The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-25
A Stenogrdpher's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
A SUCCESSFUL QUEST.
Chapter IS.

1
| Saturday afternoon and all Sunday
morning the three girls hunted for a
flat that would meet their require
ments. Cora had written down on a
piece of paper the most necessary
items. and held the other two, whose
| enthusiasm was apt to lead them
away. to them:
'tNear the subway; three rooms; not
over SIS rent; in fair condition, and
there must be. bath and kitchen
stove"
SThey found several nearly CORES
| ponding to what they wanted, but
| Cora was determined, and would listen
to-nothing that went over>her estimate
in rent; or that lacked the other es-
sentials.
They were almost ready to give up
| in despair, when Nellie said:
There's two more on this list that
! give up until we've seen them"
Tired as they were the other two
agreed, and the very next one they
looked at was about what they wanted.
The janitor, a pleasant-faced Irishman
| with a suspiciously red nose, told them
the landlord would paper one room,
and do a little painting for good ten
ants.
''Shure. it's the whole place he'll be
| doin' over for us then"' Nellie said
| own.
ITS from ould Ireland yees- are.
Miss? ?" he said pleased.
do I spake Ioike a Frenchman ?"
Nellie asked, winking at him.
Have yees references?"
"Of course we have. Is it the loikes
of me would be asking you to rent
US a flat without them?" Nellie re-
vulsed, but so far had let Nellie do
the talking. Now Cora said:
I'VE had made up our minds not to
pay over $35, Mr.. Dugan. You say
this is $36."
Eyes, Miss, and cheap at that. It's
me that'll be SEEM you has hot water
for your bathtub, and all that. likes
my rooms full. does.'
Carefully the girls went over the
place. Nellie using all the hlarney she
could think of on the red-nosed jani-
tor. The rooms were up three flights
OF stairs, but not very long ones as the
ceilings were low. The front room
was fair size and looked out upon the
street. 1t faced south, which pleased
Cora. That room the owner would
paper, and perhaps paint, aItho the
kitchen needed painting far more. and
If he would do but one room it must
be the kitchen. The apartment con-
sisted of a fair sized bedroom, the
kitchen, a small bathroom, and two
really good clothes closets There
were two or three boxes in the rooms,
as far as any other rubbish was con-
cerned.
BE sure you leave those boxes
here" Gladys said, until we decide.
We might need them
"Au right, Miss" Dugan put them
in the larger closet. They'll be all
safe there, Miss"
Our chairs!" Gladys whispered in
an aside to Cora.
Can you give us the refusal-save
the for .rNxxr
night?" Cora asked. I'VE can't come
up during the day. We are all work
ing girls"
= ''Shure will, Miss. I won't let no
one see them" he looked at Nellie
and chuckled. ITS me will be glad
to have the colleen from ould ireland
in here"
"And it's me will be peIased to be
here, Mr.. Dugan," Nellie said SO sert-
ously. her eyes dancing, that Gladys
and Cora could scarcely keep a straight
face.
They stayed in the rooms for half
an hour after Dugan had been called
away, planning where they could put
room should be placed and so on.
Were going to be awfulIy disap-
pointed If we don't get it, Gladys said
with long sigh.
''shure, we'll get it," Nellie laughed
you little fraud making that old
Irishman think you were as Irish as
he''
''Why mott That's what Cora calls
tact. Isn't it. Cora?"
Yes, Nellie. you were very clever
But where are we to get a reference?
I have thought perhaps Miss Mcbride
but would the owner accept her ?
She's only a young woman, a mans
reference would be better"
'Puzzlei-find the mani" Nellie re-
turned as they dragged themselves
away.
(T0morrow-Nellie suggests a way
out)