The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-11
A Stenographer's
Romance
NELLIE DEMANDS HER SALARY
Chapter %
BY JANE PHELPS

| SndpL6E I'd
| AS she got into the taxi with Mr..
Robinson, the bookeeper stood in the
| doorway watching them, a peculiar
look on his face. Nellie had a mo-
| mentary feeling that his eyes tried to
flash her a warning, then dismissed
the thought with a shrug of her shout
ders. The man was queer!
| They went to small out OF the way
| restaurant but to Nellie 1t was wonder
ful-the music, the food. She talked
: gayly. Cora had her note and she
was happy!
| 1t was not quite time for the play
when they finished, SO Mr.. Robinson
| smoked a cigar, while Nellie ate a Sec
walked to the theater. Their seats
were far back on the side, very near
an exit. Nellie rather wondered why
| they didn't have seats waysdown in the
front like those he had given her the
time she took Cora; but soon the cur
tain went up and she forgot everything
but the play. Several times she be-
came so excited she clutched Mr.. Rob
inson's arm, but he didn't appear to
| notice, so she continued to show her
| him in a whisper. Then when the
curtain was dropped she made quaint
/ remarks concerning the audience, just
| as she would have done with Cora.
! When the play was over he hurried
her out, quite unnecessarily she
thought, she would have liked to lin
ger, to watch the people. And when
| they reached the sidewalk he had her
| in taxi before she had time to watch
a single one of the beautifully dressed
women and girls. She felt rather
Iabused, but did not like to mention it.
AS they drew away from the theater
| into a cross street on the way to her
home, the only home she had, he said
| to her: ---
Did you enjoy yourself. Nellie?"
Indeed I did! And thank you SO
much!" with a long drawn sigh OF
| pleasure.
Then I want reward!" and before
Nellie could imagine his intent he had
her in his arms, and was kissing her
"You-you!'' she breathed, toe
shocked to speak aloud. Then with
all her strength she struck him!
you little monkey" he grasped her
| hand. Don't pretend with me-" He
tried to kiss her again, but unsuccess-
fully.
for the police!" Nellie wrathfully ex..
| claimed. Cora warned me, but
| thought you was good! An old man
like you! Stop this taxi! IN going
to get out. oh, I never thought! And
you with n wife! I see now why the
girls all left you; why that boy said nc
girl could stay in your office long
| Let me out, tell you." as he tried tc
pacifS her
Mr.. Robinson stopped the taxi and
without another word or look Nellie
| ran up the street, hearing his fnuffled
exclamation as ne slammed the door
| of the cab. The girls were both In
| bed but she awakened them and told
| her story.
"And 1 thought he was good! If he
| had been a young man I'd never fallen
| for his kind feeling for poor little
me-" her sarcasm was 1ndescriba bic
"Oh, the horrid, horrid, old mani"
Come to bed DEAR Cora urged
after a time you'll be sick if you
don't quiet down. Well talk it over
| in the morning.. -........ =. -. =
Nellie was really thoughtful. and
although she knew she couldn't sleep
out of consideration for the others she
said no more. But for an hour she
lay thinking, calling herself all sorts
of names, and in this pastime she did
not neglect her employer. In the
morning it was the only subject OF
''Too bad it's Friday. You'll lose
nearly a weeks pay" GLADYS said.
Lose my pay! Not SO as you
How will you get it?''
That's easy! Go after it,"
"You don't mean you're going back
after what's happened?"
why should I make that old
scamp a present of my weeks wages,
Miss Doran? I shall go and wait for
him, and I'll get it too" Then with
a little laugh that was full of tears
have for some time He won't give
me any reference-yes ne will too!
III make him, and I'll dictate it my
SELF
In spite of their anxiety the girls
laughed Gladys was for making her
stay away from the office; but Cora.
feeling sure no harm would come of
her going, and knowing how badly
she needed the money, made no OBJ
jections.
(Tomorrow-Nellie gets what she