The Topeka state journal., 1922-01-04
EDcnirg Story
January,s Two-Faced Child.
BY BARBARA KERR.

When Net Black, Lorna Dean and
Janice Briefly were curled up on jan
ices bed. pencils in hand. there was
something doing and bound to come
to light sooner or later. 1t was so
since they were in pigtails.
ITS my turn and I'll make it a
birthday party, but January is so diff
ficult. Why did mother name me
Janice after that two-faced old
heather god?
Gift of prophecy, I suppose" said
Lorna.
"Aha! An idea, Wen have a
Janus party and prophesy in large
hunks for the crowd. Make the list
twenty-five, Lorna, and we'll fix up
their fortunes. They'll be so CRATE
full" and Janice laughed mischiev-
ously. Wen have a regular Janus
sitting on his throne-you two will
be it-and the boys can pay their
money to one face and get their for
tunes from the other"
Enthusiastically they Began to work
it out. Lorna and Net would sit back
on a throne. a huge wig covering their
heads to make them seem one, while
under the throne, a small girl would
pass up the written fortunes to Net.
who would hand them to the parties
as names were called by Janice, in in
Producing them to her godfather.
Buddy Day would help outside the
door. as the throne room was to be in
the. billiard hall.
DO they all have to rhyme ?"
groaned Lorna. I've q flat tire al
ready. That romantic meeting-Jan
and Professor Pen that rainy day-it
starts off blithely:
when corn leaves rustic adown the lane
You'll meet your fate in a summer rain
Pretty ornate, Lorna" said Net.
Let me fix it," adding
Oh
4ou can't escape. You are her fellah'."
Janice blushed. mo fair, girls
that's too personal" but they shrieked
with laughter that it had to stand.
Whats Jan chuckling over?"
Reading your fortune from left to right
You're man of wisdom, worth and might.
But reading it from right to left,
You surely seem of sense bereft-''
That's Jimmie's, wen seat him be-
tween me and Nell on his right. He's
simp or he'd have married her long
ago, she's crazy about him.
When any one goes dippy over me,
III snap 'em up-believe me-"
This is Peggy's, she says there is
just one grand passion: When fate
knocks at your door, the package will
contain a. widoWer. Take it or leave
it, read Net.
Listen! How's this for the new
minister?
BEFORE you enter matrimony
Be sure you've the price of alimony.
promise is made-like pie-crust broken
You're tickle lad, Janus has spoken
But he won't come" argued Lorna
and Net. Surely! This'll be a pre-
Lenten offering, thatH fix it," replied
Janice.
What you mean offering" scorned
| Net. Your doggerel?"
THE money the boys pay for their
fortunes" smiled Janice. Girls for
| tunes aren't worth real money so they
needn't pay"
I'm an enfranchised citizen and
shall pay as my star-spangled AmeTi-
can right declared Lorna, grandilo-
Quently. Hear this:
Take new deck of cards. shuttle,
deal yourself twelve, If you get either
the Qneen of hearts or diamonds you
will marry a red-headed girl. When
shall 1 say? In year?"
'Oh no, say as soon as she over
takes you. You know Jeff is mad
about Blondy." giggled Net.
Janice spoke a bit seriously. "They
wouldn't get angry over this nonsense,
would they?"
Been thinking about that" admit
tilted Net. Lets do this: Draw up
an oath of allegiance to Janus. Oldest
of potentates, as Longfellow says.
Make them all sign and then they
my, but you've got sense for one
whose hair looks like yours COM
mended Janice as Nets last hairpin
went sailing thru the air.
''How's this for Banker Brown ?
Won't he love it?
"'You are n poor lad,
And your fortune is bad;
II you ever do well it's a wonder.
But you shouldn't the nation plunder.'
"But I've been thinking" continued
Lorna, that I'll not trust my fortune
to this crowd. You're accurate and
all that, but you're so cold-blooded
and Grass. I want mystery and dark
o'-the-moon business in mine"
Trust me for that. Love and dark
o'-the-moon is Blacks best feature
work. I'll write Janices, too"
Never mind Nettie. I'm hostess"
mot on your life!" shrieked two
girls in unison. you don't miss get
ting up in your place at table and