The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-29
A Stenographer's
Romance
RY IAME pHEI
AN ACCIDENT AND AN AWAKEN
INC
BY JANE PHELPS

Chapter 65.
Nellie and Miss Jones were at their
desks Mr.. George Falon has not yet
come in. Suddenly Nellie was aware
of an unusual disturbance in the hall
voices, orders. loud voices. The door
opened, and men carrying the limp
figure of her employer came in.
What is it," Miss Jones exclaimed
as she sprang from her chair. and
helped lay him on the leather couch.
He was getting out of his machine,
stepped in front of another" one of
| the men answered, but Miss Jones
scarcely heard. She was telephopins'
for a doctor. No one had noticed Mel
lie, who had crept to Mr.. Fallon's side,
and after one look at his white face,
had tainted.
Her faint IastAonly a moment, and
as Miss Jones left the telephone, she
saw Nellie lift the, hand that fell over
the edge of the couch and press it to
her lips, before she struggled to her
feet. Her face, agonized, the action
was illuminating.
Poor child never dreamed of
that!" Miss Jones said to herself as
she crossed to the couch, and endeav-
| comfortable. Nellie helped her with
shaking hands, then whispered:
VIII he die?"
I'VE can't tell how seriously he is
| injured until the doctor comes" the
| woman laid her hand over his heart
He's breathing-there comes the doc
tor" Us capable looking man came
| in.
Almost before he had time to exam
| inc the injured man, Fallon opened-his
anxious face, sent the blood back to
| her cheeks.
Hes bruised some, but it's prinei-
pally shock. I don't think he is in
| jured otherwise" the doctor said.
| Then he asked that the room be
cleared SO that he might make thoro
| examination and be sure.
Nellie went into the elder Mr.. Fall
| Ions office, and when Miss Jones went
there to look for her she found her
with ner head on her folded arms cry
ing as IL her heart were broken.
why. Nelliel" she laid an arm
about the girl, don't cry so, dear, Mr..
Fallon is all right. It was the, shock
| that made him unconscious for few
| moments. The doctor says he isn't
| right"
They might have killed him." Nell
| lie sobbed drying her eyes, and only
controlling her sobs with an effort.
But they didn't, SO battle your eyes
| and we'll go to work. The doctor is
going to take him homer
| When Nellie returned-to the office,
they had gone. 1t was a very quiet,
very sad-loolting girl who helped Miss
| Jones that day. Plying, knowing work
the best thing for her, she kept Nellie
even buster than usual until closing
time. just before they closed their
desks she telephened Mr.. Fallon'
home and inquired how he was. This
she did more because of Nellie, than
| for any other reason, altho she was
genuinely attached to her employer.
But she wanted the girl to know just
| how much need there was for her TO
be unhappy.
you say he is better p" she asked
the person who. answered the call.
''This is his office asking" -
Miss Jones repeated what had been
said to Nellie. It was as the doctor
4 had decided. shock. but no real injury
otherwise. Mr.. Failen must rest a
day or two.
"That means he will not be here
tomorrow Nellie said,
Wen have to run the office, SO run
along home and get a good nights
sleep. am going out tonight, SO
won't see-you until morning"
Thankful. to be alone, Nellie hur-
ried home. She went immediately to
her room, telling the maid she would
Fnot be down to dinner. She ionged TO
| be alone. Not only to Miss Jones had
the incident of the afternoon been
| Illuminating; II had brought sure
knowledge to Nellie herself.
"I love him love, him." she
moaned as she flung herself on the
beds 81 didn't mean to-" she sobbed
excusing herself. 81 did't mean to-
but I couldn't help it-and / didn't
know ! was loving him until he was
hurt didn't know!'
Realizing the hepeiessness of her
love, she wondered il she would have
to leave the office; IL she could bear
to see him now7
"No one will know can't go
where I won't see him!" she said. "I'll
never let him-anyone know"
(Tomorrow-Nellie struggles with her
new problem.)