The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-02
FOUR DANCING FEET
THE FAMILY FINANCIER.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER IA.

CHAPTER IA.
Gertie picked up the pen.
How. much raise do 1 get?" she
asked, as she nibbled the penpoint,
regardless of microbes or other
foreign substitutes.
Rosenbnrg named the figure.
cit amt enough, Mr. Roser5urg.
What else is on this paper? l amt
signfn' nothin' I don't know about"
He reached over and took up the
paper He preferred to read it TO
her. than have her quick young eyes
perhaps see more than he had IN
tended she should. Yet after all he
almost smiled at his caution. She
was poor, ignorant-knew nothing of
business, less of her own worth to
him.
s'Oh, it just says that I'll give you
that salary to work for me-dance
for me-" he corrected.
Let me see iti' Gertie reached a
hand toward him.
That's all there is to it.
A sudden resolution came to Gertie.
not to refuse the raise, that was
farthest from her thoughts, but to
make him wait. He mustn't be al
lowed to think her cheap, even if that
horrid manager of his had told her
she was. She rose
sI'n think it over, Mr.. Rosenberg.
and let you know tomorrow night"
''AH right, my dear!" he was de-
lighted that she had not insisted upon
seeing the paper, land if you can see
my way clear I'll make it another
thinking" he added as he dismissed
her.
The next day when they were gath
cred about the dinner table, the only
time when they were all together at a
meal, Gertie told the assembled
family of her good fortune.
did you see that paper?" Jennie
asked. Did you read il?
No Gertie was surprised at her
sisters manner, more than at her
questions. He read it to me, Mr..
Rosenberg"
There was something in one of our
lessons once" Jennie went on slowly,
"in our English lesson. Teacher
talked about it; said it was a good
thing for US all to remember. 1t was
abous never signing a paper until you
have read it, and If you didn't under
stand it, until you had showed
shown, mean-it to some one who
did I guess you better read that
paper yourself. CERT You may be
signing away your fortune" Jennie
was a great novel reader as well as a
good scholar. Hence the allusion to
a fortune.
sI'm glad you told me that, Jennie"
Gertie said after thinking a moment.
st don't like the boss, don't trust him
nor Jones. Yes, I'm glad you told me.
If only Tom was here she sighed.
HAS he wrote you yet?" her mother
asked.
"You know he ain't-hasn't, ma, or
I would have told you" There was a
wistful look in Gertie's eyes, a longing
note in her voice. He had been gone a.
week. Perhaps she shouldn't expect
a letter from way out where he lived
so soon but she had watched SO anx-
iously for one.
Thinking of Tom she had forgotten
all about Rosenberg. when Jennie
- L, -
when you read that paper tell him
you want to take it home to let ma
see it. Then I'll take it to teacher
if there's anything we all don't under
stand"
'T'l1 do that little thing. Jennie if
the old geezer's trying to put anything
over on me. But I guess I'll fall to it
if read it myself"
BE careful. .Gertie," Ma had lis
tened carefully to the conversation.
God knows we need the raise, but it
amt much-caaSt you git him to give
you a little more?
'.He said he'd think over making it
Ia dollar week more. 1 asked him
for it,
Maybe Jennie is right, and you
ought to show that paper he wants you
to sign to her teacher" Mrs. Cum
mings was already worried for fear
something was wrong. It is easy for
CONSTANTLY duA1OuS pSOpl0 10
trouble, even when none exists, and
here
wen see!"
Gertie got out her books and studied
until time to go to the cafe. She
thought Jennie asleep, but just as she
was about to leave. she called out:
Remember, don't sign anything you
don't understand"
II won't, Jennie
'"She knows nore'n I do about a lot
Of 10
ferring to Jennie. There was no Bit
terness in the thought. Sadness per-
haps. but mostly pride. she'll be a
teacher someday If have my way"