The Topeka state journal., 1922-08-31
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
MOVING DAY.

CHAPTER 40.
On Saturday the girls left Mrs.
Thompson. A corner expressman car
ried their trunks. and the things Mrs.
Thompson had given them. The things
from Cora's mother had arrived the
day before, and Dugan had carried
them up to the flat. In addition TO
the drop leaf table and the chest of
drawers, there were two chairs, COW
cred with black haircloth. a small
sewing table, and wonders of won
ders, four poster bed. Fortunately
for the size of their room, a single
bed.
All that afternoon the girls worked
to get ready for the night. One iron
bed they now would not need. Dugan
took il from them.
My MissiS was a scoldin' me about
the children sleepin's so close. I'll
take this bed and thank you'll" As he
paid them exactly what it had cost
them, Gladys said they should have
been the ones to say thank you
They put up the beds, the lounge
also had to be in the bedroom until
they were sure the floor was dry. The
little sitting room was very attractive
with the cheap but dainty paper they
had selected, the freshly painted
woodwork, the shining floor.
Its perfectly lovely without any
furniture!" Nellie declared. They
made tea on the stove,v which really
was now as good as new, and talked
the drop leaf table in the sitting roomr
now that Mrs. Thompson had given
them the kitchen table.
when we have company we'll eat
in there!" Nellie said. Then: when
were all fixed let's have party!"
"a housewarming? Cora asked.
81 don't care what you call 1T, but
let's have Hilda, and Lottie, and Will
liam. and that fellow that takes
Gladys to the movies once in a while.
Maybe he'll take her oftener if we ask
him to our party-and oh. wouldn't it
be fun?"
81 don't think we can afford par
ties" Cora said.
"I didn't mean to spend very much.
But we could make tea or coffee, and
I'd make some little cakes, a woman
at Miss Carter's gave me the receipt.
They're made out of oatmeal, and are
lovely, so crispy and nice. Then we
could play games or something. Do
let's do 1t, girls!"
''All right! If you will be satisfied
with coffee and those cakes" Cora
said. 1t was hard to refuse Nellie, she
was SO enthusiastic, and always will
ing to do more than her share. But
not until we are really settled. 1t will
take us a week anyway. Then we will
have to count chairs"
You forget ~the boxes!" Nellie
broke in, Il won't start that bookcase
until after the party"
1t was o'clock when they had
their beds ready, and they were glad
enough to crawl in.
God won't mind if we work getting
settled on Sunday" Nellie said as she
yawned sleepily. He knows we don't
have any other time"
The girls slept late Sunday in spite
of their anxiety to get to work. There
were the cupboardS to be cleaned, the
few dishes they had bought to put
away. the meals to get and if the floor
was dry-they found 1t was-the liv-
ing room to arrange.
1t was really surprising how well il
looked. Gladys had a roman striped
drape she used to conceal her trunk;
this they threw over the old couch
The dropleaf table, and the quaint
little sewing table, gave quite an air
to the room. They found among their
possessions some pieces of cheap lace,
and they made tides for tic TWO hair
cloth chairs. Cora had a gay neck
scarf, she had never worn, and she
threw it lengthwise across the drop
leaf table. Then they arranged a few
of their books and magazines upon it.
when we &C. that lamp with the
rose colored shade you talk about
Gladys. we shall be SWELL" Nellie said
as she surveyed the room.
TT does need something in the ceI.-
ter" Cora smiled, a few moments
afterward they missed Nellie. But she
soon came in, bunch of flowers in
her hand.
Bought them. of that cripple OIL
the corner, cost five cents she lacon-
ically explained, as she placed them
in glass. then on the table. There,
That's that!'
How lovely they make the whole
room look" Gladys said, You think
of everything, Nellie. Be careful
you'll wear your brain out"
mo danger! I've got brains Calougfi
If they were trained"
(Tomorrow-Nellie' first party9