The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-29
four DANCING FEET
GERTTE REJoICEs OVER FAGIN,s
KINDNESS
Chapter 81.
BY JANE PHELPS

So happy she wanted to sing. Gertie
hurried away to dress. oh. how good
/ Fagin wasi How hard she would try
to please him. She had learned some
new steps, improvised a new dance.
/ she would do it that night, surprise
him with it.
Now they could keep the flat Now
she could have new dress and hat,
and perhaps a cape before Tom came.
\ Now Ma need never know how near
! she came to losing her job. She never
! had kept anything from Ma, but sure
| ~ 1t was better to say nothing of what
/ had happened. 1t would upset her
make her feel insecure in their new
home.
Never had Gertie danced as she
| danced that night Never had Fagin
| been So pleased with himself. 81 would
| nave been big Irish fool if had let
| her CO." he muttered as he watched,
she couldn't help the row. Funny
little kid thanking me because 1 said
she was good. Funny little kid. not
much like the rest of them-thanking
me-um!"
Aside from the dances she did with
| the Others a man and half dozen
girls, Gertie always did one solo dance,
| in the middle of the Revue as Fagin
termed his entertainment Tonight
she tried her new dance. 1t as a hi
at once. and Fagfn beamed upon her
as hands clapped, and voices recalled
her to repeat her performance. When
SAAC AAe10 4AlAASAlSQ, anu before she ca
on again with the Revue, he sought
her out saying:
That's a dandy dance! But YOU
need to be dressed different for it. Get
yourself a dress, white stuff of some
KIND. and have the skirt made full
Get white slippers and stockings too.
I'll stand the gaff. II it is more than
this let me know" He handed her
$40. Scarcely believing her ewes.
Gertle took the money. assuring him
1T will go much better if I change -
she said quietly, II knew 1T needed a
different dress, but couldn't afford
It can do it much better in full
SKIRTS In the Revue the girls wore
snort very scanty costumes, and
Gertie had done her own particular
turn in the same dress.
Have it right, even if it costs
more" Fagin said as he turned away.
saying to himself: Maybe it's good
thing that row happened. She's
mighty grateful because didn't make
fuss-he never dreamed she
thought he would discharge her-sand
she'H stay with me, think twice before
she throws me over even if She gets
the chance. Nice little kid-thankin
me for calling her good! queer lxidf''
Gertie had seen George Murphy and
nodded to him. But when he mo-
1n4Ieo her 10 come over to his ia BILE
when she had finished dancing. she
shook Ger head decidedly. He smiled
coax1ngly, but she refused and as soon
as she had finished for the night.
rushed out SO quickly he missed her,
and hurried home
t'Oh, Ma. I'm so excited, Wait until
get my things off and I'll tell you.
You know that new dance I've been
practicing? Well, 1 did it tonight and
Fagin was so pleased he gave me $40
to buy dress and shoes and stock
ings-white-a full skirt so 1 can whirl
it in the dance! Isn't it wonderful p,
Instead of bad news she had brought
good news to her mother.
'1nded, it is. dearie!" Pride show
ing in every line of the mothers face.
Indeed it is! Now drink your teal
Your eyes are shinin' like stars, and
your cheeks is that red. Sure you amt
sick with all this, and you lookin' so
peaked when you WENT I've been
most sick myself just thinlxin how you
looked, and worryin'."
You mustn't worry about me, Ma,
I'll he all right. My but this tea tastes
good"
Drink it all. honey. and eat the
bread and butter. You'll sleep better
for it. A drop of tea is the right thing
to set anybody up I say"
Who'll I get to make the dress.
Ma? Fagin wants me to have it right
away"
who'll you get! I like that-who
but me. of course. You tell me how
and I'll make it.
Il wonder if you could! I tell you
what wen do, Ma. I'll get up early,
and wen go way up on Fifth Avenue
and look in the windows Then il we
see something we like, we'll get
paper pattern and you can make it
but I'll find out how much other
people charge, and give you the
money. Fagin expected me to get it
made-and he's willing to pay for it,
SAID If the $40 wasn't enough 1 could
have more"
tom will see you in it too II he
comes" Mrs. Cummings said. not raal-
izing she had but put into words Ger
ties thought.