The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-23
FOUR DANCING FEET
A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
BY JANE PHELPS


CHAPTER 80.
Jennie's teacher had been told the
wonderful news and had talked with
Gertie. For the first time she real
lied the indomitable courage and de-
termination of this child of the tene-
ments; her almost agonizing fear that
Jennie should not be educated. She
saw too more clearly what the lack
of an education had meant to Gertie
herself, how she felt an inferiority be-
cause of lt-felt it keenly- AS far as
she could-she. too. was poor, a teach
er's salary is small and she supported
an invalid mother-she would help
this brave girl, who so willingly took
the burden of a household on her
young shoulders.
81 wish Tim could stay in school,
too, till he could graduate" Gertie
had said to her, but ma thinks he
ought to work as soon as he is old
enough. He's awful bright, and per
haps if he stayed he might be smart
like" she stopped, a blush flooding
her face She had almost said like
Tom" Almost given her poor little
secret away; her admiration of the
only educated young man she ever
had known.
Perhaps we can think of some way
yet, Gertie. 1t isn't right for you
to do it all. He will be thru grammar
school in another year-thereS are
night schools and if he is ambitious
he can do good deal to help you
take care of the family, and yet keep
on with his education"
''He is ambitious-always wanting
to earn money to help ma" Sf
such a mother This teacher We'll
knew some of the mothers in her dis
trict, mothers whose only thought was
to push their children out of school
for the sake of the few pennies they
could earn, who were constantly in
trouble with the truant officer; whose
homes were never clean, whose chill
dren were badly nourished.
Ma has tried awfully hard to keep
things going since pa was killed. Some
day maybe she won't have to do Iaun-
dry-when Jennie gets to be a teach
err" Another plan Gertie had cher
ished; her mother living without
working for others, just keeping house
for them all, they providing the
The teacher looked at the lovely
face of the unselfish girl, and won
dered if the others, Jennie and Tim,
would be as selfless. She had come
to have great respect for this dane
ing girl, this girl who had kept her
self clean and sweet in the most I'M
toward surroundings; who believed in
education, and gladly gave her entire
earnings to help her family rise in the
world.
The child seems to have absolutely
no thought for herself" the teacher
said as Gertie left her.
Not that Gertie didn't long for the
flesh pots at times; long for pretty
clothes, things she saw other girls
even Lilly have. Lilly who now earned
less than half what she did, yet who
as Jennie said, always looked stylish.
But Gertie's desire for education-her
talks with Tom Norris had intensified
it-had made other aspirations sink
into insignificance by comparison.
Among the habitues of Fagin's was
young man of seemingly more re-
f1nement than many of the others
He had asked for and received an in
PRODUCTION to Gertie. This procedure,
unusual in this place. where young
men looked upon the dancers as their
rightful prey, pleased and flattered
Gertie- She became less stiff in her
manner, was cordial. interested. His
name was George Murphy.
He had not motioned to her to sit
with him. as so many did, neither had
he tried to talk with her as she passed
his table, but had approached her as
if she were a Lady, instead of just a
cabaret girl.
The Cummings family had secured
the front flat on the floor below. Mr..
McGinnis. the landlord, has been will
ing to paper it for them. and he al
lowed Gertie to select the paper, limit
ing her as to price. He also painted
the front room. Mrs. Cummings with
Tins help put a fresh coat of paint
on the kitchen, and Gertie paid a man
to paper the bedrooms They spent
several hours discussing the advisable
ity of this move. for even tho paper
was cheap, labor was not. but finally
they decided to do it.
TT will all be nice at once then"
Gertie said. and Ma keeps things so
careful it will last years"
Pride beamed from their faces when
at last it was finished Never had they
hoped to have so nice a place.
It's all owing to you, Cert" Jennie
said as she enthused. Il won't be
ashamed to ask any of the girls home
with me now when we've got a place
like this"
They needed more furniture but that
could wait. A cot was bought for Tim,
and his mother fixed up a soap box
to serve as a dressing table. She
made cheap but crisp muslin curtains
for the front room. and tied them back
with old ribbons she dyed pale pink
'-Gee. but I can't sell my papers
for IooIkin' at them winders." Tim
said. There amt nobody on the block
got anythin' like them curtains. We're
swells all right. amt we Ma ?"
Don't say that word Tim, Gertie
don't like iti'
CTomorrow-An insult resented-)