The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-19
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
THE SEARCH FOR A POSITION.
CHAPTER

Acting upon Mrs. Dooley's advice.
Nellie brought in an evening paper.
For an hour she studied the advertise
rnents of office Girls Wanted" list
ing on a piece of paper those that read
the most attractiveIy. Surely she
would have no slightest trouble in get
ting a place when so many men were
advertising for help.
1t was still daylight when she
crawled into the little hard bed, but a
happy smile played about her sweet
mouth. She would get job the next
day, and then after a. little she would
look up Cora Baker.
Nellie never had known Cora at all
intimately. Cora was the daughter of
a clergyman's widow, and was in a
different social environment at the
Corners, as well as being three or four
years older than Nellie. But she had
always spoken kindly, never patroniz-
ingly, to Nellie, so the girl had no fear
she would not be pleased to see her
when she got ready to let her know
she was in New York.
Just before Nellie slept her eyes fell
on the suitcase in the corner of the
room. She had unpacked it before she
went to bed, putting her few possess
sions in the bureau drawer.
TN send you back tomorrow when
I get my job. You're nothing but a
cheap old thing anyway" she said,
shaking her finger at the suitcase.
Miss Carter'll think I stole you'll I'll
pay rent for you when send you
back, about cent a day would be
about right"
1t was O'Clock when she awoke,
and a rainy dark morning.
''pu sure spoil my clothes unless
Mrs. Dooley will lend NEAR UNI
brelIa," she soliIoquised as she dressed.
Nice way to welcome Miss Riley to
New York; oh, well, I suppose they
need the fain to make the sidewalks
grow. There amt nothin' else here to
need victim that I can see."
Mrs. Dooley accommodated Nellie
with a big cotton umbrella, and she
Jared forth to get some rolls and tea.
She would make the tea over the gas
jet in her room. She knew how be-
cause often when she worked for MISS
Carter, she had seen the boarders COOK
things in their rooms-woe to them II
Miss Carter caught theml She bought
a basin with a lid, and then hurried
back to make her breakfast She was
hungry in spite of the generous meal
she had eaten the afternoon before
sOueer I'm hungry after that feed
7 had yesterday she said as she made
her tea.
After she had tidied her room (Mrs
Dooley asked SO for the room II she
cared for it, Nellie started out to fino
her. 1t had stopped raining but was
dark and disagreeably cold
All day Nellie went from place to
place, wasting a good deal OF time
because of her unfamiliarity with the
city, and SO covering the distance
twice when often once would have
done. But not one encouraging WORD
did she receive.
Can you take dictation? Can you
read your notes after they're cold
your references? What experience
have you had?" were only q few of
the questions put to her that she could
not answer in a manner to satisfy
anyone to whom she applied. .
you're too pretty to work any
wayi" one old man told her as he
her under the chin.
st can't eat my own face. can
I'll have to soon or go hungry II l
don't~get work." she snapped at him
as she went out. Nellie was by no
m cans the ignorant girl one might ex-
pect. Miss Carter's boarding house
had been an advanced school in some
respects, and Nellie had listened
paying the slightest attention to her.
probably thinking-if they gave it
thought at all-that she would not
Day after day she went from office
to office looking for work, and night
after night she returned to her dismal
little room without having any sue
cess
''Try somethin' else. dearie! Per-
haps you can git into a store or some
thin" Mrs. Dooley urged.
'Tn be an office girl! I didn't
come here to go in store, and amt
if I starve."
Its that you'll be doin' pretty
soon I'm a thinkin' if you don't find
a job!" Mrs. Dooley muttered. She,
too. had been told of the $25, and like
O'Connor had advised Nellie to hang
on to it. that it wouldn't last long in
New York.
CTomorrow-B1ack days.)