The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-13
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
DUGAN FEELS HIS RESPONSE
BIIITIES.
CHAPTER 81.

CHAPTER OIL.
Miss Mcbride had sent for Gladys
and offered her position with a good
firm at So week more than she was
getting. The agent knew Gladys was
not really happy where she was, and
had had her in mind for some time.
The first day in her new position
over she answered all the questions
Cora and Nellie asked. then said:
But, girls, 1 had the oldest expert
ence! Mr.. Rudkin, one OF the part
ners the one / work for, is awfully
handsome-the handsomest man L
ever saw L think and I guess he
knows it,
"wen. what did he do-ask you t.
be Mrs RudAin Neihe ehaIleo.
Nellie, or 1 won't tell you another
thing"
I'm dumb"
He said:
Remember, Miss Doran, oont
want to take you to lunch or dinner.
have no desire to kiss you. or take
any other liberties. don't expect, or
want u single thing of you except the
work we pay you for doing what
do you think of that for jolt 2"
Some flirtatious birds he must
have hadr' Nellie broke her rash
promise to remain dumb.
1T shows employers aren't always
the ones at fault Cora added. Then
Il was so embarrassed I did not
know what to say or do. 1 think ev-
cry drop of blood in my body rushed
to, my face. What could say? Yet
there he stood evidently expecting an
answer. So finally L told him. slut
tering and stammering like kid, that
never had worked in places where
men did such things, that I wouldn't
stay if they did. I said had no wish
to be my employees companion"
y.Il
F"Good. I'm glad you let him know
| you weren't stuck on his handsome
face
81 imagine he's all right-that per-
| haps he has had some silly girl in the
office. Miss Mcbride thinks a lot of
| the firm, of Mr.. Rudkin especially.
| That extra 50 will help a lot" Gladys
! sighed. Those little brothers and sis
ters needed so many things. Her
| mother never wrote that there weren't
shoes, dresses or boys suits needed.
'Say. girls, I've got a plan to pro-
posei" Nellie said.
"An right. dear. but why the got 90
Cora asked.
| ooh, dear! I'll never remember to
| leave that measly little word out! But
listeni L still maize mistakes in SPELL
| ing-and I must learn to spell all tho
words. Let's commenceSat the first
word in that old dictionary of Cora's
/ ana spell II rlgnC thru z!
| When Cora objected that many of
the words were seldom, If ever used,
Nellie replied;
They wouldn't be there II we
eughtn't to know how to spell them
| They had a great deal of fun out of
| their spelling class. And 1t was aston
| ishing how fast they turned the leaves
of the old dictionary. even tho they
| devoted but a few moments a day to
the task. When Nellie found a word
that unduly bothered her. she would
write it down and spell it over and
| over, even after she had gone to bed
then finally perhaps waken the
others by calling:
i've got the blamed thing, sirIs!''
and insist upon spelling it ~ -
Dugan, the superintendent, and
Nellie continued to be good friends. to
chaff each other Nellier always using
a brogue when they talked. One day
Dugan said:
'shore., Miss Riley. I'll have to be
Barney fellow comm in last night.
It's a beau you're havin', and you
nothin' but a baby"
go long, wild yees, Dugani Your
name shouldNhave been Blarney. It's
no beau Barney Jones is at all, at all!
whin 1 gets a real beau I'll tell you
ask you 10 come in and look him over
I-begorra 1 Will"
And it's me thot'll give him the
feel of me boot and he amt all right"
You do that little thing, Dugan,
and I'll save my shoes. You see. I
amt going TO have beau It'll j find \
one like you! 1t breaks my heart,
Dugan, that you're not single"
GO long wild you'll don't want
baby for Misis-we've kids a. plenty.
With all his nonsense Dugan was
really fond of all the girls, especially
of Nellie, and altho they did not know
it. he watched carefully to see the sort
of young men they knew and received
in the little flat
(Tomorrow-Dugan appears just in
time.)