The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-07-06
A Girls Face
and Fortune
By JOHN PALMER

wish the men wouldn't pestel
me So" said Geitie Miller, as she
stepped out of the shop door Of Brad
bury's.
If ever girls face was her for
tune, it ought to have been the case
with Gertie. Yet no sooner had she
left Bradbury's than she saw the men
begin to ogle her.
She passed on with shrug of her
shoulders. In fact, she was too light.
hearted to care that day. She had
applied to Bradburys for an increase
Of salary, and had been turned down
She had given notice. Afterward the
manager had asked her to reconsider.
Gertie had laughed at him.
Why not2 She had a nice little
sum In the savings bank, and she
could afford to take holiday. And
just, now she was on her way to meet
Leslie, at the corner Of Fifth avenue.
Leslie was her fancy boy, and they
really expected to be married some
day. Leslie was going to take her
out in his Car. Why wouldn't a girl
feel good in that bright sunshine, 60
ing to meet her boy, even If the men
did stare at her.
There he was-that little, persistent
fellow who always followed her as
soon as she left the shop. For week
past he had been lying in wait for
her. Now he came hurrying up. He
walked beside her mincingly.
"Fine afternoon, Miss Miller" said
the little man pleadingly.
saw, cut it out |" said Gertie. II
don't want you hanging around me
with your proposals. know your kind.
1t only takes girls mo- to make them
think they can't do without her."
"Say, that's one for warm day |"
said the little man, wiping his fore
head.
"rve got better than that If you
don't quit kidding me-" said Gertie.
kidding? See here, Miss Miller, I'm
honest, am. Five hundred dollars
Kid, you make me sick" said
Gertie.
She passed on. The little man knew
her well enough, but to others she was
only cipher-a cipher with the most
beautiful face that ever drew the
stares of Broadway crowd.
"Oh, Lord, there's the fat onel" said
Gertie.
The fat one was watching for her
at the corner of the block. He raised
his hat as Gertie hurried by.
"Say, what's your hurry2" he de-
manded.
Gertie turned around.
"See here. once and for all it's mo-
to you and all your kind, you cheap
piker," she said Indignantly.
"Come and have little lunch and
and something fizzy know about, "
said the fat man. Maybe you'll feel
more like talking things over. Whgts
the sense of acting in this way? A
girls got to earn her living, hasn't
shew
"I can earn better living than you
can give me-" Gertle retorted.
Eluding the fat mans outstretched
arm, she hurried ON. though conscious
that he and the little man were follow
ing her. And at the corner of the
block she gave little cry Of Joy.
For there stood Leslie.
"Great Great" he calculated, feast
ing his eyes upon her beautiful face.
"Oh, Leslie" said Gertie, half laugh
Ing and half crying, ''thOse chaps sure
have been pestering me to death.
Every time I go out into the street
they accost me. There they are, trail
ing after me nOww
(Which one d'you like better" asked
Leslie.
Gertie wrinkled her forehead. 81
guess the fat ones the better PROPOSE
tion of the two. He's got the cash, "
she answered. "But I'm just sick OF
them"
Never mind If you're sick Of them
or not you need the money" said Les
lie. "If you'll take my advice you'll
have a little talk with the fat one
and hear what he's got to say"
do you think I ought to, Leslie r
asked the girl doubtfully.
"Surest thing you know!" Leslie an
swered. "You can't live on air, Gertie,
and till we get married we need every
cent we can save"
Gertie turned and marched mourn
fully up to where the fat man, emit
ting wheezy coughs, trailed In her
direction.
"See here, I've been thinking things
over" she said. "and II you're Johnny.
On-the-spOt with the mazuma, It's up
to you. But I want sixty berries per. >
"Sixty berries Whewl" ejacuiated
the fat one. "Well, guess you're
worth II, grille. We got to get that
face and head Of yours In our shoI
| window to advertise our hair tonic
and ! always said we wouldn't make
big sales till we got that little peach
that sat in front of Bradbury's. Sixty'i
yours, and you can start In Monday.
He took Off his hat and wiped hia
/