The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-05
A Stenograbher's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
CORA INSPECTs THE PROFFERED
ROOM.


Chapter "A.
Cora said nothing to Nellie of what
Della Black had told her, but she
talked it over with Gladys, and they
decided to try to keep track of the
foolish girl and see if they couldn't do
something to help her.
She's too pretty, like Nellie"
Gladys said Il have noticed that the
men and boys all look at her. yet so
any cause. I've watched her too.
Poor girl--loving a married man."
IA man without principle" Cora re-
turned. land I'm afraid she's weak
too. Yes, she's almost as pretty as
Nellie, but she hasn't Nellies ability
to look out for herself. 1t seems
strange that one girl will put aside
/ temptation, while another In the same
position succumbs. Isguess goodness
is somehow ingrained in people-mo-
rality. 1 mean. At first / was 30 afraid
for Nellie 1 couldn't sleep nights; but
now I know her I don't believe there's
| a man living could tempt her to go
wrong-no matter how much she
loved him. I'd trust her as far as I'd
trust myself.
Nellie. you see, had become dis
gusted with the loose talk at that
cheap boarding house where she lived,
Whereas Della Black came right from
a home, from her studies, and knew
nothing of men. She told me one day
at luncheon a good deal of herself;
| the way she felt when she first went
to work, but said nothing of what she
told you, altho / thought at the time
something was>worrying her. 1t must
be terrible to care for a man as she
seems to-a man who can be moth
| ing to her"
| tone, her thoughts flying to William
Dalton, his honest love for her, hers
| for him, yet With no future for them
must be-" she added, terribly hard
when it is sinful love-
Say, Miss Baker" Nellie leased,
haven't you Llayed society lady long
| enough? Seems to me if you can get
| dinner and clean up our mansion you
! can go down md look at that room
Mr.. George said you could have"
II am well enough, Nellie. But
have been afraid to make the start.
| never felt timid before about my work,
| but it sort of frightens me to take rent
on my shoulders
He, Mr.. George mentioned II today.
| Cora" Nellie became serious. HE
| said he wished you were established,
that he had several hours work to be
| done. I offered to stay and do it, but
| he wouldn't let me. You see I'm his
fathers 'stenog,' not his. Once in a
while do little things for him-if Mr..
| raiion Is away, or II ne sends me INTO
| his office purposely. But I don't do
anything regular for Mr.. George
I'm glad of it," Gladys broke in.
| you might fall in love with him, or
| he with you"
Nellie turned to hide the blush that
swept her face.
| mo danger of that!" she carelessly
replied. You wouldn't think a ste
| nographer had any chance If you could
see the swell girls that come down
1 there, with Miss Dorothy-and I guess
she Hikes him pretty well, If he is her
| cousin
| TIL go down with you IN the morn
| ing" Cora had heard little of the con-
versation, she was SO occupied with
her thoughts.
| : Timidly Nellie raped on George
| Fallon's office door the next day, all
1 approached him. When he called
| "Come," she and Cora entered. Nellie
| introduced Cora. and asked IL she
might look at the room he had
| spoken of.e
The man had risen at their entrance
and now he preceded them to a door
opening from his room into the small
end room that he had proposed Cora
| might use.
There is good light, Miss Baker
and this door" he opened it. '1eads
into the hall, which would give you
! privacy by locking the other one lead
| ing to our offices. This furniture, IL
| in your way, can be removed" 1t
consisted of two desks, some chairs.
| and a filing cabinet.
| What will the rent be, Mr.. Fall
lon ?" Cora asked, her cheeks burning,
her eyes shining. THE furniture
would save buying.-if it could be
| left"
| Save annoyance to us. too" he said
| as he named a sum SO small that Cora
| almost felt he was making her an
| object of charity until he added:
Whatever you pay will be clear gain.
We have never used the room. prob
ably never would have used it-except
| for stort of storage room for dis
carded furniture such as Is now here
''I'l1 take the room, Mr.. Fallon. and
| thank you very much" Cora said
| gratefully. looking around for Nellie.
But she had disappeared.
| (Tomorrow-Cora takes possession of
l., her office.)