The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-04
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
CORA VISITS MIR. ROBINSON'S
OFFICE.
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
One Saturday afternoon Cora
stopped for Nellie. She had long been
anxious to see the place where she
was employed, to see Mr.. Robinson.
Nellie was busy taking dictation. ana
she sat down to wait. She told the
bookkeeper she was a friend of Miss
Riley's, not to disturb her until she
IF you're a friend, look out for
her" he said under his breath,
frightened hook on his face as he
Mr.. Robinson's desk,
What did the man mean2 1t might
be he had wrong impression of Nell
lie because of her, impudence; or it
and he wanted to get her out of the
office. But it added to Cora's uneasi-
ness.
Nellie. insisted upon introducing
her nicely, with just the right shade
of dignity. His white hair, his man.
ner treasured Cora The bookkeeper
was perhaps, as Nellie had said, a
cranky sort with a grouchy DISPOSE
ton.
Isn't grandpa n4ce?" Nellie asked
as they hurried away.
'He seems a very nice old gentle
man." Cora answered a bit absently.
She was thinking of what the book
keeper said.
yes, hes nice all right. Say. Cora,
you should see the Missis! She was
in the office today. My-She's a swell
dame alt right. But the way she
looked me over with them eyeglasses
on a long stem. 1t made me feel cold
and shivery all up and down my
back"
did she talk with you ?''
"Oh, yesi Like this, with that thing
she looked at me thru held up to her
ShA Sofd he
stenographer, are your" (Nellie was
a perfect mimic, and she raised her
voice to a different pitch, and added
a drawi that was ridiculously funny.
thing more, she had me scarf all
right, then she said: Don't you think
you would look more like a decent
office girl II you put a net over that
hair Then I let go. oh, don't look
frightened I didn't say much. I Just
told her I was decent. and that hair
didn't have anything to do with peo-
pie being good. oh, very well,' she
said. 1T might as well be you as an
other What do you suppose she
I'm sure don't know-but Nellie
if anything happens in the office
you'll tell me. won't you?"
You mean if I find that niggar in
the woodpile? Sure I will
How are you and the bookkeeper
getting along?" Cora queried. He
does look like a crouch
HE looks what he is! We don't
talk none unless we have to. He and
the boss's wife whispered some. 1
Wrought that was funny, and she didn't
look at him thru them glasses on
stick, either"
"Oh. well, perhaps she has an in
terest in the business and wanted to
know how it was going" 1t was the
only reply that occurred to Cora. She
was vaguely troubled. Why. she could
not understand, EverJthings seemed
all right, Mr.. Robinson was a gentle
man, an old man, and the bookkeeper
ipnocuous. Surely Nellie was as safe
there as anywhere.
Cora's work was very much more
strenuous than in her former position
and she was half sick when she took
about three weeks, she became really
i'll and was obliged to remain in bed.
She sent Gladys to tell them, and they
rather curtly informed her that they
would wait couple of days, then If
Cora were not back they would have
to fill her place.
OF can't blame Them Cora said
when Gladys reported. "They are ter
ribly busy, and have no more help
than they really need-not as much.
1 shall be all right in two days"
But she wasn't!
In two days she was very i'll, in
deed, low fever, the doctor said
when he was called-too late to break
it UP.
For two weeks Cora remained in
bed. the girls waiting upon her cheer
fully sharing everything with her
Then for ten days more she remained
at home until Miss Mcbride sent word
she had a place for her. this time an
easier position with small firm who
employed but two girls. Often while
she was i'll, Nellie had brought her
flowers and fruit. Cora complained of
the exfavagance.
Don't call me extravagant," Nellie !