'll tell Fagin who you are and he'll
give you a table where you can see all
the dancing" She was almost as ex-
TT won't hurt Jennie to go once
Mrs. Cummings said She had invari-
ably refused to allow her to go. And
I guess it won't hurt me none, IL the
place is a gay one. You had to go-
but never felt right to have Jennie
go just to look on, but she's crazy to
see you, and feel kinda excited my
SELF
Gertie laughed merrily, then helped
her mother get ready. Both she and
Jennie looked very nice-quietly re-
spectacle, as they were. Fagin did all
Gertie had promised and more. He
gave them one of his best tables, and
sent them some supper and two bot
ties of ginger ale with his compli-
mentS.
How wonderful Gertie was!
''She looks lovely, don't she, Ma ?"
Jennie said in a whisper that was
heard by all near her. "I don't won
der Mr.. Fagin hates to have her go.
| those other girls can't dance nearly
as good
Then when she came on in her
Butterfly Dance, their enthusiasm was
unbounded. Both Mrs. Cummings and
Jennie clapped their hands enthusiast
tically for an encore, altho as usual
Mrs. Cummings had to wipe away the
tears-happy, proud tears.
When Gertie finished for the night
she came for them, and Fagin insisted
they wait while she too had a sand
wich and bottle of ginger ale
''rn never get another girl like her,
Mrs. Cummings You ought to be
dancing girls are her kind, never mix
ing with any rough people, but being
popular just the same"
"I know she's n good girl, Mr..
bein' so nice to her. 'Tain't everyone
would be- She had asked Jennie if
she'd better say something like this to
Fagin. and Jennie had agreed it would
only be polite after he had treated
them so nicely.
"I can see she's had the right
bringing up" Fagin CALAMITY re-
turned. then when Gertie had finished
he escorted them to the door.
Hes a good man." Mrs. Cummings
said n thew hurried home dfT wish
had gone to see you dance before-I
wouldn't have worried so much about
you. always thought men who run
dance places was sort of common and
rough-like."
| "Not all of them, Ma" Gertie
answered. not thinking it necessary to
tell her that Fagin could be common
and rough too il things didn't suit
him.
ct shall always think OF you like
you was in that Butterfly dance" Jen-
ME said. You looked lovely, Gertie.
You were awfully smart to get it up
all by yourself
1T comes as easy for me 20 dance
as 1t does for you to spell. Ienpic.
Don't you suppose you'll miss it
not dancing?"N
mo. don't think so! If 1 do I'll
dance for Tom and the Chink.''
dances sometimes. There must be
places rear where he goes when he
gets lonesome"
HE won't get lonesome il can
help It. I don't believe he does any
way. He is too Iauch in love with his
ranch-oh, how I wonder what it Is
likei Even with the pictures and all
he has told me don't feel as if I
really know anything about it."
you will pretty soon, only three
weeks more before you're married.
Whatever we're going to do without
you don't know"
IT would rather you'd miss me than
be glad to be rid Of me-" Gertie re-
piled.
| (Tomorrcw-Gertie's last night at
| the Olympic)
| observation-disclosures