The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-11
E6ening Story
Domestic Joan.
BY JANE OSBORN
re isn't an earthly raa G


son sisters. Laura was the musica-
member of the family.
You certainly can't find the inter
est on what father left you insufficient
and Maude and L wouldn't listen tc
your contributing anything to the
household expenses"
Joan said nothing, but went on eat
ing breakfast with apparent compos-
ure.
Maude, the artistic member of the
family, took up the protest where
Laura had left off. You ought TIC
consider how 1t will sound to outsiders.
What will people say when they hear
that Maude Dobson has had to go tic
work in an office 2"
What about your selling miniatures
and Laura, playing at concerts?" Joan
thrust back.
Entirely different cooed Laura
when a person has talent it is
quite all right to make use of it-but,
Joan. you aren't talented-that is, I'M
less being domestic is a talent"
There you co. shouted Joan, wav-
ing her arms. That's what I ex-
pected. Just because know how tic
cook a little and have tried to do my
share by helping Dinah and doing the
ordering and keeping the aeco UNITS,
and just because L can make a bed sc
any right-minded person can sleep in
it, and Just because I don't like to
have dust an inch thick in my room
you call me Domestic JOAN That's
what started me- I'll just show you
I'm something besides domestic.
took that course in stenography be-
cause 1 wanted to get out and earn
my salt, and I'll show you that it takes
as much brains to be a good secretary
as it does to paint miniatures or play
at concerts. I'm thru being Domestic
Joan. That's ALL
Laura and Maude looked aghast;
then Laura laughed. ''We'n regard il
as a joke Joan. Because of course
you won't stick it-out. You'lKsoon find
that your talents simply don't lie in
thaS direction. Domestic you are ant
domestic you always will be-
Joan had finished her breakfast
and was out of the dining room door
before Laura had finished her re-
marks She was in high dudgeon and
her cheeks still glowed with pent-up
wrath when she reached the office of
Kenneth Jones, whether she had been
sent by the principal of the school
from which she had just received her
diploma in stenography.
1.-The Kenneth Jones brokerage con-
Germ is growing very rapidly the
principal told Joan. They have asked
permission to interview any of our
graduates. They pay very well, but
Mr.. Jones talks to all applicants and
only takes people he considers very
promising. You might call there first.
There's a chance they'll find a place
for you
Mr.. Jones's rather blunt manner did
not intimidate Joan that morning. He
talked with her at length and studied
her as she. talked to him. Then he,
called in his son, Kenneth Jones, Jr.,
and introduced him to Joan.
My son and 1 work together. I am
training him to take. my place when 1
retire the senior Jones said. and then
turning to his son, Take Miss Dobson
to our office and give her a trial letter.
Test her speed and her accuracy
- The younger Kenneth Jones showed
none of his fathers bluntneSS. In fact,
he seemed a. -trifIe- embarrassed at the
ask set before. him. He sat for a few
with Joan in the richly fur
riShed inner office where he and his
father both had their desks. Then he
started dictation, but the dictation was
given SO slowly that Joan, could have
taken it easily in long hand. Then he
showed her into a. small private office
and told her to take her time in copy
ing it, 1t was an easy enough mat
ter for. Joan to produce perfect LETT
ter, under the circumstances.
Joan waited until noon when the
elder Jones returned to the office and, |
after a, brief conference between ia
Their and son, she was to1d-tha she |
was hired. The rest of the afternoon
Joan was left to her own devices and
old by the younger Kenneth to
'snoop~ around, look thru the files and
Try and get some idea of what the job
Joan smiled and Kenneth Jones |
smiled back. 1t was a frank, honest |
smile, but it made Joan blush. KEN |
Meth Jones was thinking: Il wonder
whether I can keep a level business I
head with such an attractive young
woman in the office"
The next morning Joan arrived be- I
lore either of her chiefs. When Ken
leth. Sr., arrived she was busting hrs
1esk-redusting it, for it had already |
f7oa for To an arlnIiC2fiOn of the |
Gather buster by the office cleaner
Mr. Jones noticed, moreover, that his
nkwell had been freshly cleaned and
'efilled.
What dictation Joan took that day
vas very slowly given by Kenneth, Jr.,
% her skill as a stenographer was not
tut to the test. That evening when
Kenneth, Sr., dropped into his sons
ffice before going home for the day,
oan had a question for him.
''If you don't mind 1 am going to
et hold of the man who cleans here
ID like to be here in the morning to
zee that he cleans under the desks.
he dust is thick in one of the book
asses and, by the way, some of your
aw books need rebinding. May send
hem to the bindery?''
Mr.. Kenneth, Sr., gave his consent
Tithout paying any apparent heed to
that Joan said. ---- II
The next day a sudden turn of bust
ess kept both Mr.. Kenneths in the
ffice untiIs long past luncheon time.
hen there was a hurried dispatch of
n office boy to the nearest cafe for
I'D like some tea" said
-enneth.> Sr., pettishly. only it's al
avs cold by the time it gets here"
Joan heard and presently another
ffice boy was dispatched to the near
st drug store and provision store ByI D.,
lie time the sandwiches and pie had
pine in from the cafe. Joan had a i !
ewly purchased tea-kettle humming
yer an alcohol flame. She had Dor J
owed cups and saucers and spoons
ON two of the girls who sometimes 1
te IN, and she was ready to pass a 7
Up of tean1ing tea to each of her
nployers- T
We'll, I'm blessed said Kenneth
=. and Joan beat a hasty' retreat to
sr private office. :
That afternoon between rush of 1